The SOUND of PERFECTION -- McIntosh C55 and MC312 Review

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

📌 Considering the McIntosh C55 or MC312? Find them here bit.ly/4bv5wT7 and bit.ly/3xJAY1Y 🔌 DON’T FORGET! Leave your questions in the comments to be featured on the next Unplugged! You can catch up on all the UNPLUGGED episodes here bit.ly/43NnDkT 😀Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please hit the 👍 Like button! 🙏 Please stay on topic and be respectful. 🚫Comments containing links, self-promotion, or personal info are automatically deleted.

[@mrpmj00]

Of course the dac inside the Eversolo and McCintosh are going to sound about the same because they're both chips. Try a highend R2R dac like Denafrips Pontus II 12th or higher. ===== source=Apple Music lossless

[@leelakrishnan9463]

Myself reserve McIntosh products to future considerations for Bowers & Wilkins, Sonus Faber and Focal to celebrate lifetime ❤❤❤❤

[@tagtag-connected5263]

Xmas wish just came true. McIntosh finally are coming with internal streamer in their new compact amplifier. MSA 5500 is integrated but hoping the technology moves into their other pre-amps down the road. Can also outsource power to one of their power amps in this setup. MSA 5500 is a solution some of us have been waiting for. I want my DAC and Streamer in the same chassis. Looking for your thoughts Andrew on such a solution from McIntosh just as they were purchased by Bose. I’m sure this has been in the works for a long time.

[@shawakwak]

MSA5500

[@kendeeb947]

I almost feel guilty that it had taken me this long to acknowledge you two. I’ve been watched my now around two years and totally appreciate your reviews. I’m a huge fan and have purchased several pieces of electronics as my wife and I have a new home under construction complete with a Home Theater which I personally can’t wait to experience. Not my first, but hopefully despite some budgetary constraints, my best and much of the steps up and forward are in large part that’s to you guys! My very best wishes to you in your new home! Thanks so very much! I’ll try and send a little love your way every now and then and won’t take 2 years to do it! Sorry about the long note but I’ve had these thoughts and feelings bottled up for a couple years! Best!!! Ken

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Ken, thank you so very much for your kindness and support. Kristi and I wish you all the best with your new home theater. If you're on Instagram, you can tag me @recoveringaudiophile when you get it all done if you care to share. Have a great rest of your day!

[@kendeeb947]

Thanks so much to both of you!

[@zoltanbuday2090]

Thanks, outstanding work Kristi and Andrew. ❤ all you do!

[@KristiWright]

Thank you!

[@SrVidaBuena]

Back in the late 90s I bought an MC150 and C712 along with floor model Klipsch kg 5.5. They’re still in my system; still sound phenomenal. Meter lamps don’t work on the amp, which I’ll remedy this fall. My neighbor who first introduced me to the brand with his MC2105, C28, and MR74 passed those components down to me about 10 years ago. They need more extensive servicing, if I can find someone to do it. It’s gear I’ll keep forever.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

You may be able to get McIntosh to do the service (albeit for a fee). I would reach out to them and see what they say. Thank you so much for your support!

[@mangoeruption]

McIntosh and WiiM user here! I have the C2700 preamp + MC462 amp combo and have been using a WiiM as a dedicated transport via Coax to the DA2 and it works and sounds phenomenal. Besides saving money, the apps of other high end streamers still haven’t come close to what WiiM and BluOS are doing for user experience. Great review!

[@JeffHeon]

Thank you for a stellar review! I want one but I can’t have one but I want one but I can’t have one but… Seriously, it just makes me happy that such a product exists.

[@SteveRig82]

Thanks! I love my McIntosh gear, it took me over 40 years to finally attain my end game system. I do have the MC312 that drive my back speakers Arendal 1723 towers, fabulous combo! Thanks again Andrew and Kristy for what you do! Now curious what Kristy thought because she wasn’t fond of the meters on the MAC7200. Have an awesome day!!

[@KristiWright]

They've grown on me, Steve!!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Steve wins the Carl award (I say lovingly), an MC312 just for rears! That's a boss move, my friend. I bet it sounds awesome! Thanks so much for your support.

[@SteveRig82]

@@andrewrobinsonreviewsMy front speakers are McIntosh XR100 driven by a pair of MC611 both sets from a C2700 tube preamp! Crystal clear at concert levels! But awesome at less than a watt per channel too! Thanks again!!

[@ClemFandango72]

@@SteveRig82dude…..save some ladies for the rest of us

[@SteveRig82]

@@KristiWrighthaha awesome, I fell in love with them when I was a teenager 40 some years ago!

[@josephpizzolato5293]

Andrew my mc255 power my front three sonetto V’s. Pure bliss. You tantalized us for months with those blue lights in your living room! All I can say to those who don’t have the Mac- it’s probably the one of the few products in my life that I never had buyers remorse with. Each time you listen you fall back in love with it. I’m not sure if it’s true of every new product but for certain- you can’t find any hiss here….

