I love film grains
Mcintosh MC2105 + C26
MC2015 was launched from 1970 to 1975 with 105 wpc so it's a good competitor to the SU-V8, of course, the tonal quality also relies on the preamp, therefore pairing with C26 or C28 would be appropriate in terms of manufacturer and same year of production.
I sent this combo for clean up the dials and switches after 6 months of enjoyment to fix the weak left channel on both the pre and power amps. Glad that nothing wrong with the caps and other electrical parts so they are in original components and specs.
Listened for about 2 months after brought back from an audio shop, until today when I finished the "A/B test" I know what are different to the 100-watt Japanese amps I owned. For sound characters, if only compare to my Technics and Sony, this Mcintosh combo produces richer, softer tones at all ranges, no harsh in highs while the bass is less solid than the SU-V8*, or I would quote some others' comments of this combo - "produce tube-like sounds", lively and warm in other words I can use. If the Sony is a 2D video player, this combo plays 3D.
Mated with the SL6si, the soundstage presentation was gorgeous. Even without today's test, I found that the C26+MC2105 made my SL6si sounds like having a pair of 8" woofers, especially low-frequency bass in the background. I knew every Celestion SL series speaker owners already mentioned higher power amp will definitely improve the sound from the SLs, among these 100-watt amps, only Mcintosh with 2 soft-drink-can-sized capacitors can do the job right no matter with jazz, classical, or pop music.
Background noise may be the only concern for some owners, a good setting could make it subtle.
*Note: Comparison base on SL6si and 2600 speakers. Different speakers with larger low-frequency drivers and 1-way, 3-way or 4-way speakers will be different.
Mcintosh MC2105 + C26
MC2015 was launched from 1970 to 1975 with 105 wpc so it's a good competitor to the SU-V8, of course, the tonal quality also relies on the preamp, therefore pairing with C26 or C28 would be appropriate in terms of manufacturer and same year of production.
I sent this combo for clean up the dials and switches after 6 months of enjoyment to fix the weak left channel on both the pre and power amps. Glad that nothing wrong with the caps and other electrical parts so they are in original components and specs.
Listened for about 2 months after brought back from an audio shop, until today when I finished the "A/B test" I know what are different to the 100-watt Japanese amps I owned. For sound characters, if only compare to my Technics and Sony, this Mcintosh combo produces richer, softer tones at all ranges, no harsh in highs while the bass is less solid than the SU-V8*, or I would quote some others' comments of this combo - "produce tube-like sounds", lively and warm in other words I can use. If the Sony is a 2D video player, this combo plays 3D.
Mated with the SL6si, the soundstage presentation was gorgeous. Even without today's test, I found that the C26+MC2105 made my SL6si sounds like having a pair of 8" woofers, especially low-frequency bass in the background. I knew every Celestion SL series speaker owners already mentioned higher power amp will definitely improve the sound from the SLs, among these 100-watt amps, only Mcintosh with 2 soft-drink-can-sized capacitors can do the job right no matter with jazz, classical, or pop music.
Background noise may be the only concern for some owners, a good setting could make it subtle.
*Note: Comparison base on SL6si and 2600 speakers. Different speakers with larger low-frequency drivers and 1-way, 3-way or 4-way speakers will be different.