Hi, I am new to this sport and I am very excited to play. I have seen Mac, I have heard Mac and have absolutely fallen hard. Today I purchased the first piece of the puzzle that I need help putting together. I really don't know much about the audio world other then that I love it and I want my system to be a Mac system. I have been saving up for a while and today I purchased an MVP861, this is the first piece I purchased because it was a deal I was fortunate to come across and couldn't pass up. I have my eye on an MX119 and a pair of LS340 speakers. Any sugestions as to the next piece I should be focusing on? To start I wan't to put together a basic two speaker system and grow it into a HT system. Also any sources of information you can recommend would be greatly appreciated. I am probably in over my head but I want a Mac system. Thanks!

Interesting first Mcintosh item to buy. I would have thought that it would have been an amp or a pre-amp first..

My suggestion is to read this board, do searches, read some more and look around at the new and used market.

I think that one of the most important things to do is to go listen to music that you know well through different equipment. Find out what you like and what you don't, (sort of like wine tasting!)

But above all; have fun!

Hey rook,
Enjoy your new 861:thmbsp:

Robert

Interesting first Mcintosh item to buy. I would have thought that it would have been an amp or a pre-amp first..
But above all; have fun!

I think his motivation here was the fact he jumped on a good deal opportunity.


Welcome aboard Rook. Building a quality sound system is wonderful and fulfilling hobby. You've come to the right place for the best Mac advice. Mac people are true music lovers and we have some top notch HT people here as well.

You're first purchase is a good one and you're no doubt loving it. You now have an excellent source component. Keep in mind that your choice of speakers will make the most obvious difference in your system and the preamp will be the second most influential component in most cases. So your selection of these two components will be critical. If it were me, I'd make my next purchase the speakers. Try to put as much time and research in this component as you can. Try to listen to as many speakers as you can in your price range. They will always sound different at home than they do in a dealer show room but you can at least hear their basic tonality and ability. If you find that a speaker WOWs you with huge bass or astounding clarity within the first ten seconds of listening to it, be careful, that can many times turn out to be the very thing that you dislike later down the road. Those kinds of speakers can get your attention for a quick purchase but can irritate you with over emphasis in one area or the other as time goes on.

A speaker should definitely appeal to you right a way but it should be something that delivers music in a realistic and balanced way. If you've already auditioned the 340 and like it, then definitely go for it. I've never heard Mac speakers but I'm sure they're excellent. Mac gear has a warm, accurate musical sound to it so I suspect their speakers would follow suite but perhaps some Mac speaker owners can jump in on this and add some credible opinions. Once you've installed your choice of speaker, you will be able to better discern the benefit of each additional piece of gear you add and your speakers will just sound better and better as the quality of your gear improves.

Do you have your eye on any particular amplifier?

Welcome aboard! The 861 is a great piece, a nice start. An MX119, again on close-out or used (remember, no warranty on used Macs) is another great choice for both 2 channel and HT. It is a bit limited in inputs, so consider how your system may grow. Given the direction that you're going I would look for a MC402 for your amplifier, it is a perfect place to start. The MX119/MVP861/MC402 and great main speakers will give you terrific 2 channel and adequate HT by adding a basic surround amp and speakers. The HT end can always catch up later.

My other recommended source is a music server of some sort. An MS300 is a nice start and there are deals on them out there. But I would focus on amps and speakers before that. Look at a Squeezebox or a Sonos, either of which will sound great with lossless files through an MX119's DAC.

On the speaker front, this is where you really need to shop. In electronics, you are pretty safe sticking with McIntosh. On speakers, it is an open field and tastes, music selection, and listening styles are VERY important. On this board Mcintosh, B&W and Sonus Faber are the most popular with some die-hard Klipsch guys in here too. Definately shop around.

As far as advise and info, this board is all you will ever need! (Google can help too!)

