Roc Rinaldi

Hi linkalley, My Mac dealer is willing to give me $3000 - $3200 as a trade-in on a new 7.1 McIntosh amp. I bought the MA6900 http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/mcprod/shopdisplayproducts.asp?hid=1&id=17&cat=Integrated+Amplifiers&prodid=1018&product=MA6900 from him about 2 1/2 years ago. I'm just seeing if I can do better on the market myself. I know any used purchase is somewhat of a risk. In fact I hate buying used myself, I rarely do. I am also frustrated that I didn't buy the MC207 http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/mcprod/shopdisplayproducts.asp?hid=1&id=14&cat=Power+Amplifiers&prodid=1096&product=MC207 originally instead of the MA6900. It must have been the model number that attracted me, I don't know. I know that this is pricey stuff but you probably know that you get what you pay for. The MA6900 has a list price of $5000 and as far as I know McIntosh dealers do not discount more that a few hundred dollars. My amp. is my baby and has been treated with kid gloves from the day I purchased it. I drove to Delaware to buy it (no tax) and brought it home myself. A year ago I took it back and has it tested to verify the specs. It passed all tests easily. I am still in warranty (non-transferable) so if there was anything wrong with the unit I could have it fixed for free. But there is nothing wrong with it. This unit is the closest thing anyone will find to new. For gosh sakes I even keep it covered when not in use to avoid dust in the heat sinks. I love looking at this unit so I hope I don't regret letting it go. I can only hope my new Mac will make me feel the same way. To answer your question, I would consider selling it for around $3500 give or take some. I know that this is probably like top dollar but the unit is so new looking and performing. I am the original owner, I have all receipts and have only about 200 - 300 hours of use on the unit. I hope you are OK with my price. Please advise. I live in Baltimore, MD BTW in case you are close enough to audition it.

I am in contact with the person in the ad. Thanks for pointing it out to me. Keep me in mind. A perfect match would be 1 FORTE II in Walnut but I may have to compromise and buy 2 not in walnut. We'll see.

have now.

Thanks 33klfan, Delaware is close enough but my search is for FORTE IIs which will match my existing FORTE IIs. Keep me in mind.

Hi J., Thank you for your interest and help. I'm not familiar with the term "popbumpbered". What does it mean? How would I use Chris Munson's X'overs in my system? Where do they fit in and what benefit do they provide?

I have 2 KG-4s sitting on end tables for my rear L & R. How do you think they will sound with 3 Forte IIs in front and yet to be named Klipsch models for my side surrounds? The whole set-up to be powered by a new 7 channel McIntosh amp. with 200wpc @ .005THD. I currently have a Velodyne 130w 12" sub but I am pretty sure I am going to get one of Dr. HSUs turbo 500w subs for $999 and add it to the Velodyne or if that is too much then I guess I will sell the Velodyne. My main interest is in stereo music, RnR and country played very loud. I rarely watch regular movies but with a high def. TV I figured I needed to step up to 7.1. Anyway, it will certainly add more sound for my music and perhaps future high def. DVD concert movies.

Seeking 1 or 2 Forte II's preferable in walnut. Anyone who has this and lives on the mid-east coast can contact me here or at rrinaldi@jhsph.edu. Thanks.

I'm trying to sell a McIntosh here. 2 1/2 years old. Waiting for a new home but I will be checking on it from time to time. It's beautiful. Go look at it. http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/data/brochures/MA6900br.pdf

Thank you Dr. Who. Your information is really on target for my needs. I'm lucky that I found informed people like you to help me. Your knowledge appears good on this. I will go with just one Forte II for my center channel but most likely I will be buying two of them on eBay. I started out thinking that I would spend as much as $900 for a center channel speaker so if I can obtain a pair of Forte IIs for say $660, then I am ahead of the game even if I closet the extra Forte II. Or I could try to sell it. The height of the center Forte II is going to be OK. I will mount my TV just above it and set equipment racks on either side of the center Forte II. Low racks with two abreast equipment. The top of each rack will house equipment that will equal the height of the front Forte IIs + or - 1". It is going to look pretty good I think. 6.1 has come up a couple of times now. If I am configuring 7.1 what would be the advantage of having 6.1 (which, I assume includes a rear center channel)? I believe that my A/V controller can send mono, stereo, 5.1 or 7.1 to my speakers and give me whichever speakers that I want on for each mode. Is this correct? I think McIntosh mentions this in their manuals. Do I also have to be concerned about 6.1? Won't the A/V take care of this mode also?

