MC611 Club

[Levitator]

Originally Posted by 70sMac

We've owned B&W speakers for many years and, earlier this year, we had a pair of MC1.2KW-driven 800D3s auditioned for us. If you're still thinking about hearing those D3s, in person, you won't be disappointed.

I was running this exact set up until recently - very good and the 800’s really came alive with the bigger amps for sure...

[70sMac]

Originally Posted by Levitator

I was running this exact set up until recently - very good and the 800’s really came alive with the bigger amps for sure...

Levitator..... The most impressive part, in my opinion, was the fact that those monoblocks never exceeded 50W during that demo! How do I know? Because I asked the sales dude to set the meters to "HOLD" for the demonstration. Let me tell you, mate...the real demonstration was how well those amps defined the term "headroom."

[BagelJoe]

Originally Posted by 70sMac

BagelJoe..... As I'm always trying to learn, I was wondering which Mac setup was actually used to demonstrate the D3s to you?

To be honest I didn’t pay close attention as I was just looking to have my wife get a listen to the 800’s. The 611’s they had are boxed and coming to our place soon and they were replaced by a smaller set of mono blocks so I think maybe the mc830. No clue on the pre amp. Sounded great tho.

[70sMac]

Originally Posted by BagelJoe

To be honest I didn’t pay close attention as I was just looking to have my wife get a listen to the 800’s. The 611’s they had are boxed and coming to our place soon and they were replaced by a smaller set of mono blocks so I think maybe the mc830. No clue on the pre amp. Sounded great tho.

I understand, you were there to hear the B&Ws. Having been a Mac fan since the 70s, I couldn't help myself. I had to make a note of everything that was driving the 800D3s we listened to.

[Levitator]

Originally Posted by 70sMac

Levitator..... The most impressive part, in my opinion, was the fact that those monoblocks never exceeded 50W during that demo! How do I know? Because I asked the sales dude to set the meters to "HOLD" for the demonstration. Let me tell you, mate...the real demonstration was how well those amps defined the term "headroom."

Absolutely agree on the headroom - they do a fantastic job driving the 800’s and never ran hot the whole time I had them. Miss those big blue meters but fortunately I’ve still got my 452 and 205 for home theatre to enjoy...

[70sMac]

Originally Posted by Levitator

Absolutely agree on the headroom - they do a fantastic job driving the 800’s and never ran hot the whole time I had them. Miss those big blue meters but fortunately I’ve still got my 452 and 205 for home theatre to enjoy...

It really is a small world. We recently acquired a very nice MC452 after giving long consideration to a very good deal on a new MC205. We're slowly building up to a simple 5.1 channel setup and, as it stands right now, we have our beloved MC300 for the rears and the new [to us] MC452 for the L & R fronts. We still lack a center channel amp...but, come to think of it, one of those McMonster 1.2Kws would do the job very nicely, aye?

[Levitator]

[emoji106]

[McIntosh-maTRiX]

Originally Posted by 70sMac

To say that those MC1.2KWs have headroom to spare is an enormous understatement.

Here's a "picture" that tells the story much better than I can...

The unmistakable "ashtray" suggests that they are MC1.25KW...

[70sMac]

Originally Posted by McIntosh-maTRiX

The unmistakable "ashtray" suggests that they are MC1.25KW...

Yep, the photo wasn't the setup we listened to. The setup we listened to was a pair of MC1.2KWs that were driving a pair of B&W 800D3s. I wasn't aware of it, at the time, but this is a photo we had on file that I thought depicted a pair of the amps we heard, but I wasn't aware of the tell-tale round accent ring on top of the newer mono blocks, so good eye.

Regardless, based on the performance we heard, I'd take a pair of MC1.2KWs any old time.

[McIntosh-maTRiX]

Good choice!
A mac, especially of that rank, is forever...