Welcome aboard! What is your budget? Which preamp do you currently have (if any)? I would go for an amp. For me, if into used solid-state, that would be the MC500. May seem like overkill, but it is the most musical Mc SS amp I've owned. If that truly is overkill, the MC7150 would the next choice. Almost as musical as the MC500, but 350wpc less. If tubes, then the MC275 is the ticket. Go for the new one with balanced inputs and PCB internals. It sounds much better.

Welcome The Rook. :)

To give the best advice on what to upgrade next we need to know what you are using now. So what is the rest of your system?

I used the LS340 speakers for about 2 years and they are great! They have a good amount of detail and have a very natural sound. Their best quality is they are smooth, there were many times I listened to them all day long and I still wanted to listen more. I have had other speakers that initially seemed to sound better but after listening to 3-4 albums I was done, my ears needed a break. I highly recommend LS340 speakers.

Here is one of the best sites for info on McIntosh equipment out of production:

http://www.berners.ch/McIntosh/en/Frame_Compendium.htm

Victor

The rabbit hole goes deep....

McIntosh will spread like a disease in your home. Pretty soon everywhere you look you will see blue meters.

Thanks for the welcoming and the suggestions and questions. This is definitely the right place to be. First of all the 861 is the first and only piece that I have, it was a great deal that's why I got it first. As for budget, that depends on if my kids have to eat, if a good deal comes along then they are on their own. I can't afford to purchase new and like a kid in a candy store I have to have it now, so I am searching the used market. I am also looking a NOS pieces (thanks Victor for the website), maybe I can work that into the equation. Looks like an AMP and Speakers are next on the list, just need to figure out which ones. Please keep the suggestions coming, this is great.

If you are on a budget I would highly recommend concentrating on a good 2 channel system, 2 good channels sounds way better than 5 ok channels.

Since you don't have a complete system right now the best way to get a system going fast would be to get an integrated amp. A little while ago I heard a MA6200 integrated amp and it sounded better than I expected it to. You should be able to get a nice MA6200 for $700-$1000. The MA6200 is 20-30 years old and may need some updates/repairs to sound its best. If you want newer separates, the slim line preamps like the C15 offers good value. Non autoformer amps like the MC162 can usually be had for good prices, I have been using a MC162 for about 3 years with good results. Also a new MA6300 may work well for you. If you want a truly great system the C42 preamp and MC252 amp would be fantastic. So many good options out there.

As for speakers I still recommend the LS340s. There are not a lot of them out there but you should be able to get a pair for a good price ($1500-$2000).

Victor

I concur with Victor that if you can swing it the LS340 speakers would be an excellent choice, both now and later. They provide a smooth frequency response and accurate (natural) sound traditional of McIntosh. The tweeter is a custom 1" soft dome cabable of handling high power. The two 8" woofers provide clean and tight low bass. The special design of the non-parallel cabinets cause them to be dead (non-resonant) and strong since they are made from layers of both MDF and hardwood. A price less than $3k would be a excellent value.

If you find that you like the McIntosh sound but are still a little tight on budget, consider the LS320. It sounds virtually identical (same tweeter and woofer) to the LS340 and can be purchased for less than $1k.

Thanks for the welcoming and the suggestions and questions. This is definitely the right place to be. First of all the 861 is the first and only piece that I have, it was a great deal that's why I got it first. As for budget, that depends on if my kids have to eat, if a good deal comes along then they are on their own. I can't afford to purchase new and like a kid in a candy store I have to have it now, so I am searching the used market. I am also looking a NOS pieces (thanks Victor for the website), maybe I can work that into the equation. Looks like an AMP and Speakers are next on the list, just need to figure out which ones. Please keep the suggestions coming, this is great.

check out the link (button) at the bottom of this thread for Audioclassics. They have lots of used Mc stuff... nice to browse even if you are not ready to buy yet; most ads have pictures there. Its a fun way to become familiar with some of the older Mc units and their fair market values..