For some thirty years I have wanted McIntosh gear. Finally biting the bullet with the MA-6600 HD tuner installed, it is awesome. It makes everything sound better.
The room smaller then I would have wished has dedicated 20 amp lines run for the equipment. A cozy 14 by 15 feet with 8 foot ceiling. I used sound proofing for the ceiling in my basement hide away as my wife puts it. Made the mistake of not making the room bigger for my purposes. In this basement conversion I should have been a little more selfish. School banners from my son s colleges and some of my favorite artwork aid in treating the room.
Surround sound duties are picked up by the fine sounding Act 3 and 5 class A sound processor and 5 channel amp. Acurus was the first brand proving to me that there can indeed be a difference is the sound of solid state gear. Using separate speaker cables to switch the VSA speakers to combine in use with the James center channel and Wharfedale back speakers. A Velodyne VA 810 brings it low. Video by a 60 inch plasma and blue ray player by Vizio.
The heart of the system, set for stereo, the MA-6600 combines with the balanced output ShengYa CD-S10CSII, a tubed compact disc player and Technics turntable, with Nakamichi cassette deck, along with a Teac cd recorder. Apple TV acts as my music server accessing itunes in iCloud. Sounding great via the addition of the XDR-1 Emotiva DAC. Added the Emotiva a-100 amplifier to power the secondary output of the MA6600.
Perhaps over the years I have been way too much in love with this hobby, but it has been a true joy.
System edited: Added the EMOTIVA a-100 amplifier to fed from the secondary output of the MA6600 integrated. Nice sounding well built unit. Compact and handsome fits nicely into the rack of gear.
Added Apple TV to the mix. HDMI output going directly into the Vizio television and the optical audio going into the Acurus Act 3 surround sound unit which has built in DAC's. iTunes sound good through the Acurus audio system. Have yet to fully utilize the full attributes of Apple TV. Looking for a way to have audio signal going into the McIntosh MA 6600 as well.
An era of incredible audio has ended for myself. I have given my TEAC X-10 reel to reel up for auction it now has a new home. It was truly the number one component in my systems for the most fun for some thirty years. Long live the spinning reels!
The tube integrated amp is the SQ-88 by Quest for Sound. It is very a robust unit. Even has remote volume control. Steve Monte of Quest for Sound is a great guy to deal with. Quest has the SQ-12 cd player with also comes in a tube version. Thanks for taking a view at my system.
This is a very nice system. Very warm and accomodating. A great place to listen to music. I like that tube integrated amp. Where can you find something like that?
THORENS turntable taken out of the starting line up and the Technics SL 1600 returned to first string. Toying with the idea of an upgraded turntable, but question if it is worth the investment as more and more I listen to music via the computer.
System edited: Treated myself to a quality set of headphones. Used for home set-up. Thankfully my speakers are good enough, these cans may make want you to upgrade your speakers. Works well with the headphone input on the McIntosh MA 6600.
Thank you Dhoff for your kind words and taking a view of my addiction as my wife puts it. The MA6600 has been amazing, not just in sound but pride of ownership and well. It stands as one of my all time greatest components along with my now retired TEAC X-10 R2R. Sound. build and features, just a joy to have in my system.
My music server quest is now over, at least for the short term. It somewhat mirrors your system how be it on a lower level. My set up consists of using my Mac book or Ipod touch using it's bluetooth wireless feature to feed the Xantech BT6 wireless bluetooth dock, which in then via rca cables feed an input of the MA6600. Now wirelessly I can control all the music in my computer or Ipod touch from across the room. It is fun and easy to use. It sounds great to my ears, but I have yet to make direct comparison to playing the cd in my stand alone cd player versus the same inputed cd in the computer.
Great looking system. I bet it sounds even better. I too am a big fan of the MA-6600.
How's the music server quest going? I went with a used Mac Mini that has a digital (optical) out to my DAC. Can easily control it with my iphone. No monitor either - I use my laptop or my iPad to control it remotely. Works like a charm..
Thank you Tune_man for the comments. I find the MA6600 really amazing, so much that I all but retired my SQ-88 integrated tube amp. Which is a real under the radar amp for many folks. The SQ-12 cd player is a real smooth performer which I have enjoyed from day one. It has both balanced running to the McIntosh and unbalanced outputs, along with a digital out which I run to my Acurus Act 3 pre/pro. Another great line which you well know. Enjoy the music.
For my budget, items like the Squeezebox bare looking into. I would prefer a system that would not have to rely on the computer being part of the system all the time. And I would like to be able to easily record lp's as well.
Would very much like to add the McIntosh music server, time and kids in school will tell. The Quest for Sound cd player is very nice, having a easy too listen to quality and solid operation. Purchased it used with after market power cord. Rare seeming them on the used market. I also have their integrated tube amp, but the MA 6600 still edges it out. This is a real keeper.
Glad to see you finally fulfilled your wish for McIntosh gear. Now that you have a good start, you might want to consider other McIntosh gear as time goes on...
Kind compliment, Vegasears. It is a Technics turntable, but the SL 1600. With a Stanton 681EEE cartridge. My ole faithful. Only recently was the Thorens added.