Thank you ear. Yes, I will get HO & turbo. In fact here it is http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3-ho-turbo.html I appreciate your input.

plummer, You missed your calling. You should be an audio consultant. ( I hope you are not just 14 years old or something!!) Again thank you for the advice and interest in my situation. I am willing to use 1 or 2 Forte IIs for center. Whichever in best, if I can determine that. Quartet and Academy both are kinda BIG for side surrounds. Is there anything smaller for the sides? Plus Academys, even one, is hard to find out there. What about RB-61s? They're somewhat smaller and I can get them new from Klipsch. I know that there isn't much out there in 7.1 yet but I also own a 1080p TV and have yet to watch anything made in 1080p. I guess that I am just ahead of my time. I hope that you would agree that it is wiser to construct a 7.1 sound system rather than 5.1 or 6.1. Please comment on this. Someone at McIntosh told me that there is a whole lot of 7.1 in the works. Will 7.1 succeed or fizzle? I don't know, who knows for sure? When you mention 6.1 are you thinking a center rear channel? If so, I cannot configure it because of room idiosyncrancies. I am trusting that you really do know about Klipsch speakers and timbre balance. Please stay with this until I get it settled. Dr. Who where are you. I need help on deciding 1 or 2 Forte IIs for center.

I now have a plan that needs input. For my center channel I will buy two Forte IIs used (I hate used) and set them side by side directly below my soon to be wall mounted TV, it's on a stand now. I will wire them in parallel giving me 4 ohms resistance. When I started this part of my search I originally planned to purchase an RC-64 with a list price of $899.00. So I'm doing good because I already located an eBay person in Harrisburg PA who is selling his 2 Forte IIs for under $400 and I can drive to hear them and bring them home. I will put equipment racks on each side of the two center Forte IIs. So, when I'm done I will have Forte IIs for front L C & R and my KG-4s for rears. ...................Now about the surrounds for the sides, which is the best match for me? I need to buy these. A new Dr. HSU turbo for $999.00 will augment my existing 12" Velodyne 130wpc. I will set them side by side as Dr. HSU recommends. I will either trade in or sell my existing McIntosh MA-6900 200wpc/.005 THD and replace it with a new McIntosh MC-207 http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/mcprod/shopdisplayproducts.asp?hid=1&id=14&cat=Power+Amplifiers&prodid=1096&product=MC207 and a new McIntosh MX-119 Audio/Video Control Center. All of which will give me the following: 7.1 sound utilizing 200wpc X 7 channels plus Dr. HSU and his 500wpc for his turbo sub. All powering Klipsch speakers exclusively. Well, what do you all think? I do need answers/opinions on my surrounds for the sides and what problems I might be inviting by setting two Forte IIs side by side and wiring them in parallel. Waiting on input. BTW, the Baltimore Ravens are about to steam roll their way right to the World Championship of football in case you didn't realize it.

OK OK OK OK I now have a new plan that needs input. For my center channel I will buy two Forte IIs used (I hate used) and set them side by side directly below my soon to be wall mounted TV, it's on a stand now. I will wire them in parallel giving me 4 ohms resistance. When I started this part of my search I originally planned to purchase an RC-64 with a list price of $899.00. So I'm doing good because I already located an eBay person in Harrisburg PA who is selling his 2 Forte IIs for under $400 and I can drive to hear them and bring them home. I will put equipment racks on each side of the two center Forte IIs. So, when I'm done I will have Forte IIs for front L C & R and my KG-4s for rears. ...................Now about the surrounds for the sides, which is the best match for me? I need to buy these. A new Dr. HSU turbo for $999.00 will augment my existing 12" Velodyne 130wpc. I will set them side by side as Dr. HSU recommends. I will either trade in or sell my existing McIntosh MA-6900 200wpc/.005 THD and replace it with a new McIntosh MC-207 http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/mcprod/shopdisplayproducts.asp?hid=1&id=14&cat=Power+Amplifiers&prodid=1096&product=MC207 and a new McIntosh MX-119 Audio/Video Control Center. All of which will give me the following: 7.1 sound utilizing 200wpc X 7 channels plus Dr. HSU and his 500wpc for his turbo sub. All powering Klipsch speakers exclusively. Well, what do you all think? I do need answers/opinions on my surrounds for the sides and what problems I might be inviting by setting two Forte IIs side by side and wiring them in parallel. Waiting on input. BTW, the Baltimore Ravens are about to steam roll their way right to the World Championship of football in case you didn't realize it.

