Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
My setup:
McIntosh MC 2205 amplifier
Martin Logan Ascent speakers
Rotel 1070 CDP
SignalCable Ultra interconnects
SignalCable Ultra bi-wire speaker cables

Note that like a previous reviewer, I have not added a pre-amp to this relatively simple system in order to remove any unneeded pre-amp coloration. With that said, the sound of the system and the perfomance of the MC 2205 is excellent. Resolution of vocals, guitars and percussion within a wide soundstage is very good. I have listened carefully to my fovorite CDs including Genesis Second's Out, ELP Works, King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King, Yes Close to the Edge and Pink Floyd Meddle and can now pick up nuances thet could not be perceived with entry level equipment (in my case Adcom 550 amp).

Price Paid:  $750.00 from Local Used Equipment

Summary:
I took a 2255 (the "pro" version of the 2205) home to audition it for a while and came to the following conclusion: If I buy this amp I'll need to replace everything else in my system.

As I wasn't willing (or able) to do that I regretfully returned it and continue to enjoy my Onkyo TXDS494 and 5.1 channel audio.

The time spent with the Big Mac was a real kick and someday I hope to be able to afford the types of equipment upgrade I'll need to really enjoy an amp like this to it's fullest.

My Big 'ol Magnepan MG-IICs have never slammed or been as dynamic and hard hitting as they were connected to the 2255. I have always enjoyed the imense somewhat larger than life sound stage served up the maggies but I've also come to accept slightly flabby bass as the trade off... Not with the Mac. Connected to the 8 Ohm taps on the 2255 the MG-IICs broceded to show what happens when an amp can REALY move a lot of current around.(my little TXDS494 doesn't fall flat driving the maggies but now I have better idea of how much more room the MG-IICs have to grow) The 2255 could easily be described as "an 89 Lb Velvet Sledge-Hammer". It rules any speaker you connect, including the current-hungry maggies, like a benevolent dictator.

Bass resolution is phenomonal and the mids are clean and warm, without any distracting color. Treble is smooth and controled, even with speakers that actualy have good extension above 20kHz (the Old Maggies don't). Power output is rated at 250/ch at all output impedences and I beleive it. It never even got above "warm" when driving my maggies to ear-splitting, window rattling volumes. The quality of construction is second to none, It has pretty blue-green power meters, it has a shinny glass front-panel and great tactile knobs. It's a McIntosh.

This is one heck of an amp, even by modern standards.

Strengths:
Power to spare and musical as all hell.
Very nice looking
Build quality like a fine scientific instrument.

Weaknesses:
Big and VERY heavy, but if you can't ger over that after listening to it you have issues.
Will cause severe audio addiction faster than you can say "I wonder how much better this might sound with X attatched to it"
Maybe not QUITE as dynamic as some modern solid state equipment in it's price range.

Similar Products Used:
Adcom GFA-505

Price Paid:  $800.00 from From a friend

Summary:
Wow, this Mac is a great one. Makes me listening and really involved with the music. The sound it produces is clean, detailed, warm, transparent, with excellent soundstage. Truly enjoyable!

Strengths:
Build quality, sound quality, lot of power

Weaknesses:
None I guess

Similar Products Used:
Marantz 8, Audion, Audiolab, McIntosh (integrated)

Price Paid:  $20.00

Summary:
It's one of those stories you just can't believe. A great Mac amp at a fleamart for $20. Then I shipped it home to San Diego, and the glass panel got broken. I still love it. I will never part with it. It plays really great music.

Strengths:
That classic Mac sound (transformers?), Power O' Plenty, and truly amazing build quality.

Weaknesses:
My glass front panel broke when I was a bonehead and let the airline goons throw it around. Anyone have one?

Similar Products Used:
Used and built lots of amps over the years, both tube and solid state, high and low power, hifi and pro audio. This is one of the top performers, and certainly the best built.

Summary:
5 stars. Period.

As Ferris Buehler said, "It is so choice, if you have the means, I highly recommend it."

All light-heartedness aside, this amp is built like a tank, weighs 94 pounds, produces dynamic audio effortlessly in a transparent fashion, and has engineering qualities at which I marvel.

This is one component that I do not know where to begin my description of it. I will never sell it. I am not necesarily a McIntosh freak, however, I am a believer in this unit.

I am using this amp to drive a pair of 40-year-old Acoustic Research AR-3's. AR-3's need lots of power to sound well, and this amp is one of the only one that I have coupled with those speakers that produce audio so effortlessly.

To add further to the above description will lead to incoherent, awe-struck babbling, so I will leave it as it is. Try it out. The MC-2205 is amazing.

Strengths:
Quality. Clarity. Effortless sound reproduction. Durability. It simply appears to be a marvel of engineering.

Weaknesses:
get real, dude.

Similar Products Used:
Sansui G-8500, Pioneer SX-1250, Pioneer SX-1050, Marantz 2385, Marantz 2285B, Eico and Knight tube amps, and other less notable items.