BTW RonP Ice modules are by Bang Olufsen out of Denmark…
And let it be known PS Audio gear is absolutely top notch
manufacturing highly desirable equipment.
Best wishes
BTW RonP Ice modules are by Bang Olufsen out of Denmark…
And let it be known PS Audio gear is absolutely top notch
manufacturing highly desirable equipment.
Best wishes
Decware
And another BTW …
PS Audio power conditioners and regenerators have been powering
my gear for 24 years now…
You don’t know me well enough sir. I can absolutely make the argument ![]()
It’s really about how one defines “made in the USA”. And that’s a subjective definition. We are all free to have our own definition.
I only know about the PS Audio question from a Kevin Deal (Upscale Audio) YouTube video for the Pathos Logos integrated amp. He was highlighting how most of the amp is made in Italy. Even the circuit boards. Heck, the owner hand mills the remote control, the chassis, virtually everything is made not only in Italy, but in the Vincenza region. And in the video Kevin Deal pointed out, something to the effect, that having an amp handmade in Italy, by genuine craftsman means more than “assembled in Boulder, Colorado” by parts mostly from Asia. He was essentially calling out PS Audio as being “made in the USA” posers. Not directly, but inferred.
But that’s Kevin Deal’s definition of made in the USA, and he has something to sell, and likely isn’t thrilled that PS Audio got rid of all the dealers. And he is Primaluna, that’s all manufactured in China. He didn’t seem to be bashing China, just poking holes in the idea of made in America.
Certainly compared to McIntosh, PS Audio is much less so made in the USA.
I have no idea if the Pathos Logos sounds good, it seems to be a 20 year old design in which they updated the tube preamp section in 2014. But goodness gracious, does it look stunning. I want one ![]()
This was Kevin being Kevin after losing the PS Audio line.
Decware does’t make ICE amp modules…
I answered your question as shown above when I suggested “Decware”. I don’t know where ICE modules came into the conversation but I’m out for now.
BHK and Directstream components are assembled in and built with a lot of US sourced components. The only part Paul has said comes from China are the lacquer top covers due to quality and cost of locally sourced parts.
So I’m getting a Jolida Fusion 3502P Power Amplifier soon but want to compare them to my MC50’s (still for sale BTW at 50% off what the eBay Shills are dumping them for - not cool IMHO).
I’m still a Tube Newbie and don’t require a kilowatt of power (but if I could afford a pair of M1200’s or BHK Mono’s…where’s my Lottery Ticket…LOL). Anyway, I’m slowly putting together an all Tube system while keeping within my budget. If the Jolida sounds “better” than my Mac, I’ll keep it of course, If it sounds worse or different, then it goes back to the distributor. No harm, no foul.
What’s not Tubed in my rig are the 2 ICE Power 1000W (@4Ω) monoblocks driving the Bass cabinets of my modified KEF 105/3’s and the jfet input section of my STAX SRM-007tA Hybrid Exciter/Amplifier.
Why the sudden switch to Tubes ? The damn STAX…LOL and the BAT VK50-SE. I could have gotten the BHK Preamp at around the same used price as the BAT, but I need more XLR outs to feed the STAX and Subwoofers along with the Amplifier driving the top section of the KEF’s.
Jolida/Black Ice to my knowledge is designed and assembled in Massachusetts but the PCB’s are fab’d and stuffed in China. Again, I have Asian products in my rig that are rock solid (Sony UBP-X10000ES, Onkyo PR-SC5530, and STAX - Japan).
Like RonP, I try to stick with Made in USA/Canada/Mexico as much as possible, b ut it’s getting harder.
Hell, I bought a Weber Kettle Grille and it’s made in China now ! 
There is an empty box for the MC 50 that is for sale on ebay for $200, lol
Isn’t it as simple as that:
As soon as „Made in USA, Germany or elswhere“ doesn’t deliver any design specific, built quality related or sonic benefit anymore and at the same time can be manufactured or designed elsewhere cheaper, we can still prefer it or insist in it, but we know, this won’t be available for long anymore.
Nothing that has no real benefit over preserving jobs will survive against competition.
We can now argue how much of „Made in USA, Germany or elswhere“ still delivers that benefit (I think it mostly still does, but not always), but continuing to provide that difference is what manufacturers have to strive for to survive.
In case of e.g. motor cycles or Hi-Fi equipment which e.g. just provide a historically valued image or style, that essential difference is going to loose relevance and things start to get difficult in foreseeable time imo. The hope for pure patriotic loyalty never was a good base for business.
It’s been there for over a year…LOL ! I actually sold the nameplate on one of my Mac’s for $50 last year on FB Marketplace. I asked for $75, again LOL ! I had the Transistor “cage” and the bottom plate Powder Coated as well.
Not that it’s necessarily a negative, but Jolida is a Chinese made amp that is looked over by Jolida in Massachusetts. For me, all that matters is the amp is of high quality, no matter it’s origin. America is equally capable of producing junk.