[@williamhicks2763]

Really nice to hear your opinion for us who haven’t had the chance to live with a Mc long term. Thanks.

[@francescotenti193]

Timeless beauty and quality and proudly built in Binghamton, NY, USA! One tuition away, my youngest son!, before treating myself to a Mc amp!

[@NightShazz9000]

Once you go Mac, you never go back! MA-6600 user here. It really is that good 👌

[@tunejunky]

i love McIntosh. for many folks the best way is to buy used Mc. it's so solid, reliable, and easily repairable. most Mc dealers sell used Mc with a guarantee... check it out i haven't changed my 7.1 amps in 30 years - my Mc754 (x4) still make a joke of even high end home theaters, and there's no receiver made that sounds as good. i've changed pre-amps/processors many times 5-6x, but the Mc stays

[@jamestindle2077]

It was great to see genuine excitement in your review of the McIntosh!

[@stevezeidman7224]

I haven’t commented in a long while but want to here. I have several pieces of vintage McIntosh. They are 50 years old and still sound beautiful with the sweet McIntosh midrange. I play them daily and still love them. Btw, the vintage stuff is far more affordable than other vintage gear like Pioneer and Marantz.

[@aruth51485]

Great review… I have been looking at McIntosh equipment for a long time and finally purchased the integrated MA12000. It’s the flagship integrated model and it’s fantastic. Never thought I would purchase something this expensive but after looking at them for a long time I jumped in and made the purchase. I am glad I did, they make great equipment and It’s a piece of equipment I will have for a very long time.

[@stephencosta6814]

Even when you sell it, you won’t take a bath financially speaking

[@aruth51485]

@@stephencosta6814 yeah it’s pretty awesome. I picked up the 75th anniversary edition but did get a good discount since I have been looking a while.

[@stephencosta6814]

@@aruth51485 nice to hear I’ve spent so many years trying different equipment. A lot of it was hassle and some of it was fun. If I knew McIntosh sounded this good. I wish I had gotten it from the start and ended this journey long time ago.

[@aruth51485]

@@stephencosta6814 I felt the same thing, after listening to the different models with my speakers at the store I decided to get the MA1200 💪, I figured might as well take the leap and it’s been great. Wish I would have bought one a few years back. The price just keeps going up.

[@williamhicks2763]

I appreciate your comment. I’m currently trying to decide between the expensive MAC7200 or going all in on the MA12000 and then this review makes me really wonder if giving up the tube stage for separates at a higher cost is a bridge too far. It’s good to hear you are happy with your choice. If I go that with the 12000 I could never bring myself to tell my wife ai wanted to try something else.

[@Agent-fg9ol]

I personally would never, ever be able to afford any piece of Macintosh gear but I have to say, I'm totally in love with the look. It's the perfect middle ground between the past and still being relevant looks wise as anything I've ever seen.

[@masamunexc]

Mcintosh , the king of American amps. Now we need a review of the king of Japanese amps, Accuphase to compare to :)

[@johncrowe1917]

You need to be a king to afford either!¡! Lol

[@improvedgarage]

It was definitely worth more than a $2.00 super thanks ;)

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Mic drop. Appreciate the support so much!

[@KristiWright]

^ Wins the internet today!

[@gavriushka]

I’m glad that performance in here is the absolute most important focus. Sooo many devices come out nowadays promises anything but a pot of gold, and fall short of most of the promises and especially performance. That being said, I’d love to see just how close their super integrated amplifiers get to this combo, like MA12000. That thing looks like the absolute monster that you’d buy for the rest of your life. Great review as always! Hope everyone is having a lovely, sunny Sunday!

[@KristiWright]

Just here to say hello!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I think we'll get into how this pair competes with the MA7200 we reviewed, as I, too, was curious if I could get by with just an integrated or if separates (at least with MAC gear) were the way to go. I'm not done mixing and matching. The C55 has been returned, but MAC HQ let the MC312 hang out for another two months while I test it with some other MAC pieces to see if I want to make MAC part of our permanent home system.

[@gavriushka]

@@KristiWright hello ma’am! Hope your Sunday morning is going well! 💐

[@gavriushka]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews oooo! That sounds like a delicious system brewing to me! Very curious about the Friday discussion and Kristi’s thoughts!

[@mangoeruption]

@@andrewrobinsonreviewsthe MA12000 integrated might be up your alley. It’s as good as it’s separates brethren for the most part and maybe even better tbh.

[@james-5845]

A while back when you replied to my comment on the B&W review about if you would be doing a video on this pair, its been one ive been looking forward to every sunday, wondering when it would drop. When i got the notification I stopped everything's and watched it immediately. This pair has been on my shortlist for a while to go with my Paradigm founder 120hs. At my local Sound and Vision they had the founders playing through the c55 and mc462. All I could say is wow. They didnt have the 312 for demo, now after hearing your review i think ill save the 2500 and go with the 312. Gonna have this combo ordered soon and might try the WIIM route vs the evsrsolo A8 (what i was looking at). Thanks for a great and informative review!

