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A friend of mine, Richard Mak from Tone Audio, conducted a fun, informal shootout last night between the McIntosh 2301's vs 2KW vs an older MC3500.
Here are the comments:
6 participants, tested 3 combinations using 6 LPs. On a test with just two tube amps:
1) MC2301 with stock tubes - zero votes
2) MC2301 with GEC KT88 - 5 votes
3) MC3500 - 1 vote
When MC2KW entered into the race:
1) MC2KW - 3 votes
2) MC2301 - 2 votes
3) MC3500 - 1 vote
Notes:
Bill: "2KW has the best instrument layering, separation, sound stage, and power. MC2301 has the best airiness, emotional qualities but lack the dynamic response of the 2kw. I choose MC2kw over all other amps".
Ken: "2KW overall best qualities, tonal balance. balance, bass control, layering, exactly like what Bill had said. Choose 2301 on female vocals only. If I can only take one amp, it will be the mc2kw that I'll take home".
Lawrence: "2KW has the best overall balance, 3 out of 6 LP sounded best with 2kw. On female vocal and tenors, I'll choose MC3500, otherwise MC2kw all the way".
David: "MC3500 has the best tonal coloration. Emotional qualities is very important to me. Overall sonic attribute may not be the best but on some music the mc3500 does something which all other amps cannot. This quality alone or the lack thereof, makes or breaks the decision. The mc3500 is more upfront, so soundstage appears to be smaller. MC2301 is more open, so the soundstage appears to be more extended. I choose mc3500"
Raymond: "2301 is overall best, even on dynamics, displayed through grand orchestral recordings, 2301 excels on clarity, airiness, musicality. low end control and low definition does not suffer, in fact I believe it goes deeper than mc2kw. Surprised to see the US made TUNG Sol NOS 6550 lags behind the GEC KT88 by so much, frequency extension and power is so much better with the GEC. Especially the airiness, GECs are much better"
Rick: "MC3500 must have the ground prong lifted, the sonic quality will be dramatically different. With the ground lifted, the loop and hum disappears totally, otherwise it hinders the music, and rounds out the top and bottom. The MC3500 is vintage sounding. MC2301 weakness lies with the mid range quality, where most tube amps excel. They seem to display a slightly thinned out mid range presentation which makes them appear 'neutral and solid state like'. Otherwise, it trumps the mc3500 / mc2kw in terms of treble extension, airiness, clarity, detail, and other tube colorations. MC2KW, for a solid state amp, sounds remarkably un-solid state, and I agree with everyone that overall tonal balance is best with this amp. Dynamic contrast and control is without doubt the best. But on violins,vocals, chamber music, the tube magic is too seductive to pass. MC2301 has the best clarity and extensions. MC3500 has fuller mids and a weightier presentation. We unanimously agree that the 2301 sucked with the stock tubes. Most evidently with frequency extension, dynamics contrast and control. Tonality is much sweeter when the 12AT7 is replaced with Mullard NOS 12AT7. Brimar black plates are not far behind. ECC801S Teles are a little mechanical. Stock tubes: garbage....... I'll choose the MC2301 out of the three amps."
Here are the comments:
6 participants, tested 3 combinations using 6 LPs. On a test with just two tube amps:
1) MC2301 with stock tubes - zero votes
2) MC2301 with GEC KT88 - 5 votes
3) MC3500 - 1 vote
When MC2KW entered into the race:
1) MC2KW - 3 votes
2) MC2301 - 2 votes
3) MC3500 - 1 vote
Notes:
Bill: "2KW has the best instrument layering, separation, sound stage, and power. MC2301 has the best airiness, emotional qualities but lack the dynamic response of the 2kw. I choose MC2kw over all other amps".
Ken: "2KW overall best qualities, tonal balance. balance, bass control, layering, exactly like what Bill had said. Choose 2301 on female vocals only. If I can only take one amp, it will be the mc2kw that I'll take home".
Lawrence: "2KW has the best overall balance, 3 out of 6 LP sounded best with 2kw. On female vocal and tenors, I'll choose MC3500, otherwise MC2kw all the way".
David: "MC3500 has the best tonal coloration. Emotional qualities is very important to me. Overall sonic attribute may not be the best but on some music the mc3500 does something which all other amps cannot. This quality alone or the lack thereof, makes or breaks the decision. The mc3500 is more upfront, so soundstage appears to be smaller. MC2301 is more open, so the soundstage appears to be more extended. I choose mc3500"
Raymond: "2301 is overall best, even on dynamics, displayed through grand orchestral recordings, 2301 excels on clarity, airiness, musicality. low end control and low definition does not suffer, in fact I believe it goes deeper than mc2kw. Surprised to see the US made TUNG Sol NOS 6550 lags behind the GEC KT88 by so much, frequency extension and power is so much better with the GEC. Especially the airiness, GECs are much better"
Rick: "MC3500 must have the ground prong lifted, the sonic quality will be dramatically different. With the ground lifted, the loop and hum disappears totally, otherwise it hinders the music, and rounds out the top and bottom. The MC3500 is vintage sounding. MC2301 weakness lies with the mid range quality, where most tube amps excel. They seem to display a slightly thinned out mid range presentation which makes them appear 'neutral and solid state like'. Otherwise, it trumps the mc3500 / mc2kw in terms of treble extension, airiness, clarity, detail, and other tube colorations. MC2KW, for a solid state amp, sounds remarkably un-solid state, and I agree with everyone that overall tonal balance is best with this amp. Dynamic contrast and control is without doubt the best. But on violins,vocals, chamber music, the tube magic is too seductive to pass. MC2301 has the best clarity and extensions. MC3500 has fuller mids and a weightier presentation. We unanimously agree that the 2301 sucked with the stock tubes. Most evidently with frequency extension, dynamics contrast and control. Tonality is much sweeter when the 12AT7 is replaced with Mullard NOS 12AT7. Brimar black plates are not far behind. ECC801S Teles are a little mechanical. Stock tubes: garbage....... I'll choose the MC2301 out of the three amps."
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