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REVIEW: McIntosh MA6600 Integrated Amplifier (SS)

Model: MA6600
Category: Integrated Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price: $6000
Description: Integrated Amplifier
Manufacturer URL: McIntosh
Model Picture: View

Review by hifi heretic on January 02, 2013 at 09:40:15
IP Address: 173.49.140.240
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for the MA6600


I've owned my McIntosh MA6600 for just over a year now and though it appropriate to share my impressions.

Why an integrated amp?
I prefer the tidiness of integrated amps. Plus, I've always had fewer problems with hum and hiss with integrateds which is ironic because the argument for separates has generally been that by separating the power and pre sections you reduce hum/noise. ..For me, the opposite has always been true.

Why McIntosh:
Though absurdly expensive for an unnecessary appliance, I love the look, tactile feel, and build quality of Mac gear. Plus, as much of my music is the product of rather imperfect recording techniques, I insist on having simple tone controls (bass/treble), mono switch and a balance control. The argument against these controls has been that they deteriorate the signal, but I believe this to be a myth. ..Usually, they're left at zero doing no harm, but when listening to an overly dull or bright album, or if my dishes are rattling in the cupboards, I find a slight tweaking of one or both to be enough to make the song more enjoyable.

And the mono switch is equally indispensable when listening to recordings from the early days of stereo when engineers often had voices coming from one speaker and instruments from the other making the recording unlistenable from any seating position other than dead center.

Lastly, although I harbor no grudges toward foreign products (my house is filled with them, including the apple macbook I'm typing on), I kinda like that Mac gear is built just a few hours away in a small mill town in NY.

What I like about the MA6600:
Again the build quality is fabulous. On the outside, the knobs have a very solid feel, rotate perfectly straight, and the switches have a solid "click" to them. ..Peering inside of the unit you find picture perfect soldering, cleanly laid PC boards, etc.. I'm a stickler for fit/finish and this component over delivers in this respect both inside and out.

As for sonic indications of quality, there's much of this as well: Unlike the B&K 202+/ Pro10mc & Bryston 3Bsst/BP25 power/pre combos that preceded it, the MA6600 is dead silent when no source is playing and the volume is turned wayyy up. I don't hear ANY hum, hiss. Likewise, when the source is paused but another input has a signal (like my TV Cable box which is always on) I hear ZERO signal bleed through even a full gain. Both the B&K and Bryston combos had tons of this. Also, I love that as I turn the volume down, each channel attenuates at the same rate all the way to zero gain. I often listen at very quiet levels and am bothered when I have to adjust the balance to equalize the volume b/w channels. The B&K was okay in this respect, but the Bryston had to go back to the factory to be adjusted for this problem (and was not completely fixed). None of these issues are likely to diminish listening enjoyment during normal circumstances, but to my thinking they are indicative of engineering and build quality.

There are also some unique features that are made possible by the micro-processor controlled pre-amp that I find indispensable. For example, I love being able to carefully match the volume levels for each input. My turntable, Squeezebox, Apple Mini, and Cable Box, all seem to have different output voltages which means huge swings in volume when switching b/w inputs. I love being able to eliminate this problem - indeed a wonderful feature.

The controversial "Blue Meters":
To McIntosh devotees, the hallmark blue meters are an endearing and unique design feature; to McIntosh detractors, they're a silly gimmick that add needlessly to the cost of Mac gear. Though it is true they serve no essential purpose and certainly add something to their cost, you can put me in the first camp. Ever worried about over-driving my speakers (Paradigm Signature S8 v2) I like being able to refer to the meters to make sure that I'm well below the danger zone. ..In fact, I was very surprised to find that even when I'm nearing the point of deafening my children and inviting a visit from the cops, I'm still only around 20 watts. This is due to my speakers being rather efficient (92db/watt) and moderate sized listening room.

Sound:
Well, sorry to disappoint. But I'm not going to give my impression of what the amp sounds like. Suffice to say, McIntosh has engineered this amp to "quietly" drive any real-world speaker to deafening levels without any hint of strain. And it does this beautifully. I'm sure the audio wine-tasters will chime in, but to my ears - which I should point out measure quite well and are quite keenly attuned to musical nuance - all modern amps which are engineered to be linear and are operating within their limits sound pretty much alike these days. So for those wanting to know about it's PRAT, imaging, bass tightness, etc.. you'll have to read the (always quite glowing) reviews found elsewhere.

What I don't like:
Though the MA6600 has the tone and balance controls I require, I would prefer that these functions be controlled directly by dedicated knobs on the front rather than engaged through a menu. Obviously, some Mac Pre-amps and Integrated amps offer this, but not the MA6600. Nonethless, I need to only turn the "Trim Select" knob two clicks and I'm at Treble, then one more for bass. Not a big deal.


Product Weakness: (See above) tone controls accessed via menu
Product Strengths: (See above) Internal/ External build quality; sensible feature set


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: McIntosh MA6600
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Apple Mini-based Music Server; Arcam rDac; Apple TV; Technics SL1200mk2 TT
Speakers: Paradigm Signature S8 v2 Floor-standers
Cables/Interconnects: generic
Music Used (Genre/Selections): All genres; too many artists to lists
Room Size (LxWxH): 15 x 18 x 10
Time Period/Length of Audition: 12 mos.
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: McIntosh MA6600 Integrated Amplifier (SS) - hifi heretic 09:40:15 01/02/13 (81)

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