[@stephencosta6814]

Great choice enjoy

[@coldkut]

Using a mc312 + 255 with mx123 as pre in a 5.2 Sonus faber Olympica Nova setup. My paradise of peace, audio and gaming! Glad you enjoyed the 312, cheers from Quebec!

[@KristiWright]

I bet that sounds so good! Thanks for watching.

[@AA-ws3vd]

@@coldkut wow! Goals for retirement.

[@stephencosta6814]

@@AA-ws3vd you don’t have to retire. I’m not rich and I have the system took me a little while to save up, but I got it. Don’t wait till you’re a senior citizen.😮

[@pablofuentes6562]

Thanks for your review, I’m a McIntosh lover, I have a MC452 with C2600 plus MTC80 and I loved..regards from Santiago Chile

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Nice! So glad you enjoyed the review!

[@ProfoundProductions]

I have the integrated version of that system, the MA9500 and I highly recommend it. I bought it after auditioning several amps to run my Paradigm Personas and it really helped the mid bass while toning down the edge on their Beryllium tweeters. I also use the Eversolo A8 but much prefer the McIntosh’s DAC, even after trying room correction the Eversolo sounded thinner. Paired with a Rel Carbon sub and my stereo finally hit the sweet spot where I have no desire to ever upgrade. Bonus : The MA9500 has bad ass handles on the front! ;-)

[@stratos27]

I have the MC-312 and opted for the C49 over the C55. With the money I saved I went with a Hifi Rose RS250A streamer. I agree with you on the 312. The amp is amazing!!!

[@williamhicks2763]

Do you know how the MA12000 compares to the separates and if you think the tube stage would be better, worse, or a draw? I have two dedicated 20 amp circuit’s to work with.

[@brianlewis5042]

Ahh McIntosh….. What can anyone say. Such an iconic brand that has stood the test of time. As young man looking through all of those stereo magazines, I always was drawn to their products. I am glad to see that they are moving in the right direction with regards to connectivity. No snobbish attitude wiith McIntosh. HMDI and digital inputs are a modern day must and should be offered not as option .i hope others will follow suit. Maybe if all of your subscribers bombard McIntosh with letters on how much you loved the combination, who knows, they breakdown and just send it to you, Just because ……. I think that would be great for them to do. Take care Andrew and Kristi. Cheers.

[@michaelrossmaessler200]

I remember a number of years ago there was a bar that favored Jazz music and their sound equipment was McIntosh. Something to behold. (Jukebox ? What's a jukebox ?) It wasn't cheap even back then. Ohhh so nice though 😊

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Always a pleasure, Brian.

[@jeffberg8015]

When I was a teenager, McIntosh components driving Klipschorns were my dream system. Someday, I said, when I had the boodles of money I was surely going to earn down the road. I'm 60 now and unfortunately I never achieved McIntosh money.

[@rumporridge1]

You’re a millionaire in life cause you wake up everyday and can go about your day normally. That’s priceless my friend. Enjoy your music experience with whatever you can afford.

[@r.e.campos8857]

@@rumporridge1 Provided it is a Mac... and the car is Porsche...

[@johnlangdon4338]

I found my McIntosh fix with an MX130 preamp, Parasound A23 powering Sonus Faber Sonetto IIIs & Miller & Kreisel V-2B subwoofer. I needed a lot of inputs for cassette (Nakamichi BX300), ReVox A77 reel, VCR, cable, Music Hall turntable with Ortofon Bronze, DAT, Cambridge Audio universal disc player, plus an HHB 830 Burn-it CD recorder. I recently was forced to retire due to a mild stroke and I now have lots of time to enjoy my system.

[@larryh9525]

Andrew, the Wiim reference was priceless. About two minutes before you mentioned it, I thought the same thing. Well done! As for the lack of steps on the tone controls, it would have been a nice touch if engineering had shown the adjustment on the LCD screen as a control was being moved. This would enable someone using REW to have the precision necessary.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Yeah, unless I missed a setting on the remote or on the face of the C55 ( I don't believe I did ), the EQ dials do not show an adjustment on the display, whereas general tone and balance do.

[@lonniefarmer7067]

Thanks, Always fun to see the higher end!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

We try to cover as wide a variety as we can. This was a fun breath of fresh air for me.

[@mcgill89]

Bought an mc452 amp and c50 pre a few years ago. I don’t think I’ll ever need to look for an upgrade again.

[@Genehow-ard]

Thanks!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thank you so much!

[@KristiWright]

[@Harry-Giles]

Stellar job as always conveying grounded but very detailed impressions and thoughts on audio gear. Was looking forward to the Mc review and enjoyed it. Hello to both of you guys.

