Mcintosh Headphones.

+1 above for the same reasons.

How too would the MHA100 compare against the C1000T headphone amp or even the MCD1100 head amp?

The MHA100+MHP1000 is a compelling combination.
 
I heard the Mc can setup at RMAF. MEH. Wasn't overly impressed. I felt the Oppo setup (cans and amp) sounded quite a bit better, but a hell of a lot less money. But admittedly, the Audeze LCD-3's sounded best to me. I tried lots of little tube headphone amps, and they were nice, but limiting in features compared to the Oppo headphone amp - which also sounds great.

The Mc stuff looked good, had good power, but the price of the combo was a bit high comparatively given its sound. YMMV.
 
I must say I was also very impressed with the Oppo. Great value.

I also like the Woo Wes + Stax SR9 and the Woo monoblocks + Abyss AB1266.

Buying USA abroad ATM is a real issue. Happy Aussie import days are over. McIntosh gear has practically doubled since I bought up a few years ago. Would like to buy some more USA gear, but the local dealers are not coming to the table.
 
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Still considering or the Oppo combination. Any new owners here?

have listened to th Oppo but not the Mac. No DSD with the Mac I suppose?
 

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KingRT10 said:
What are the latest pro's and cons on the McIntosh Headphones?

I am not price sensitive.
SQ sensitive , yes!!
Click to expand...

Perhaps headphones are another one of those items that is a personal decision and not something you can come out and say, "this one is better than the other". We all hear, see and smell things similar but also different. It's our own unique experience.

When I was testing headphones. I was dead set against the MHP1000. I went into House of Music SF with a bad attitude about these headphones. "Nope, they'll be crap".

I was hell-bent to buy the Grado Labs PS1000 and I had already auditioned: Sennheiser HD-800, Beyerdynamic T1 Tesla and the Audeze LCD3. Though, I was interested in auditioning the Stax SR-009 but have yet to find a pair in the hifi stores I have visited. Though, I am not convinced I want to spend an excess of $5,000.

After auditioning the Grado Labs PS1000, there was a pair of the MHP1000s connected and I decided...lets hear how bad these sound...and I was floored at just how great they sounded to my ears. Mind you, I was already sold on the Grado Labs PS1000s.

I spent a solid hour plus switching back and forth between the head phones. I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, every time that I would go to switch to the Grado's, Ron C would come by and ask what I thought and make some small talk.

In the end, I purchased them. For me, I appreciate the full body sound. There were no extreme high or lows. My ear palate says, they sound balanced and seem to deliver the sonic nuences with confidence. The workmanship and refinement is obvious. These are not cheaply made headphones.

My caution is that everyone's ear is like solving for 'X'. It's a variable. Everyone has their own tastes. So, what you gotta do is audition them along with other headphones.

[FONT=verdana, geneva, lucida, lucida grande, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]As a Side Note: I always take reviews and reviewers under advisement but do not base my decisions on their recommendations until I personally audition and review it for myself.
[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, geneva, lucida, lucida grande, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I read a review recently that didn't digest well for me. The reviewers stated that the MHP1000s headphones are for the true McIntosh fan and that there are cheaper models that sound just as good. Well, I didn't buy them because I'm a fan. In fact, my personal taste, I am not a fan of the blue cord [not a deal braker] and the look of them attractive but there are sexier headphones - sure.[/FONT]

As for the sound being on par with [cheaper models]. I have not compared them to say Sony, OPPO, AudioQuest and the other lower end price point headphones out there. What is unsubstantiated by the reviewer is saying that [there are cheaper models that sound just as good] without listing comparison details. Did the reviewer actually sit down and conduct a side by side comparison with the cheaper models? If so, list the competition and findings. Otherwise, to me, this statement is a bit empty.
 
I have a pair of Sennheiser 650's with a Headroom dedicated balanced amp, and Cardas dedicated headphone cable. To ME, I have never heard better sound...just wondering if anyone familiar with the 650's can compare them to the Mac's, et al.
 
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