Replaced The Jumpers In MA6600 Integrated-Holy Cow!

[Evitzee]

My view of this sonic eureka is skeptical.

My skepticism is in the fact that it would probably take at least a 5% audible 'improvement' to be detected by the human ear. McIntosh engineers work hard and long to improve the design of their equipment and I think an improvement that would easily be detected as 'better' would be included in the production line and be considered a solid days work by the engineers. McIntosh could probably design something this simple for $5 or $10 additional cost, maybe less. Yet they don't. Either they are clueless of the improvement (doubtful) or the improvement is in our noggins. Anytime I've peered into a Mac amplifier the wiring doesn't look like anything special, no super duper 'perfect surface copper' or the like.

That said I have replaced the stock jumpers on my MA7000 with the AQ units. Can I hear a sonic improvement? I can't say I can, but they were replaced at the same time as new speakers were installed so it could have been masked. I dunno. These jumpers are only $30 and are a cheap tweak for a $7k or $8k piece of equipment, they may make a difference or they might not.

[stereo_5]

One of my friends stopped by last week. I was playing my secondary system upstairs, as I was on my computer. My friend said after 10 minutes of listening, "what did you do?" I asked why, and he told me the sound seemed a bit better overall. He has heard my system probably 14 or 15 times in the past 2 years. I never mentioned doing anything to the system, but he noticed. The only thing I had done since the last time he was over was replace the links with the jumpers. He liked the sound and heard the difference.

[Evitzee]

Originally Posted by stereo_5

One of my friends stopped by last week. I was playing my secondary system upstairs, as I was on my computer. My friend said after 10 minutes of listening, "what did you do?" I asked why, and he told me the sound seemed a bit better overall. He has heard my system probably 14 or 15 times in the past 2 years. I never mentioned doing anything to the system, but he noticed. The only thing I had done since the last time he was over was replace the links with the jumpers. He liked the sound and heard the difference.

Hopefully McIntosh is monitoring this site and they will change the generic jumpers to AQ jumpers, claim a big advance in their designs, and take August off as a reward for a day's work well done. I never realized it was this easy to gain a significant improvement I quality.

[clpetersen]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Bill.......Thanks for that link. I had not seen that video before. .

>>>>>>>>
Original: Originally Posted by BuffaloBill
You may find the video below helpful in understanding the quality of McIntosh integrated amplifiers. 40+ years in production, same circuit topology as separates, and many satisfied customers. I doubt the talented engineers at McIntosh overlooked the jumpers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsBMpPqsO64

>>>>>>>>>

Thank you for the link. Nice video.

[kingstoneage]

I also use Audioquest jumpers on my MA9000. Previous i used them on my MA6600. Each time it sounded a little bit better with the jumpers installed IMO not a night and day experience but listenable.

[Vmax]

Never overlook possibility chat cleaning connections in place over several years can change sound too. Simply removing and reinstalling cables can improve sound if tarnish, dirt or corrosion is in play or things have loosened.

Lowest cost tweak seldom pursued.

[esteban]

Interesting. Could somebody provide a photo of how the jumper looks once installed?

[stereo_5]

This is the back of my MA6600 integrated with the jumpers installed