[@KristiWright]

Thank you so much, Harry!

[@deanfisher1656]

Interestingly you mentioned Mark Levinson. I currently run a 585.5 integrated amp and was stunned by the phono stage installed and Dac. The phono section is world class and the Dac runs a race with my Holo Audio Spring 3. Agree with your assessment on installed options. Mac has it going on, but still require careful match as their warmth can be too much of a good thing😊

[@rafacq]

Way out of my league! Glad you got to play with it.

[@techmed-rainer]

Danke!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thank you so much. Kristi and I hope you're doing great!

[@RichardOzOuzounian]

In my listening tests which were conducted at the former Hi-Fi Hutch in Mt. Prospect, IL in the late '70's & early '80's the McIntosh gear always sounded the best through Klipsch speakers. HFH had JBL, KLH, Advent and many other of the "classics" you talk about today. I used to try the SAE, Marantz and Crown gear in A/B tests and with other speakers but nothing beat McIntosh - Klipsch combination. From your excellent review it sounds like that still holds true today and I'm happy to hear it!

[@williamhicks2763]

It’s also incredible withe the higher end Sonus Faber lines from my experience.

[@saltaormina9404]

Exquisite review 🔥. Kinda feel like Mac gear deserves their own blanket and separate temperature controlled room 😂 and a warm glass of milk before going to bed. Goodnight and thank you from Nobleton ON…💚💙💚💙💚

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Sal, hope you catch Unplugged today. You make an appearance!

[@saltaormina9404]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews🎉🎉 I will watch later today!!!

[@saltaormina9404]

@@andrewrobinsonreviewsglad you and Kristi enjoyed my comment! LoL. Thank you for the shoutout!!

[@DrAlanWeinstein]

What great review plus great advice on alternatives to live with. Thanks as usual.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I am so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate our suggestions. Hope your weekend is going well!

[@ridirefain6606]

As a Mac fanboy I loved your take on these two products. I find them to be one of the few brands that is voiced to address fatigue. Not known for the most accurate sound out there but most of the time their products are a pleasant listen for the long haul. Like you, I used the built in DAC 2 module on my piece, instead of my streamer's built in DAC. Found the sound to be easier on the ear and more natural. Loosing that hard to describe ephemeral sheen of otherworldly pristine perfection that digital can sometimes impart to the music.

[@mikeg2491]

Not a fan of Mac’s built in DAC on my mha150 headphone amp but pair it with a solid R2R or Chord dac and it’s end game territory to me.

[@ridirefain6606]

@@mikeg2491 Understandable. MHT 150 has an earlier generation of DAC module and is not the DAC2 that is in my piece. Not saying one would not benefit using a dedicated after-market product. Only that I found the one built into my Mac piece more enjoyable than the one my streamer uses.

[@kanchanok.t]

been waiting to see this review since I saw them behind you for sometime now 😂

[@chulwoo00]

Now you are making me feel really bad missing out on mc2105 for $1K. ( I know it is not mc312, but...) , if I ever get my hands on Mac, it would be thanks to you. Great review! very much enjoyed

[@audiorick841]

Thank for reviewing the MC312 not a lot of reviews about that fantastic amp out there.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

It's AWESOME!

[@stephencosta6814]

Very true there is not a lot of reviews at all on a lot of Macintosh stuff. I have their entry level amplifier.It’s a dream ❤

[@markweston2272]

I agree about the C55 preamp. A McIntosh MX preamp is intriguing, but Emotiva is coming out with a major update of their av processor line with MCX2 plus being one. A review of the McIntosh MX 200 and Emotiva MCX plus av preamps being compared would be quite interesting.

[@userknownastom]

Solid and informative review, of course. I’m partial to reviews that are more ‘based on these albums, CDs, videos and streaming items here’s what I think’ instead of summarizing the users manual.

[@AnotherAnonymousMan]

I desperately want to see a showdown between this and a Hegel H600. 😍😍😍 Also, superb review, as always!

[@KristiWright]

That would be fun! Sadly, I gave up on my Hegel requests.

[@AnotherAnonymousMan]

@@KristiWright Oh no... That's such a shame!

[@stephencosta6814]

Great choice to compare

[@stephencosta6814]

@@KristiWright😢

[@DrawTheLine35]

I’m just going you say it, I like McIntosh equipment solely by how good it looks. Whenever I’ve heard it demoed, it always sounds fine. But it’s the aesthetic that I appreciate most, lol

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Fair enough!

[@KristiWright]

*We are six subscribers away from hitting 375,000! Thank you all for continuing to watch and be a part of our community.*

[@KristiWright]

We did it!!! 375,001!! Thank you all for everything!

[@marklloyd4153]

$9K I’ll keep my $2300 Rotel 1592 MKIi you and Kristi turned me onto . I love the power it has running my Polk R700z and classic 99 with my Eversolo DMP A8 . I’m in bliss for $5800 . Quite a bit less than just the Mac .

