Stereophile MAC 7200 Receiver Review

[frequentflyer]

https://www.stereophile.com/content/...tereo-receiver

"The MAC7200 belongs in Class A of Stereophile's Recommended Components list. Yes, its $7500 price makes it the most expensive stereo receiver available today, but its power, resolution, dynamics, and transparency are among the best I've heard. Its internal DAC's transparency, speed, and imaging provided strong competition for my Bryston BDA-3. The phono and line preamplifiers excelled in their versatility as well as delivering transparent midrange, tuneful bass, and open highs. The amplifier allowed the Quad Electrostatic 989s to play loud with great dynamics.

The FM tuner is this product's jewel. Its sensitivity, selectivity, and ability to quiet with an FM signal equaled and in many cases bettered my FM Reference tuner. This FM tuner's superb performance was not limited by multipath, as in Jim's case, but because there are so few FM fine music stations in my area of the country—and that's not the tuner's fault! Here in SF's North Bay region, it pulled in 17 FM stations well, but only one offered classical music, one other National Public Radio.

I will be sad to return the MAC7200. Its intuitive remote made it so easy and convenient to access high-quality FM radio, vinyl, and digital musical sources.

If you have the sturdy shelf space for its large, heavy chassis, are a fan of FM radio, and are looking for one unit to handle many different two-channel tasks, the MAC7200 should be on your short list."

[JBT]

Originally Posted by frequentflyer

https://www.stereophile.com/content/...tereo-receiver

"The MAC7200 belongs in Class A of Stereophile's Recommended Components list. Yes, its $7500 price makes it the most expensive stereo receiver available today, but its power, resolution, dynamics, and transparency are among the best I've heard. Its internal DAC's transparency, speed, and imaging provided strong competition for my Bryston BDA-3. The phono and line preamplifiers excelled in their versatility as well as delivering transparent midrange, tuneful bass, and open highs. The amplifier allowed the Quad Electrostatic 989s to play loud with great dynamics.

The FM tuner is this product's jewel. Its sensitivity, selectivity, and ability to quiet with an FM signal equaled and in many cases bettered my FM Reference tuner. This FM tuner's superb performance was not limited by multipath, as in Jim's case, but because there are so few FM fine music stations in my area of the country—and that's not the tuner's fault! Here in SF's North Bay region, it pulled in 17 FM stations well, but only one offered classical music, one other National Public Radio.

I will be sad to return the MAC7200. Its intuitive remote made it so easy and convenient to access high-quality FM radio, vinyl, and digital musical sources.

If you have the sturdy shelf space for its large, heavy chassis, are a fan of FM radio, and are looking for one unit to handle many different two-channel tasks, the MAC7200 should be on your short list."

[Charles]

I would go with the DAC2 Module. Having said that the 7200 can form the hub of an excellent high end system. It really did get a good review and LG is a respected reviewer.

Best

Charles

[minplus]

It's a pity that you have to pay 9400€ for the 7200 in The Netherlands. It means you have to pay 1 1/2 times as much. Makes it a bit a nonsense price over here.
It should be about 6000€ plus a little bit.

[Handlebar]

yah, it's a 75 pound 200 watt autoformer with Pre-outs (Jumpers) 5 rca inputs,
some digi inputs too, MM & MC inputs for the Vinyl lovers out there and just a real beauty..

Hbar

[Handlebar]

Originally Posted by minplus

It's a pity that you have to pay 9400€ for the 7200 in The Netherlands. It means you have to pay 1 1/2 times as much. Makes it a bit a nonsense price over here.
It should be about 6000€ plus a little bit.

yah, bummer for you. It's called Value Added Tax (VAT) in EU & UK..
the dealers/retailers get hammered when bringin' in too

Hbar

[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by Charles

I would go with the DAC2 Module. Having said that the 7200 can form the hub of an excellent high end system. It really did get a good review and LG is a respected reviewer.
Best
Charles

Wonder just how much difference there is between it and my former MA6600 in terms of SQ? The visual is almost identical, which is good thing.
It is not only attractive, but with the DA2 module, is truly close to a "one-box" solution for those of us who are slowly migrating in that direction.

[Charles]

I'm sure the price differential between the DA1 and DA2 modules is minimal. I'd always go with the DA2 module. To me the tuner is the icing on the cake. The MR87 is 4,500.00 and you get the equivalent in the MA7200. This receiver will drive almost any speaker off the 4 ohm tap although I believe LG used the 2 ohm tap.

One little known fact is that I believe the solid cinch binding posts have made the 2 ohm tap much better. You need and extremely solid connection I have heard for the 2 ohm tap and this was difficult with the old binding posts.

Mac is putting put some really great gear at amazing prices these days. Once Mac refines something like their switching or volume control, etc. they move on and the customer doesn't have to pay for it for the next decade. Therefore you get an enormous amount of high quality technology for the cost of the parts. Also Mac sells an order of magnitude more gear.

Best

Charles

[thughes]

I'm sure the price differential between the DA1 and DA2 modules is minimal.

I think upgrading a DA1 to a DA2 is about $1000. it would be important to ensure that the DA2 is already the one installed at the time of purchase.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by thughes

I think upgrading a DA1 to a DA2 is about $1000. it would be important to ensure that the DA2 is already the one installed at the time of purchase.

Agree, but when you consider the cost of most upgrades of competitive gear is in the thousands, one thousand dollars seems very reasonable. Having the most current DAC to me would be important.

Best

Charles