New MA9000 on the Mc Site

[phishphan]

Originally Posted by jdandy

ejr1953.......It is one thing to create modular capability into a component, and another thing entirely to actually support that modular capability in the future. I don't mean to sound cynical but many companies have promoted modular upgrade paths and used this notion as bait and hook for sales only to abandon these models for newer models without ever offering the modular upgrades promised. That a modular circuit, DAC, phono stage, or tuner, can be plugged and unplugged into an amplifier's circuitry path doesn't mean a thing if it isn't supported with future improvements. Time will tell if McIntosh ever offers a DAC upgrade path that will truly be a plug and play replacement for the DAC in the MA9000. Color me skeptical. That isn't to be misinterpreted as me not recognizing the astonishing component the McIntosh MA9000 represents.

My thoughts exactly. I argued this on Facebook when one of the hi-fi pages I follow posted it.

[malba2366]

I'm sure they will offer the DAC upgrade but the price will likely be very close to that of a good outboard DAC. But from what I have heard from listening to a lot of setups it seems to me that high quality sources with a built in DAC (i.e. Streamers/cd players) seem to sound better than moderately priced ($2-5k) DACs or sacs built into preamps.

[arkgabi]

Dear Forumers,

I would have a question to answer, maybe you can help me to decide.

I am planning to get a Mcintosh integrated amplifier to drive my Sonus Faber Amati Futuras. I do not know which would be the better choice in the long term – an MA8900 or an MA9000? (I do not want to be deaf, so it is not about reference – level listening. I simply want to be sure, the loudspeakers have all the backups they need to sing as good as it possible.)

The dedicated room I would use in is small, 17x14x9 (LxWxH), and would use my setup for stereo and multichannel listening as well.

If anyone has any idea, please share with me!

Thanks!

[JWJW]

Originally Posted by arkgabi

Dear Forumers,

I would have a question to answer, maybe you can help me to decide.

I am planning to get a Mcintosh integrated amplifier to drive my Sonus Faber Amati Futuras. I do not know which would be the better choice in the long term – an MA8900 or an MA9000? (I do not want to be deaf, so it is not about reference – level listening. I simply want to be sure, the loudspeakers have all the backups they need to sing as good as it possible.)

The dedicated room I would use in is small, 17x14x9 (LxWxH), and would use my setup for stereo and multichannel listening as well.

If anyone has any idea, please share with me!

Thanks!

I had a ma9000 for a while and liked it very much. It’s a great unit. The built in DAC worked flawlessly.
My ONLY complaint was the “equalizer.” I’m a proponent of tone controls, but I found the equalizer to be kind of frustrating (at least for me). I found myself constantly tweaking, and it was always kind of a guess. If you can live with that, I’d go with the 9000.

[arkgabi]

Thanks for the response!

Originally Posted by JWJW

I had a ma9000 for a while and liked it very much. It’s a great unit. The built in DAC worked flawlessly.
My ONLY complaint was the “equalizer.” I’m a proponent of tone controls, but I found the equalizer to be kind of frustrating (at least for me). I found myself constantly tweaking, and it was always kind of a guess. If you can live with that, I’d go with the 9000.

[miner]

$2500 gets you 100w/ch more - not sure that is audibly noticeable. I was on the fence between a MA8900 and a MA9000, I went with the MA8900 mainly because of the speakers I was going to be using - B&W 805D3. I barely ever exceed 20w with these.

[arkgabi]

Thanks for your input!
Have you used the 8900 in a HT setup via HT passthrough? Were there no problems with sudden, high dynamic sound effects or listening to complex concerts?
It would be a better choice from wallet - point of view, if there were no shortcomings using it with different materials/mediums.

Originally Posted by miner

$2500 gets you 100w/ch more - not sure that is audibly noticeable. I was on the fence between a MA8900 and a MA9000, I went with the MA8900 mainly because of the speakers I was going to be using - B&W 805D3. I barely ever exceed 20w with these.

[xv21]

Originally Posted by arkgabi

I am planning to get a Mcintosh integrated amplifier to drive my Sonus Faber Amati Futuras. I do not know which would be the better choice in the long term – an MA8900 or an MA9000? (I do not want to be deaf, so it is not about reference – level listening. I simply want to be sure, the loudspeakers have all the backups they need to sing as good as it possible.)

I had chance to compare McIntosh MA8900 and MA9000. The local HiFi store had both integrated amplifiers. MA9000 was really good. I heard the differences between the two integrated amplifiers. In my opinion, McIntosh MA9000 sounded better than MA8900. I think that MA9000 will work great with Sonus Faber.

[miner]

Originally Posted by arkgabi

Thanks for your input!
Have you used the 8900 in a HT setup via HT passthrough? Were there no problems with sudden, high dynamic sound effects or listening to complex concerts?
It would be a better choice from wallet - point of view, if there were no shortcomings using it with different materials/mediums.

No HT use with my MA8900

[shindo]

I have the 9000 paired with Sonos Faber Signatures. With the limited time I had listening to the setup , the two seem to be a perfect match . My speakers aren’t the caliber of yours but after adding the 9000 I am very happy.


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