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I would encourage you to continue to enjoy the system you have, it sounds awesome!

[@marklloyd4153]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews thank you . I owe it all to you and Kristi

[@williamhicks2763]

Fantastic review! Now you have to do the MA12000 pretty please! As an integrated plus tube stage would in be better for a little less? I’ve really been struggling to decide if I should get the MAC7200 ($8000) or if it is worth blowing my budget on the MA12000 ($15000). I have hopes that one day either me or my decedents will be able to pair one of these with a pair Sonus Faber Amati speakers without starting from scratch. For now I’m on the KEF R11 Metas powered by Emotiva with matching center channel and Genelec G4 powered surrounds. I made the mistake of having a long listening session of the Amatis driven by about $100,000 in McIntosh gear at a local dealer and found my happy place far exceeded my budget and room acoustics but wanted to at least make some progress toward that goal along the way.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thank you for your support and there are a few more McIntosh reviews on the horizon, though I have not formally requested the MA12000. But I can look into it. I also think a pair of Sonus Faber speakers are arriving soon, so stay tuned for that.

[@WireHedd]

Thanks! WiiM crack made me laff.LOL

[@KristiWright]

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thanks so much! Glad you found it funny. The joke came about when we were writing the script, and I said that by going with the WiiM OVER the McIntosh streamer, I saved customers $4,899.00. Kristi shorted what I said down to the joke you get in the review.

[@paulhalucha526]

Awesome review Andrew. I’ve had the 312 for going on 5 years matched with the C8 preamp with the DAC-2 and the JBL L100 Classic speakers. I use the Bluesound Node 2i for streaming but I bypass the internal DAC. Love the system and it feels very endgame for me. Have sat out the DAC arms race as it seems pointless - at least to me. Am also glad I bought the system before the inflation of the last 5 years. My 312 was $8K Canadian at the time I bought. Love the show.

[@stephencosta6814]

💯 percent

[@Prerich45]

You said what I thought you would say...excellent review! I ❤ McIntosh!

[@andrewb4584]

As a person who spent time in Binghamton, knew many of their engineers, and know their current CEO... They're gear I've aspired to, and thankfully can finally afford for my front end gear. A 452, 303, and C53. Some people think they're overrated. Overpriced. (An 8805A handles HT processing/switching.) They've probably not spent time with the gear. The build quality is incredible. Sound quality, same. Can I buy better gear? Not while staying married. Is it worth it? I can't imagine it does. I've seen/heard more expensive rigs. The Mc is the point of diminishing returns. And as I progress through life, I can't think of the need to upgrade anything other than my Marantz Processor as tech changes. It's perfect for me. Your mileage may vary. :

[@Paul-tw3yi]

Why do we all click so fast for stuff we cant afford?

[@KristiWright]

How boring would life be if we limited our life and knowledge to only what we could afford at any given moment? I watch videos about multi-million dollar homes full well knowing that I will never buy anything like them because I love architecture and interior design.

[@Paul-tw3yi]

@KristiWright I hope you get to buy a mansion someday, one with an amazing theater room...I'll click on that video so fast.

[@KristiWright]

@@Paul-tw3yi One of my side hobbies is creating architectural drawings. I've been working on a remodel for our house for the past year or so just playing around with new ideas. If we had an endless flow of cash, I would design the coolest home theater. But since we're on a fixed income like most people, I gotta think about creating space for storage (for all the youtube stuff) so we can get our bedroom and garage back. LOL.

[@Paul-tw3yi]

@KristiWright that's awesome. My father is a retired architect, I was in Real Estate for years and got to sell some high end homes with nice theater rooms, but I'm a father of 5 boys so I wasn't able to afford more than a semi decent 5.1 system in my living room based on some of the videos from this channel.

[@Fedgery007]

Don’t say you can’t afford it, say HOW can I afford it.

[@michaelrossmaessler200]

On Friday's Unplugged I saw some equipment off to the side that looked like maybe McIntosh ? Turns out it was. 🙂 Thanks for the review Andrew and for covering a few McIntosh products. I may never need these or be able to afford these but just like a just like a high end Italian or German sports car if you get a chance to try one out I want to hear about it !

[@bagrubmeister4973]

Another great video Andrew. You described the amp and the dac perfectly! I have the 2700 tube pre and the 312. I have the eversolo A-6 Mater with the up graded power. I had that before I purchased the Per amp and amp. I was using that Dac Via XLR to the tree and it sounded fantastic. One day I decided to try the Built in dac on the 2700. I noticed a difference. so for about 2 weeks I used the built in dac using the USB out from the A6 and wow. After I went thru some of my test tracks I could not believe I was not using the built in dac, Huge mistake, You are correct about the dac, Now I use the A6 for the streamer using USB not coax and it sounds awesome. I am currently going thru my playlist re-listening to them all and I can not believe what I a hearing or should I say what I was not hearing. Bass is awesome controlled, wider sound stage and deeper sound stage. the richness and finesse. I have waited 45 years to get Mcintosh gear and I am finally there. I love the MC sound and I think I am at the end of my journey. I also got the sonos faber Olympica Nova 5's yes I went all out! My system is a complete match! I can not pull my self away sometimes from listening,

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

That's awesome! Nothing left to do but enjoy it!

