- Crystal clear dependable sound any volume level
- Gobs of power
- Beautiful to look at

Price

For some reason I've always wanted to own a McIntosh. Maybe it was the fact that the Grateful Dead used them onstage (you could spot the amp's trademark blue light in the background), or perhaps it's the mystique that surrounds their name. Either way, I've been extremely satisfied with the 7100 since buying it over a year ago.

Since this is the first amp I've ever owned, I obviously can't compare it to any other brand. But let me say this; for the audio enthusiast at least, I can't imagine how it could possibly disappoint.

For example; 100 watts X 2 channels didn't sound like much when I first bought it, but trust me - it's been plenty sufficient. No matter at what level I'm playing my music, the Macintosh handles it all seamlessly. I have never, ever heard any distortion, and it actually frightens me how clean the amp still sounds even at the highest neighbor-knocking levels.

On a more aesthetic point, even when the amplifier's not in use it looks cool just sitting there. I've had a real hard time convincing my girlfriend that Yes, a piece of stereo equipment CAN look beautiful, and I find myself actually wishing that the rest of my system was the same: Classy and simplistic looking while at the same time exuding power. It really is a stunning combination.

My only gripe about the 7100 is the price. $1400 is not exactly pocket change, and I practically went into shock spending that much (of course, a year later, I had NO problem spending $1500 on a pair of Newform Research speakers...). However, my take on spending that amount is this; this amplifier will probably last me a long, long time, it sure as hell won't break down any time soon, and I am continually convinced that I own a very high quality piece of equipment every time I use it. Now, if I only had a couple extra thousand to expand on my McIntosh family...

Side note for Florida buyers: Do NOT buy anything from Sensuous Sounds in Tampa, FL. They don't know the first thing about customer service, and they do NOT have a return policy for anything, under any circumstance, at any time. Nice, huh?

Similar Products Used:

None - first amp ever owned

Durability, power, simplicity.

Expensive, incandescent bulbs behind display panel.

I purchased the 7100 with the intention of buying McIntosh's MC-300 to replacing it later. It was the least expensive new model available in 1995 at $1,500 (ouch). I no longer have any intention of replacing this amp because I love it! It's power rating (100 watts @ 8 ohms x 2 channels) seems understated when the sounds of pipe organ rattle the furniture without a hint of distortion. It sounds as smooth and gentle at high volume as it does robust and crisp at low ones. The glass front panel is beautiful but is illuminated by incandescent bulbs which burned out in the first couple of weeks. I replaced them myself and they have glowed ever since, but it was a hassle. I wish they had just used LEDs. I was able to purchase the amp (along with McIntosh pre-amp and tuner) for only $1250 which I feel is a lot to spend on 1/3 of a stereo. I occasionally wonder whether I would be as happy with a much less expensive Adcom or Rotel, but I'll probably never find out because my satisfaction with the MC-7100 grows every year.