McIntosh MC601's ...

**joeinid** · January 14, 2014, 01:49 AM

King,

I think the MC601's and MC452 amps have a more modern McIntosh sound. Better all around. I should have mine either by the end of the week or early next week. Mike's blind test confirmed how good the amps sound. Everyone involved had been rooting for their favorites. Their favorites did not include McIntosh, until now.

**Paul** · January 14, 2014, 02:04 AM

Originally Posted by joeinid

King,

I think the MC601's and MC452 amps have a more modern McIntosh sound. Better all around. I should have mine either by the end of the week or early next week. Mike's blind test confirmed how good the amps sound. Everyone involved had been rooting for their favorites. Their favorites did not include McIntosh, until now.

Also I'm not sure Mike's 601's are new or pre owned. Well regardless I strongly believe even the pre owned are still need time to break in with new gears and speakers. The 601's sound will be even better after 200 hours.

**Elberoth** · January 14, 2014, 03:41 AM

I see I need to borrow some Macs from my dealer to check them out. Blue meeters are already lighting my living room at night thanks to the MA6300 integrated.

**joeinid** · January 14, 2014, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by Elberoth

I see I need to borrow some Macs from my dealer to check them out. Blue meters are already lighting my living room at night thanks to the MA6300 integrated.

Ah, I never knew that. Cool!

I would love your opinion of the MC601's. I should have mine next Monday. They should sound great on your S5's.

**Penthouse-D** · January 14, 2014, 10:14 AM

OMG. I'm in shock.....

**Elberoth** · January 14, 2014, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by joeinid

Ah, I never knew that. Cool!

You would be surprised, but it was my wife who choose the Mac ! Ever since I brought the first Mac home, and that was back in 2001 I guess (that was the MA6900) she lusted after those blue meters ! I had a Primare for many, many years in my living room, coupled with Def Tech Mythos Tower ST speakers, but since we are redoing our living room right now, she ordered me to sell the Primare and Def Techs, and get the Mac with Sonus Faber speakers (in Walnut finish). So Mac and SF for me !

**joeinid** · January 14, 2014, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Penthouse-D

OMG. I'm in shock.....

Jim

I know. I know. But I think it's all system dependant AND personal taste.

Originally Posted by Elberoth

You would be surprised, but it was my wife who choose the Mac ! Ever since I brought the first Mac home, and that was back in 2001 I guess (that was the MA6900) she lusted after those blue meters ! I had a Primare for many, many years in my living room, coupled with Def Tech Mythos Tower ST speakers, but since we are redoing our living room right now, she ordered me to sell the Primare and Def Techs, and get the Mac with Sonus Faber speakers (in Walnut finish). So Mac and SF for me !

That's great. Music is personal and I'm glad she has great taste. My Evos are pretty awesome too.

**Penthouse-D** · January 16, 2014, 09:47 AM

I know, I know. I had that exact combo at one point. Actually, I think I've owned almost the entire line at various times. Best of luck!!! I hope you enjoy them. I will admit, that set up is very nice to look at. I do hope the new owners will "iron out" the company. It's an American Icon....

**Mike** · January 16, 2014, 10:02 AM

To my ears, the QB design of the 601/452 make these two amps the best sounding Mc amps I've heard. Fast, punchy, dynamic and VERY smooth on top. If you have a difficult tweeter to tame, Mc amps in general - but these two specifically - can help. I think the 601's will be just what the TAD's need.

**highEndguy** · January 16, 2014, 12:35 PM

The 601 AND 452 are for me the best MC amps

**joeinid** · January 16, 2014, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by highEndguy

The 601 AND 452 are for me the best MC amps

**f1 fan** · January 16, 2014, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by highEndguy

The 601 AND 452 are for me the best MC amps

+1

Dave

**Paul** · January 16, 2014, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by highEndguy

The 601 AND 452 are for me the best MC amps

+3

**Frank** · January 17, 2014, 12:24 PM

Hi from France,
it´s my first post here, but i'm also knew as franklmu

...and of course very happy to be here with you

I also want to return to Mc (after my ex Ayre mxr) and have the choice between a new 452 or a pair of second hand 601, but i also want to simplify. And when i read what you say about the 452...i think it will be a good opportunity to match the 452 and my Sasha

Frank

**joeinid** · January 17, 2014, 12:35 PM

Frank!

Welcome to the forum. Thank you for joining. Check out the link below. Unless you need more power, the single MC452 should have the same sound signature of the MC601.