[@no-mayo-please]

For the last 30 years I have been neck deep in all things a/v, and still, McIntosh remains the elusive "blue-eyed" squirrel I may never catch.

[@stephencosta6814]

Never say never someday someway❤

[@TE5LA-GAMING]

If they were doing so well, why were they bought buy a car stereo company?

[@InPursuitOfLiberty]

McIntosh looks so different and so better live. My McIntosh MA12000 integrated amplifier is very intoxicating.

[@paladin3798]

My MA 12000 kick some ass

[@jearley22]

MA 8950 here!!!

[@junior-OG]

MA12000 damn 😍

[@brucebarnes1696]

I’d just like to be able to AFFORD the HOUSE that this system would be placed into!!😂❤ As always, Andrew, this review was fantastic!!👍🏽

[@tundatime]

Was able to demo speakers on a Mac locally before i bought them. I still LOVE my speakers, but definitely a different experience on my cambridge axr vs the Mac. I dont know if its 10x better, but i sure do want one.

[@jim010109]

What about the Parsound A21+ as an alternative? It has 300 watts a channel and seems really well built. Curious on your thoughts. Great review. We can all dream.

[@airsickgrove]

Props for at least mentioning Advance Paris.

[@timothylindsay3244]

With a more modest appetite I purchased a C49 preamp with DAC1 and MC152 Amp driving a pair of Sonus faber bookshelf speakers. I added a MCT500 CD Transport as I have a good sized CD/SACD library. Although not inexpensive, provides true Mac quality and performance at a manageable price. Hard to beat.

[@TheThx1138]

Got my tea. Ready to go!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Enjoy the video!

[@stephencosta6814]

I guess tea is all right. Try a Red Bull.😂

[@stephencosta6814]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews the video definitely go better with a Red Bull

[@SteebMo]

It's a very interesting idea to swap to the MX200 as the preamp, even in a 2.1 setup. Would LOVE to see that comparison against the MiniDSP SHD since it was mentioned a few times in this video (I love mine). I also never really understood why folks would spend this kind of coin and then assume that the DAC inside is junk... like why is that bar so low? If I spend $9k on a preamp it had BETTER have a top o' the line DAC and phono preamp in it.

[@scottgodown569]

I will probably never be able to afford McIntosh gear and those gorgeous blue meters, but I do have the Emotiva XPA7 GEN3 Amp and XMC-2 Processor. They may not have the blue meters but its front display is blue and thats close enough for me and I do love how it sounds.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

That's all that matters! So glad you're happy with your Emotiva system.

[@gregkirby7298]

Oh my, McIntosh. I’ve been bad and haven’t watched your channel in a while, after acquiring the rz50, the Polk speakers and even a 5 channel 500 watt Emotiva beast amplifier. But I’ve missed your wisdom, your ability to make me crave, more, lol. Now I’m staring at that MC312 like, well of course I need it. If it was easy to sell everything and start over, for the fun of it, I would.

[@larrybrewer]

I have to say this is the system that most of us hope we can afford some day.

[@leelakrishnan9463]

I use to hear day by day songs in McIntosh radio from the very beginning McIntosh hits it with lots of love to the customers ❤❤❤❤

[@billanders9199]

Emotiva XDA-3 and XPA-DR2 and I'm happy. I have heard Mac and liked it but I I do have a budget and to beat what I have it would far exceed said budget.

[@craigosterberg5045]

Thanks for your review.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

My pleasure!

[@maxpower78-15]

So cool. Ive been looking forward to this one

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Hope it's worth the wait.

[@maxpower78-15]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews very cool

[@stephencosta6814]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews of course it was you could review a cheeseburger. It will be great to watch.😂😂😂

[@bobkrueger194]

I just bought a used MC312 and it is fantastic! I use a pre out from my MAC7200 to drive the amp and I love what it brings to the table. The MC312 drive vintage JBL 120ti and the MAC7200 drives Focal Aria 936.

[@techsamurai11]

The funniest part is that these separates are on the cheaper side of McIntosh's product line especially the amplifier which at $7,500 is pretty much at the bottom of the price range as the cheapest one costs $5,500. Their amplifier choices exceed the product line of most companies including Denon and Marantz.

[@AleksLazar]

Nice! I like their long term approach without all the modern nonsense that becomes obsolete every couple of years

[@juliancrun]

Great video, thanks.

[@KristiWright]

Thank you for watching!

