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I'm looking for something better to drive my Totem Model One Signatures, and Totem has provided 4 choices that they have found to be good matches, one of them McIntosh, specifically a 6500 or 6900 integrated. I keep seeing an ad in TAS for NYSS Home Theater with great prices on used McIntosh gear. I could get Mc separates (mc-2150 power/ c-20 tube pre) for around $1600. If I go McIntosh are there any particular models I should look for, or any I should specifically avoid? Anyone have experience buying used from NYSS Home Theater?
Follow Ups:
Concerning the MA 6300 as being "bright, edgy, fatiguing, and lacking inner detail": I have read just the opposite from a German McIntosh-fan who has tried it, so one should go and try for himself.
The two links below should provide pricing for used McIntosh Equipment:http://www.mcintoshaudio.com/
http://www.nysshometheater.com/
Perhaps the best ...
Bill Bailey
___________________________________________
See my stereo config
Please see these two sites for additional background information on McIntosh products:http://alumni.cse.ucsc.edu/~sherman/
http://www.roger-russell.com/
Another source for used McIntosh equipment is below:
What you should take into account is, as good as they are, the 2105 and C20 are vintage pieces. Whereas the 6500 and 6900 are current models, that utilize the latest parts and technology. Of course, this is reflected in the cost also.
I've not heard Totem's loudspeakers so I cannot speak about amplification that synergizes well with them. But I can recommend the McIntosh MA6500 (I've owned one for nearly five years) if you seek sonics that are very smooth, clean, and liquid (zero grain or edge), leaning a tiny bit to the side of warmth. The unit is fatigue-free and has an easy-going sound that is seductive and very musical.For another room I recently purchased a Quad 99 preamp and Quad 909 power amp ($900 and $1350, respectively). The pair are sonically very, very similar to the MA6500. All I said above about the McIntosh integrated amp applies equally to the Quad gear. But only if one uses a better interconnect cable than the sonically edgy Quad-Link supplied by the manufacturer--I recommend the Bluejeans (bluejeanscable.com) 1694A cable, which costs a ridiculously low $40 or so.
In fact, I'm not sure which I like better overall, the MA6500 or the Quad units. The Quads offer spectacular performance for the money. They outperformed several others I auditioned at home, including the new and disappointing McIntosh MA6300, which was bright, edgy, fatiguing, and lacking inner detail. It sounded nothing at all like the MA6500. After about six weeks of ownership, the MA6300 went back to my local dealer, from whom I later purchased the Quads.
As for the NYSS dealership, I spoke with them late last year, prior to ordering the Quads. I declined to purchase any used McIntosh equipment from them when a sales rep told me such purchases are nonrefundable. I prefer not to purchase components from dealers that do not offer a home audition backed by a refund policy.
Good, you just saved me phone call. Can you tell what I would expect to pay for a 6500? I think I would probably prefer this one to the 6900, which has an equalizer. I typically prefer more basic designs.
A new McIntosh MA6500 costs $4000. I have no idea what used ones go for. The Quad 99 and 909 combo costs $2250 at full retail.
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