Shootout #27: Mcintosh MC 452/C50 versus Mcintosh MC 601/ Mcintosh C50

A friend bought one month ago the new mono power amps from Mcintosh, the MC 601. They look glorious with the big blue eyes, which covers almost the whole front face. Power output is 600 Watt per channel, but in a english review this power amp was tested with almost 2.000 Watt! The MC 452 was reviewed by a italian audio magazin with 1183 Watt into 4 Ohms. Mcintosh is big understatment in the prospect data.

After we hooked up everything (which is very difficult, because the MC 601 is almost so heavy like the MC 452, we started with our tests. When we didn´t do a blind test, we had the impression that the MC 601 has the same neutral sonic signature like the MC 452, only in the bass we had the impression, that the MC 601 had a little, little bit more punch than the MC 452.

But when we began with the bind test, we stopped after short time, because there was no difference at all. Also when we played with maximum volume (124 dB by ca. 900 Watts) which the loudspeaker can handle there was no difference at all. In the last shootouts we had the same issue with the Mcintosh MC 452 and the Accuphase A 60 that there was almost no sonic differences hearable. The Mcintosh MC 452 won these test with its pure power. This time the MC 601 couldn´t win this with its pure power, because the loudspeakers Linn 242 cannot handle more than 900 Watts. And the MC 452 can deliver this power. So its a tie, no sonic differences at all.

Winner: Both

http://www.amp-shootout.com/2.html

Home - www.amp-shootout.com

**Frank** · January 17, 2014, 12:42 PM

Thanks Joe

Very interresting

Frank

**joeinid** · January 17, 2014, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Frank

Thanks Joe

Very interresting

Frank

You are welcome!

If you want to simplify, the MC452 would be perfect.

**MDP** · January 17, 2014, 01:51 PM

Welcome to AS Frank !!

**Frank** · January 17, 2014, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by joeinid

Thanks Joe
Very interresting

Frank

You are welcome!

If you want to simplify, the MC452 would be perfect.

Yes...you read in my mind

Frank

**NorthStar** · January 17, 2014, 04:14 PM

Salut Frank, ca vas? ...Bienvenu a AudioRequin!

**Frank** · January 18, 2014, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by MDP

Welcome to AS Frank !!

Thanks

Originally Posted by NorthStar

Salut Frank, ca vas? ...Bienvenu a AudioRequin!

merci beaucoup pour votre accueil

**Hiker** · January 18, 2014, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by BlueMcIntosh

I don't know what it is Mike...there are something special about the McIntosh gears...

You can't duplicate originality.

**KeithR** · January 20, 2014, 04:59 AM

Mike- i had 601s when a used Phi 200 arrived for fun. I ended up selling the Phi a week or two later. I thought the Vac sounded very similar (but didnt roll the KT88s like i should have, only the 6sn7s). I was very surprised as i expected more air, liquidity, bloom, etc.

curious your thoughts...

**Mike** · January 20, 2014, 09:59 AM

Keith - did you roll the tubes? The stock 6SN7's are not to my liking. I put in some treasures and the difference wasn't subtle.

As for VAC sounding like traditional tube amps (even older VAC amps), they don't. I've spoken with Kevin about this many times, and he told me he strives to build amps that don't sound like "tube" or "solid state", but rather amps that sound like "music".

That being said, I'm not surprised at all you kept the 601's. They were the unanimous favorite in a recent fun little blind amp shootout we did at my house.

On my Alexia's, I would say the VAC amps aren't at the top of the list (the D'Agostino amps clobber everything in my opinion). However, on my S5's, the VAC amps are the best sounding - and not by a little. So, it's very speaker dependent.

**matowi** · January 19, 2015, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by joeinid

Shootout #27: Mcintosh MC 452/C50 versus Mcintosh MC 601/ Mcintosh C50

(...)

After we hooked up everything (which is very difficult, because the MC 601 is almost so heavy like the MC 452, we started with our tests. When we didn´t do a blind test, we had the impression that the MC 601 has the same neutral sonic signature like the MC 452, only in the bass we had the impression, that the MC 601 had a little, little bit more punch than the MC 452.

But when we began with the bind test, we stopped after short time, because there was no difference at all. Also when we played with maximum volume (124 dB by ca. 900 Watts) which the loudspeaker can handle there was no difference at all. In the last shootouts we had the same issue with the Mcintosh MC 452 and the Accuphase A 60 that there was almost no sonic differences hearable. The Mcintosh MC 452 won these test with its pure power. This time the MC 601 couldn´t win this with its pure power, because the loudspeakers Linn 242 cannot handle more than 900 Watts. And the MC 452 can deliver this power. So its a tie, no sonic differences at all.