[@Genehow-ard]

I hope someday to be as happy with my system as the Macintosh seemed to make you. At least for a little while.

[@stephencosta6814]

You will be start saving your pennies😊

[@tractioncontroloff9796]

In a world of beautiful watches, motorcycles, and hifi how does one decide 🤔. My kids will have to go into the trades as daddy likes nice things 😂

[@adsph]

Top of your game here Andrew. Well done.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I appreciate your comment!

[@adsph]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews I appreciate the work you and Kristi put in all the time.

[@rlpatrick2000]

Thanks Andrew. How does this Mac combo compare to the Michi P5/S5?

[@postjm9]

The best version I've seen of analog EQ on a digital device is just the bass boost on the Zen dac/amp line. It's simple, sounds analog (smooth, warmish), and it doesn't try to do what would be better done digitally.

[@RoHo.3]

In the eighties the combo of Klipsch and McIntosh was reputed to be heavenly. Something about the pairing of bright (in their time) Klipsch and the more laid back delivery from McIntosh amps was considered pretty synergistic. But over the generations of product evolution both have become far more neutral in nature. I’m curious if you could elaborate on the Cornwall pairing and whether the McIntosh lifted them up to a level beyond your initial tepid review of them. Thanks!

[@JamesWilliams-gf8gm]

I own McIntosh (MC462) and a few pairs of Klispch over the years. I demoed the Cornwall IV on Mac integrated amps (7200/8200?) and I was not impressed. The sound was a bit harsh/hard sounding. I also listened to the MC275 on the La scala. It was ok but sad sounding with NO bass for the $20,000 price range… so I don’t think current Mac does anything special for Klispch. I would personally look toward better speakers and cheaper electronics for a total system keeping budget in mind. I use a pair of JBL 4367s with my MC462. The JBL is much more refined than the Cornwall. Sadly way more money too…

[@txerapng]

Man, do those Klipsch look good in that room!! Perfect match.

[@KristiWright]

Every time we bring them out, which isn't often enough, I hate putting them away. The are so good!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

They're wonderful.

[@txerapng]

@@KristiWright I bet!

[@Moonplant432]

No doubt. The combination is perfect.

[@roccobruno8027]

I hope you're able to get some Schiit Audio equipment in for review. On a separate note, I would be curious as to how the Bryston 4B Amplifier compares to the McIntosh?

[@sixergixer]

I would love to see the Tyr monoblocks reviewed here. Talk about a high end HiFi bargain!

[@txerapng]

Great Sunday everyone!!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Morning! Back from the farm?

[@txerapng]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews going back to the capital of the country. Summer is over, work ahead. 😂 (Although i didn’t have any vacation time this year, the MacBook was always in my backpack). How was the week for you?

[@BobbyBass-x6i]

Two sets of blue meters. Must…not…buy…must…pay…rent. Thanks for the video. Too bad you need to buy additional equipment to stream or EQ properly. Oh well it’s only money. Miss hearing from your partner. Rock on!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

You can hear from Kristi on Friday's Unplugged episode.

[@Novilicious]

Is the MA12000 not the better product to provide more power for around the same money? 💰 someone explain why one would buy this instead of the integrated version with more power

[@KristiWright]

That probably comes down to whether or not you are someone who only believes in separates. Myself? I'm always pro-integrated for the space saving benefits.

[@Novilicious]

@@KristiWright makes sense! Fewer boxes = better IMO!

[@randolphblack2554]

It's fundamentally satisfying to know that the "Corvette" of audio excellence has been realized in a fine as you have just reviewed, Andrew. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into fine audio listening. I heard you mention Emotiva and I would like to know how you would rate them compared to Outlaw amplifiers? With an eye towards a future 2.0 or 2.1 I am considering one or the other.

[@IanMacDonald-u1v]

I have never heard Macs in person but damn they look ... timeless and so iconic... sigh... maybe someday with that big lotto win. Hahahaha. Great review man! Cheers from the great white north.

[@thomprd]

I want to know the comparison between the C55 and the A8 into the Mac amp and whether putting a $$ preamp after the A8 improves the experience.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

This topic gets addressed in today's Unplugged. See you there! kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2GTcmpqiZh_itUfeature=shared

[@Wheezhee]

First time commenter! I have a long timeline before i do a stereo amplifier upgrade, but i really like the looks of Advance Paris hardware. Hope you get your hands on an A10 Classic or an A7 Playstream to review!

