Separates vs Integrated

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

If you do not currently own or are not well versed in McIntosh, there is a good possibility that you will be happy with an MA2275. However, if you are a current owner or have extensive listening experience to McIntosh separates or their more powerful integrated amps, there is a good chance you will be less happy with an MA2275. Obviously, YMMV.

Agreed !

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[dteam702]

Originally Posted by o0OBillO0o

Do you still own your MA7000? What do you have now and why?

I sold the MA7000 and went with C50+MC452, now C50+601's. Don't get me wrong the MA7000 is an excellent piece, but when comparing to separates the MA7000 just seems muffed IMO..

[dteam702]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

That's nice Dewey, but since I saw in one of your earlier posts that you own McIntosh 601's,



You are not speaking exactly about the level of McIntosh equipment that we have been discussing in this thread. I would hope that a $12,000 pair of McIntosh 601 amplifiers plus whatever preamp you have chosen, might sound better than an $8000 integrated.


I still maintain that the MA7000 holds its own when compared with other McIntosh (or anybody else's) equipment at the same or similar level.

My own Spectral equipment sounds better than my Mc integrated, but it costs well over twice as much, and I would surely hope that it should.

Julian,

I read the title Separates vs Integrated, but didn't know price is also a factor.. my bad..

[enit]

Originally Posted by o0OBillO0o

Good comments enit.

Did you purchase a C45/C46/C48/C50 with a MC252?

I've had the good opportunity to review them all, and in many combinations, even with different brand preamps.

The set ups I've heard are always with the xr200 or the xrt28 with the mc252 during review. Other occasions with various speaker brands with either McIntosh Pre-amp models... Avant garde UNO duo, revel salon2, focal Electra 1027, 802s, maggies, grand callas of opera, watt puppy, harbeth etc.

[Pider]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

I posted in this thread a little over a year ago that I was really fond of my MA7000. At the time I wrote the earlier messages, I had owned the beast for about a year.

Another year has now passed and I still like the MA7000 just as well as I do my very good separates (Spectral) system. (see the lists below in my "signature").

The MA7000 is extremely powerful, is exceedingly accurate and honest in its presentation, is transparent and very refined sounding. Throws a huge soundstage with pinpoint imaging throughout. Does not require extended warm-up to sound good, has plenty of options, a multitude of inputs, has completely defeatable tone controls, has a balance control (which many integrated amps lack)

It looks good and sounds terrific!

And, I still like it and see no reason to change anything.

That is one very fine looking, almost muscular machine!

[pagpc]

at this level of quality and power, i suggest it is very subjective to what pleases your ear, how much space in your setup you do or don't have, and what is the "weakest link" in your system, and will that link know the difference. i have tried and loved both. my space compromise was a c45 with built in tuner. my weakest link was the distance from the rack to the speakers. genesis technologies. separates allowed me to run balanced and put the amps next to the speakers.

peter