McIntosh MC601's ...

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 :D

Frank
 
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
 
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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...
 
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.
 
joeinid said:
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
Click to expand...

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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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.

matowi said:
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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Click to expand...
 
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Mike said:
Fired up the new 601's tonight. . . . Separation is better than expected. . . .

attachment.php


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Click to expand...

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!:D
 
GaryProtein said:
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!:D
Click to expand...

Gary - keep up. That was a year ago. :)


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Blame it on me for reheating an old thread ;)


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