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🙋‍♂️I WATCHED THE WHOLE REVIEW JUST FOR FUN AND I LOVE ❤️ THAT YOU GOT TO REVIEW THEM AND THEY ARE UP THERE 👆 FOR A GOOD REASON 🤗💚💚💚

[@respectarmor]

Congrats, Andrew! That was the most enjoyable review I've ever watched. Could you compare that superb McIntosh combo with the ROTEL RA-1592 MKII? Any chance of reviewing the Michi P5 + S5 combo, or perhaps the Michi X5 Series 2?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thanks for your question. We address this topic in today's Unplugged! See you there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2GTcmpqiZh_itUfeature=shared

[@jearley22]

Andrew, appreciate that you are reviewing McIntosh gear when able. Curious how this set up compares to the MA8900 or 8950 that you loved a year or so back.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Are you thinking of the 7200 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXeZY5-qlslkbpI

[@jearley22]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews yes!!

[@davidopalecky7318]

Thanks for sharing! I have a c52 with a mc462.

[@wng8993]

I'm running the new c22 and mc462 with cw4s, I like it!

[@alannunhuck3974]

Hi Andrew, another great review - even though it’s probably out of my price range, it’s still very interesting hearing from you about top notch gear - but not silly expensive £££,£££. Keep up the great work! Question - would you consider reviewing an Accuphase Amplifier and also the higher end Sonus Faber speakers - Sonetto III, Olympica Nova II upwards…? I’d be fascinated to hear your opinion of both… 😊 Thanks Alan (Norfolk - UK)

[@kolkatainjanuary]

Wow! 500 plus comments! Good for you folks for stirring up a conversation and thanks for doing all the work that you’re doing on this channel. I particularly enjoyed your take on these separates; that’s my preferences as well with a Parasound JC5 amp and PrimaLuna 400 pre in my setup. ** Question ** had I settled for an integrated and spent same amount of money (with an equalizer, DAC & phono included - yup, you guessed right & I have separates for those too!) … would I have given up anything in terms of audio quality? The convenience is a no brainer of course with an integrated with everything built in one box. All the best and with regards from Canada 😊

[@CButti-x1s]

Great review. Wondering what you think in comparing the separates sound wise to the MAC7200 integrated you had a few years ago. It's too bad you also didn't have the tube based C2800 preamp on hand to compare against the solid state C55. McIntosh is unique in this aspect of offering basically a very similar pre-amp in either tube or solid state configuration. Looking forward to Friday's unplugged.

[@KristiWright]

Noting your question for Friday!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Great question for Friday's Unplugged. Stay tuned.

[@CButti-x1s]

@@KristiWright Looking forward to Friday even more now. Thanks!

[@michaelgordon8813]

Comment and a question regarding using the MiniDSP with the McIntosh C55. You said you prefer using the MiniDSP as an equalizer versus the built-in analog eq of the C55. If I'm thinking correctly, a digital source would first go through the C55's DAC, then an analog output from the C55 would go to the MiniDSP where it would get redigitized (ADC), then DSP processing for equalization, then back to analog using the MiniDSP's DAC. Comment: if you were indeed doing much of your listening this way, I would think it hard to assess the sound/quality of the C55's DAC (especially versus an external DAC) since ultimately you would be hearing the analog output of the MiniDSP's DAC, and with an extra A/D->D/A cycle from inserting the MiniDSP into the signal path. And finally question: given that the MiniDSP can actually function as a preamp, although without the plethora of input options the C55 offers, what is gained (sonically) by using the C55 at all? In other words, if you are going to use the MiniDSP for eq, why bother with the C55 at all - just send your source (either digital or analog) to the MiniDSP and then on to the power amp. Did you compare source->MiniDSP->Amp versus source->C55->MiniDSP->Amp, and if so how did the two compare?

[@williamhicks2763]

I’d like to know more about this as well. Maybe it’s time for Andrew to do an updated miniDSP video. However, the miniDSP does have digital outputs so I suspect he ran streamer>miniDSP>McIntosh all in the digital domain for music. The miniDSP doesn’t have an HDMI port so you would have to go optical to miniDSP for TV. That would leave the HDMI port on the McIntosh unused. However, he may have just used the tape loop for the miniDSP and not worried about the extra D/A conversion.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Hi Michael, I answered your question in today's Unplugged. See you there! kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2GTcmpqiZh_itUfeature=shared

[@michaelgordon8813]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Hi Andrew, thank you for the detailed and thorough reply! I also have a MiniDSP SHD and use it as a DAC/pre-amp, so I was quite personally interested in your opinion. Regarding the MiniDSP, I also use it to integrate a subwoofer (high pass my small main speakers and low pass the sub) and make use of Dirac room correction as well. It's a powerful feature set that I would like to see become more mainstream. :-) Thanks again!!

[@ericgeyer2034]

Thanks for comparing the Emo XPA to these aspirational components I'll never be able to have in my home. Made me feel good about my choice (XPA 7).

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

The XPA line of amplifiers is really good. You would need to spend MC312 level money (IMHO) to achieve outright appreciable differences in SQ and control.

[@JR-ho5qm]

@@andrewrobinsonreviewswould the Yamaha NR2000a have a slight edge over the Emotiva XPA line for sound quality? A bit off topic sorry but thanks! If you’re able to answer!