Winner: Both

A very interesting conclusion. Would it then be fair to say, based on your test, that in a relatively small listening room (20x15 feet roughly) it could be a more sensible choice to go for a 452, rather than a pair of 601s, given the lack of overwhelming difference in their sonic qualities, low to medium listening volumes and imperfect acoustics of the said room?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**joeinid** · January 19, 2015, 09:14 PM

Hi,

My answer would be YES!

The test was done and posted on this website. Home - www.amp-shootout.com

http://www.amp-shootout.com/2.html

They love the McIntosh and Accuphase gear there. I can understand why.

Originally Posted by matowi

A very interesting conclusion. Would it then be fair to say, based on your test, that in a relatively small listening room (20x15 feet roughly) it could be a more sensible choice to go for a 452, rather than a pair of 601s, given the lack of overwhelming difference in their sonic qualities, low to medium listening volumes and imperfect acoustics of the said room?

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**GaryProtein** · January 19, 2015, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Fired up the new 601's tonight. . . . Separation is better than expected. . . .

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I appreciate your exuberance with your terrific new amps, but how could you NOT have great separation with any model of monoblocks???

Enjoy your new power amps. They are sure to make you happy until . . . . your next box-swap!

**Mike** · January 19, 2015, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by GaryProtein

I appreciate your exuberance with your terrific new amps, but how could you NOT have great separation with any model of monoblocks???

Enjoy your new power amps. They are sure to make you happy until . . . . your next box-swap!

Gary - keep up. That was a year ago.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**GaryProtein** · January 20, 2015, 12:27 AM

Ooops! I saw the thread today and it had new posts, so I posted!

**matowi** · January 20, 2015, 03:09 AM

Blame it on me for reheating an old thread

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**M2wason** · January 20, 2015, 03:55 AM

Just want share my experience, all I can say is tha the MC601s at least for me,
it' money very well spend. It's going to be with me for a very long long time.

**Mike** · January 20, 2015, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by M2wason

Just want share my experience, all I can say is tha the MC601s at least for me,
it' money very well spend. It's going to be with me for a very long long time.

Terrific amps, which by the way, if you read back, beat some other pretty good amps in our blind shootout. The 452/601's are the epitome of fatigue free listening. I loved my 2301's too.

**BruceLet** · January 20, 2015, 08:26 AM

I've owned the 452, matched up with a pair of Sonus Faber Evos. What a sweet sounding system! I did find that, in this system, I needed a preamp other than my McIntosh C2300. The C2300, with the MC452 and Evos was far too much of a good thing, sounding muddy and lacking punch and detail. I replaced the C2300 with an Audio Research REF5SE and it all came together.....One of the best and sweetest systems I ever put together.

**o0OBillO0o** · January 20, 2015, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by BruceLet

I've owned the 452, matched up with a pair of Sonus Faber Evos. What a sweet sounding system! I did find that, in this system, I needed a preamp other than my McIntosh C2300. The C2300, with the MC452 and Evos was far too much of a good thing, sounding muddy and lacking punch and detail. I replaced the C2300 with an Audio Research REF5SE and it all came together.....One of the best and sweetest systems I ever put together.

BruceLet, Good report- now, from your signature (C500T) how did the REF5SE compare?

Two, has anyone ever compared the MC601 to the MC275? besides Mike ;-)

**PMCH** · January 20, 2015, 08:47 PM

I tried two MC275s in mono against my MC601s. I only kept the MC275s for a couple of days. I found more detail in the music with the MC601s. My ears must be tuned to SS power.

**o0OBillO0o** · January 21, 2015, 12:32 AM

Tuned? Hahaha. I wish I could demo a pair in my system.

I heard a C500T,MC601 pair, with XRT1K at a dealer in Jacksonville, FL it was great for a big room. I think I am partial to smaller rooms.

**volks** · January 21, 2015, 02:46 PM

Long live the 601's

**M2wason** · January 21, 2015, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by volks

Long live the 601's

Hi Volks, just want to ask you, how do you like your xr100 speakers as I plan to get a pair in the future? Thanks

**veindoc** · January 21, 2015, 09:17 PM

Lovely amp stands as well. Enjoy. Back to the Future-S5??

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