Audio Emporium Newsletter 9-1-2009

 

McIntosh: Now In!

   Our first array of McIntosh products have arrived. Stop in to hear and fondle this solidly built gear!

Integrated Amp

   The MA-6300 is a beautiful 100 w/ch integrated amp- with enough testosterone to drive virtually any speaker in our shop. Yet the sonic flavor of the MA-6300 is smooth as silk. Even when you turn it up, it stays mellow. The controls are dead quiet and a pleasure to operate. Mac uses Power Guard, a circuit that protects the amp when distortion reaches .3%. It prevents the amp from blowing when the source, or YOU, have gotten out of control! I especially like it with the B&W 804s & 805s!

Tuner

   The MR-88 tuner is the best we’ve seen or heard! With AM-FM-HD, the sound quality of this tuner on HD Radio is remarkable. HD Radio is FREE and allows many additional channels compared to what you’re getting over the air now. HD Radio bandwidth allows stations to have a .1 and .2 station- two stations carried on one traditional band. Hence HD-1 is usually popular “rock” or “talk” and HD-2 is different, “blues” or “classics” for example. Many Milwaukee area stations have an HD-2 band in addition to the traditional band you hear on your car radio!

   It works on FM AND AM! You can improve stations like WTMJ and WISN substantially with the use of HD. HD Radio is the only way to get classical radio over the air free (90.7-2) in Milwaukee now. Stop in to hear radio better than you’ve ever heard it!

CD/SACD Player/DAC

   The MCD-500 CD player rivals anything built. In addition to being a great sounding SACD and Red Book CD player, MCD-500 allows you to use its on board DACs for other sources- like your IPOD, Cable TV and computer. Using the MCD-500 DACs will upgrade any digital source you throw through it. As good as any of your digital sources sound now- they can sound significantly better! In a minimalist system, you can even use the MCD-500 as a preamp as it has ample gain for a wide array of power amps. So if you’re musical sources are CD, SACD, or just a few other DIGITAL sources, you can even run without a preamp!

Preamp

The C-220 tube preamp sounds very warm and full. With a quite competitive retail price point, you should audition the C-220. It gives the warmth ahead of the muscle!

Power amp

The MC-252 solid state power amp (250x2) is a battleship! It provides unmitigated power for any speaker you’ll ever own! This combo provides a mellow flavor with effortless performance.

Pricing Note

McIntosh does not allow dealers to post its prices on websites. Stop in or call for specific info.

 

Prokofiev Piano Concertos

   While I’m primarily a fan of the romantic era of classical music, there are some “modern” pieces I like. Step forward to the Prokofiev concertos. Number 3 is the most popular- with good reason! It has been recorded by many big names. But I recommend you consider buying all 5 Prokofiev piano concertos, recorded by Vladimir Ashkenazy and Andre Previn with the LSO. It comes in a 2 CD set (Decca 452 588). Previn is now in his 80s, a grand conductor of classics and jazz. Ashkenazy is about 70 and still records – and is himself a highly esteemed conductor.