McIntosh upgrade? Help...

[timmyjimmy5150 10+ year member]

Okay.....Here goes...

I have a ford f150 --- I currently have the 4 door version of the truck with Boston Acoustics RC820 component speakers in all 4 doors..... Here are the speaker specs and I have the tweets flush mounted high in the door corners:

5 x 7" woofer with AMD

Neo 3r Kortec dome-flush mount tweeter....

Now.... Pushing these speakers I have a Pioneer Avic-D1 head unit and a JL 450/4 amp.

I also have a JL amp 250/1 pushing a 10 inch JL sub.......

Now --- I was thinking of replacing my JL 450/4 (150X2 -- 75X2) with a McIntosh MCC404 (100X4) amp......Would the McIntosh be a considerable sound upgrade? What could I expect? It's only 100X4 compared to 150X2 for my front speakers using the JL amp -----BUT I think the McIntosh is better rated.....

Any thoughts?

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[Echo42987 10+ year member]

McIntosh man lol You can't get a better upgrade them then. I think you'll even hear an audible difference between it. I had the 450/4 it's an amazing amp but man.....McIntosh is somethin' I've been tryin' to work w/ for years but haven't gotten my hands on one yet. Post pics if ya do get one.

I vote upgrade it. McIntosh makes some very VERY solid equipment would trust is over anything....

-Nick-

 

[timmyjimmy5150 10+ year member]

Well.... A few people have emailed me and said the JL 450/4 is a great amp and that I'd hear little sound difference w/ the McIntosh.... HOWEVER, they did suggest upgrading my front stage Bostons to something better.......

Leaving the rear stage Boston Components as "fill" sound...

I have $600 --- What should I get for the front stage speaker upgrade? Probably going with a 6.5 component if it will fit.

TJ

 

[Echo42987 10+ year member]

Well all in all I was going to suggest the upgrade of just the front stage....but a McIntosh amp is just beautiful

If you were to upgrade your front stage I would look into these models....

Boston Acoustics Z6 or Pro 60 series

JL Audio ZR series

Focal 165K2P

Rainbow Profi Line

or Polk Audio SR series

Those are all top of the line and would shine w/ your 450/4!

-Nick-

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

I wouldnt put a Mc on those speakers. I say upgrade on that dept, and then after if budget allows it- give it Mc powah.

Speakers first man. Although I'm not a JL fan, that 450/4 is a capable amplifier and will give you more power to power hungry speakers like Bostons on the front ch's if thats what you decide to go with.

A Mc amp like that should only be used IMO on an active ,ultra high end speaker setup .

 

[Echo42987 10+ year member]

Agreed ^^^^

-Nick-

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

As 3.5Max alluded too....the value of that MC amp will really be justified by a decent speaker upgrade. The rest of the system looks great!!!

 

[timmyjimmy5150 10+ year member]

Well again,

The JL 450/4 is a great amp so I'd hear little sound difference w/ the McIntosh.... HOWEVER, people did suggest upgrading my front stage Bostons to something better.......

Leaving the rear stage Boston Components as "fill" sound...

I have $600 --- What should I get for the front stage speaker upgrade? Probably going with a 6.5 component if it will fit.

TJ

 

[SQChevy 10+ year member]

I'd say upgrade your speakers first. My suggestion on the speakers would be the Focal 165K2P's. I love the speakers and I'm running alot of their Utopia line and actually about to get a set of 6.5's and better set of their subs. The sound is incredible compared to Boston at least in my opinion. Honestly, unless you have people listening to music a lot in the back. I'd say sell the back speakers and just stick with just the front ones or just leave those alone and upgrade the front. I'd say put more power on the front with really good speakers.

 

[2Fast2Furious 10+ year member]

I agree with those people who said yes to the McIntosh upgrade. McIntosh amps are just too gorgeous to pass up!

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[SocMunky 10+ year member]

Stop bumping up old threads y0! Look at the date this was from, May 2006!