Came across something very interesting last weekend;
Currently in Melbourne we are experiencing a heat wave of plus 40C degrees, infact today it was somewhere around 44...! dam hot.
So last weekend I took the good wife and daughter out for ben & jerry's ice cream, and yes I definitely had to venture into the audiophile speciality store located right opposite just for a browse. Same store where I picked up my MCD301 SACD player. Well right there in the middle of the store low and behold was the gorgeous Sonus Faber Elipsa-Red speakers driven with the mighty MC601 monoblocks, partnered with a C220 preamp. System sounded great indeed. Then I asked the chappy to hook up the MA275 tube amp to the Elipsa's just for kicks to check what this little 75w tube amp could do with Elipsa's.
My jaw dropped several feet onto the floor, and it was extremely clear that this is a huge step from the original 275 stereo McIntosh amp built way back several decades ago... Oh my golly! what a sweet sound! Awesome transients, ample depth, soundstage etc, and more than enough power to drive the Elipsa's to glorious levels. I once had the Amati's but never got this type of soundstage from a tube amp driving SF's before.
I don't know what it is, but that little MA275 kicked some serious butt! Don't get me wrong the 601 monoblocks were great, but not even close to the overall musical presence and liveliness of the MA275. So here we go again, seems like my quest for the best match so far is still going...
Now that I have listened to this system and enjoyed it very much, more so than my present c-j & Quad ESL system, I think I just might go for the Elipsa speakers. Next I plan to obviously get hold of the MA275, and then of course the MC452; perhaps I could run both amps in bi-amp mode, tubes for mids & highs, and MC452 for bass.
Anyone else experienced the great sound of the MA275 as I have, please do let me know what speakers you're using?
Any suggestions on the Elipsa's with the MA275 + MC452 in bi-amp mode?
Or should I just go for two MA275's in mono mode as they can be used that way as well.
Very fine sound indeed, classic McIntosh refinement with Sonus Faber's top end speakers.
What a combination, a must listen to and a must have by any means!
Cheers, RJ
Currently in Melbourne we are experiencing a heat wave of plus 40C degrees, infact today it was somewhere around 44...! dam hot.
So last weekend I took the good wife and daughter out for ben & jerry's ice cream, and yes I definitely had to venture into the audiophile speciality store located right opposite just for a browse. Same store where I picked up my MCD301 SACD player. Well right there in the middle of the store low and behold was the gorgeous Sonus Faber Elipsa-Red speakers driven with the mighty MC601 monoblocks, partnered with a C220 preamp. System sounded great indeed. Then I asked the chappy to hook up the MA275 tube amp to the Elipsa's just for kicks to check what this little 75w tube amp could do with Elipsa's.
My jaw dropped several feet onto the floor, and it was extremely clear that this is a huge step from the original 275 stereo McIntosh amp built way back several decades ago... Oh my golly! what a sweet sound! Awesome transients, ample depth, soundstage etc, and more than enough power to drive the Elipsa's to glorious levels. I once had the Amati's but never got this type of soundstage from a tube amp driving SF's before.
I don't know what it is, but that little MA275 kicked some serious butt! Don't get me wrong the 601 monoblocks were great, but not even close to the overall musical presence and liveliness of the MA275. So here we go again, seems like my quest for the best match so far is still going...
Now that I have listened to this system and enjoyed it very much, more so than my present c-j & Quad ESL system, I think I just might go for the Elipsa speakers. Next I plan to obviously get hold of the MA275, and then of course the MC452; perhaps I could run both amps in bi-amp mode, tubes for mids & highs, and MC452 for bass.
Anyone else experienced the great sound of the MA275 as I have, please do let me know what speakers you're using?
Any suggestions on the Elipsa's with the MA275 + MC452 in bi-amp mode?
Or should I just go for two MA275's in mono mode as they can be used that way as well.
Very fine sound indeed, classic McIntosh refinement with Sonus Faber's top end speakers.
What a combination, a must listen to and a must have by any means!
Cheers, RJ