MA7000 replaces My C48/MC202

[MORTIS]

I’ve now had the MA7000 for about 3 months, so figured it’s time to give my impression as compared to the outgoing C48 and MC202. The switch was actually a rather impulsive move whereby I suddenly decided to get the 7000 and had it in my home by end of the same day. The reason however for such a sudden decision and the equally quick swap is another story, perhaps for later on in this thread.
Before I describe my impressions of the MA7000, let’s begin with the porn:

Hi-Rez Version


Hi-Rez Version


Hi-Rez Version


Hi-Rez Version


Hi-Rez Version


Hi-Rez Version


Hi-Rez Version


Many of you know that the 7000 is a heavy beast at 97.5 lbs, and 130.5 lbs boxed up. I’m 62 and weigh only about 140 lbs so I obviously needed help each time to carry it. I expect it will stay in the pictured location for as long as we live in this house,.. well unless I get another crazy impulse to swap it.

For what it’s worth as far as affecting the sonic performance of the MA7000, it’s only fair to mention that I’m running the 7000 with a hospital grade power cord, a pair of Jena Lab Dussy jumpers replacing the stock bridge jumpers between the pre-outs and amp-in, and a Hi-Fi Tuning Supreme fuse replacing the stock mains fuse. I have not yet listened to the 7000 without the latter two ‘upgrades’.
All my listening has been either CD or lossless files played through the 7000 from the D100.
I’ve listened to the MM phono stage for only about an hour and my Ortofon OM 5E cartridge would be considered quite modest, so I cannot fairly offer an evaluation. None the less it sounded good to me.

The very first thing that struck about the sound of the 7000 compared to the separates is a softer top end of the frequency range. Although I consider the C48/MC202 to be very smooth and musical, I occasionally had to slightly attenuate either the 2000 Hz or 10k Hz EQ bands or both on particularly bright recordings, and never did anything need a boost in treble at all. Some might describe the top end of the 7000 as rolled off compared to many other components, but for me it’s perfect. Both setups are easy to listen to for hours without fatigue but the 7000 is even easier, and at louder volumes.
The second thing I noticed is how very smooth the 7000 is across the full range. I thought the separates were smooth, and they were, but the 7000 seems to take it to another level, and yet with no loss of detail and dynamics that I’ve noticed. Some might say a softer top end could give the impression of smoothness, which is understandable, but I choose to conclude that there is a genuine quality of smoothness across the range with the 7000.
Although I’m not fully convinced, I also get the impression of slightly better focus in location of instruments and singers. If there’s a difference here, it’s very subtle.
There also seems to be a more defined and controlled bass. It does have more presence in the upper bass/lower midrange than the separates, and I believe other reviewers have mentioned that about the 7000. Any differences in performance and sound between the two setups may be due to the possibility that the approximately 16 year old MC202 is starting to drift out of spec; I doubt it has ever had a tune-up. However I also believe the C48 has a different sound than the preamp section of the 7000.
Stage depth and width seem essentially unchanged.
The additional 50 wpc above the MC202 is really a non-issue, as my levels rarely see peeks beyond 2 watts according to the meters while feeding the 90 db efficient KEF’s.

You may recall from my review of the C48 that it somehow made poor recording sound better as compared to my previous C712. Well to my surprise, the MA7000 seems to apply an additional measure of voodoo to anything I play through it. I mean there’s music I really like but there was only so much the C48 or any previous component could do help the poorest of recordings, but the 7000 makes most anything sound so much more pleasant and musical.
It could of course simply be the total combined system synergy, but synergy not withstanding I still have to describe the MA7000 as a very organic and analogue-sounding integrated. If my impressions of the MA7000 are in any way a result of its true capabilities, then should we be surprised? After all, the MA7000 was McIntosh’ flagship integrate of 2008. Perhaps when the engineers designed it, they grabbed a few bits from the parts bins of their TOTL flagship separates.

In summary, I’m very happy with the sound and performance of the MA7000, that being mainly its very smooth and analogue-type sound. I’d have been happy if it had sounded no different from the separates, for I had other reasons for making the change rather than any expectation of improvements or differences in performance.
I’ve read only great things about the MA8000, so I’d sure love to compare and hear any improvements McIntosh may have made.

Interesting details to note:
1) When I was trying to decide how to connect my sub, which has only RCA inputs, to the #2 pre-outs on the 7000, which are only XLR, I decided to use XLR to RCA interconnects rather than RCA ‘Y’ splitters at the main bridged outputs/inputs. I then discovered there was way too much bass from the sub, so had to reduce the sub level about 4 db. This actually makes sense because the XLR pre-outs are twice the voltage of typical RCA pre-outs on a McIntosh preamp.
I originally thought this arrangement was not optimum but instead was a compromise at best. I’ve since come to suspect it’s actually a better arrangement, as now the sub seems to have more power and control with the additional voltage headroom from the XLR outputs. I’m certainly no expert on this kind of math and physics but I still wonder if I’m on to a good thing here.

2) I was surprised by the amount of hum I hear from the transformers in the 7000. I can hear it from as far as about 2-3 feet away, and nothing beyond that; whereas I had to put my ear right on the MC202 to hear a faint hum. The hum from the 7000 is similar to what I remember from older and vintage amplifier transformers that were not potted in tar.

3) The MA7000 makes a very noticeable ‘click’ type sound from the speakers when powered up. The sound is similar to if you put a microphone next to the power switch and the mechanical actuation of the switch is amplified out the speakers.

4) And last, and yes least; I was surprised to see that the backlit McIntosh logo and nomenclature is quite a bit dimmer than all the other LED fiber optic lighting I’ve owned and seen on other Mc components. It’s a similar brightness to the older incandescent lighting. The photos don’t quite convey the difference between the 7000 and the D100. The meters appear to be the same brightness as other current amps/preamps but I’ve not been able to directly compare.

Thanks for reading.

[Rojet2015]

Great room

[Formerly YB-2]

Very nice. Is your MA7000 NOS? Still miss my MA6600.

[jdandy]

Marty.......First let me say your photographs are excellent. I also enjoyed your review of the new MA7000 integrated amplifier.

Here's to years of good health and listening pleasure.

[bart]

Marty, great review.
I really like your room!

[Levitator]

Great read and excellent pics - enjoy!

[62caddy]

Your installation and environment are sublime.

First class sir.

[Maks]

That room is the stuff dreams are made of. Congratulations on the new equipment.

[JWJW]

Just showed your room to my wife....."WOW, beautiful!"

[Yamaki]

Great write up, Marty!

I always enjoy your exquisite photos of the room and components.