To the EAR That's what I thought. It took 57 years for me to get a McIntosh amp. but it was worth the wait. My interest in McIntosh is limited to power and switching/controllers. No Mac speakers period. They are truly an amplifier powerhouse. I understand that they devote 5 engineers to amps for every one they devote to speakers and other misc. products. But boy do I like their amps and their product support. It's really good. Back to Dr. HSU. You didn't tell me your opinion of Klipsch subs vs. HSU. My guess, HSU still better for performance/value. Right? Again, thanks for your input. It really is helping me.

OK. WoW. I am ready to buy a Dr. HSU w/Turbo for $999 + shipping. Just one. Before I do I will let go of a possible JL Audio due to extreme cost for me. One final thought, how do Klipsch and McIntosh compare to the Doctor?

Be careful guys.................Joey Heatherton WAS fine but she has some age on her now but maybe you likeum old.

Why JL? HSU always gets rave reviews and it costs less.

My TV is a new Sony LCD. Plus I would probably mount the TV on the wall and not place it directly on the TV. Is this OK Plumb?

OK. Yes, McIntosh warranties are not transferrable. However, since mine is still warranted you can assume that there is nothing wrong with the unit because I can get it repaired for free if something was out of spec., which it is not. I did have the performance specs. checked at a McIntosh full service reapir center about a year ago and the unit is well with-in all published specs. I am the original owner. Age: 2 1/2 years old - 200 hours running time (approx.) List Price: $5,000 Location: Baltimore, MD I am hoping to sell it by discounting the list price by about 25%-30%. This unit is kept covered when not in use. It doesn't even have any dust on it. When I bought it I picked it up in person to avoid any handling of it. It's built like a tank and looks like a stealth. Sometimes I just look at it and don't even turn it on. The price that I am asking is comparable to what the McIntosh dealer is offering as a trade-in on a 7.1 unit. Macs hold their value quite well.

Perfect condition. Perfect working order. No buyer risk on this one. This unit was purchased new 2 years ago and is still under warranty. Used for about 200 hours of listening. 200wpc @ .005THD weights 75 pounds. Currently being sold by McIntosh for $5,000 new. http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/mcprod/shopdisplayproducts.asp?hid=1&id=17&cat=Integrated+Amplifiers&prodid=1018&product=MA6900 Located in Baltimore, MD It will be like selling one of my children but I have to do it in order to move up to 7.1.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles (whole album experience)

If the Klipsch horns are too bright look at your listening room and then your amp and then your sub. You can dampen the brightness with fabric/plush furniture/carpeting. Experiment with towels/blankets draped over chairs/furniture to see the dampening effect on the brightness. Different amps boost different frequencies. It does make a difference. Different subs provide different amounts of bass for balancing to the high frequencies. Hope this helps. Don't give up on the Klipsch brand. Look for ways to accomodate the Klipsch idiosyncrasies. It will be worth it to you.

I believe McIntosh power fits Klipsch speakers like a three pronged plug fits into an electric outlet. My McIntosh amp. powers both Forte IIs and KG-4s simultaneously with little effort (200wpc@.005THD) and sounds really really good to my ears.

I like your ideas. Thank you so much. I bought my Forte IIs new and they listed at about $1,800 before a small discount. If it is true that a used pair might go for $800 then I can afford one of them as my center, albeit a VERY LARGE center. Obviously it would be a match to my existing Forte IIs. You do know that the Forte IIs are large floor standing speakers? I would still need to find someone who is looking for a single Forte II also. Let the search begin. Any ideas where to find such a person and where to find excellent condition used Forte IIs? Can you help me out on this?