I had Parasound JC1’s for several years before I replaced them with BHK 300’s. In turn I had the BHK’s for a couple of years before I replaced them with McIntosh MC611’s. While the JC1’s and BHK’s are excellent amps, imo not much separates them. I had a demo MC462 for two months while I waited for for my MC611’s to be built and it was a revelation. The MC611’s sound just as great only more powerful. The same has been said about the MC1.25’s. McIntosh’s latest ss amps totally changed my opinion regarding ‘MAC’ sound.
Below are some review excerpts. Note the MC452/MC462 comparison.
Although it has been a while since we tested the predecessor MC452, with the same stated power, it is amazing how much more powerful MC462 is experienced. It’s not just the bass dynamics that are noticeably better here, it sparkles a lot more of the dynamics, and the amplifier works much faster and has audibly better control.
The amplifier replaced a pair of MC611s in the system, and with my hand on my heart I must admit that I struggled to hear the difference. The two mono amplifiers are admittedly more powerful, but the stereo amplifier has the same warm sound – and rich in sharply focused details.
It gives concert recordings an unusually realistic presentation, where one easily achieves a scale that helps to create a credible experience. Whether it’s Keith Jarrett Trio live, or Puccini’s La Boheme with Luciano Pavarotti and Mirellia Freni, with von Karajan as conductor. Where the music appears with a magnificent three-dimensional depth.
It has almost unlimited dynamics, only limited by the speakers in practice, and gives Mozart’s Requiem fuller and more vivid sounds with this one, than with the Ayre VX-R, and more dynamic than with the Audio Research VT80, with tubes.
In terms of sound, it leans towards warmer sound, but not as the older McIntosh amplifiers do. The soundscape is far more open, much sharper focused, and it has an endless wealth of detail. At the same time, that dynamic portion is completely effortless, even when I play loud. The bass is experienced as much more powerful than e.g. from a Mark Levinson No. 532H, and the dynamic contrast is more natural and vibrant than even from a Gryphon Diablo 300.
I’ve got a good friend on another forum that owned a MC452 and MC601’s for a couple of years a piece. As he can’t keep any gear too long he sold both Mc’s and moved on to other amps. A couple of years ago out of curiousity be bought both a MC462 and a pair of MC611’s. He said the voicing on the newer series of amps was considerably different than the previous generation of amps and were now voiced more to the neutral side to make them more favorable to reviewers. This sort of moved is not that unusual over the last decade as both Sonus Faber and Vandersteen have moved the voicing of their speakers in the same direction to appeal to a “wider audience” it seems. If that increases there sales then it is a good thing for them but it is sure a surprise to older customers who moved up the line to find that things weren’t the same as they thought or those that left and came back.
I heard a demo of the $100,000 Martin Logan Neolith speakers driven by a pair of the MC 1.25kw monoblocks. Some music, like “Thanks to You” by Boz Skaggs sounded quite impressive, with a HUGE soundstage and well-balanced sound that easily filled the large room with super-clean distortion-free music without ANY hint or sense of strain whatsoever. On the downside, violins sounded like the strings were attached to cold steel instead of wood. Not sure whether there was a mis-match in equipment setup or pairing with those speakers or room setup or the room itself or whether I just need tubes. 
I’ll just add my 2 cents…
I’ve had Audio Research, BAT, Conrad Johnson and PS Audio in my system at different times, driving either my Magnepan 3.6/R or PBN Montana EPS speakers in a 40x18x20 room (14,400 cubic feet).
Very happy with all these components, but had the opportunity to sell all and purchase a Mcintosh MC452 power amp, TWO MC 275s, a c2600 preamp/dac and an MT5 turntable at Audio Classics in Vestal, NY a year ago.
I quickly learned that the McIntosh gear sounds every bit as good or better, in every way, as any other of these marques, but also learned that I highly value the looks, build quality, reliability, pride of ownership and ease of use that results in market leading resale value if or when that time comes.
Many comment on Mc, but those who own it know it best.
The MC 275’s look fantastic!
and the McIntosh turntable
and the amps
and the maggies…and the eps
How do you like the McIntosh tubes versus McIntosh solid state?
Wow, thanks!
Long a tube guy, I run the MC275s as monoblocks, delivering as much as 160-170 wpc into the 90db efficient PBNs. (Excellent speakers, btw.)
I got the MC452, with at least 450 wpc to drive the 84-86 db efficient Maggies into this large space. And it does so beautifully.
Nothing harsh in any way with the MC452, maybe because the autoformers work well with the Maggies. I also like running it streaming all day long with Roon, then for movies with no concerns for tube life. Very smooth yet detailed.
For critical vinyl listening, I usually go to the MC275s, which render superb transparency and soundstage. I use a Dynavector 20x2L moving coil cartridge through the C2600 moving coil input with 50 ohms of impedance in the pre.
No “tubiness”, but a stellar midrange.
Both of these amps sound wonderful to me, and when listening to either one I’m very pleased. I guess it’s mostly about what I’m using it for (streaming vs. movies vs. vinyl). But all good.
I honestly don’t know which would go if I ever had to choose. Meanwhile, a happy camper. And blessed with a super supportive wife!
Thanks again,
Bill
I have found this to be true of all McIntosh owners with whom I am familiar. Owners bond with them as others do with a car, a boat, or some other object important to them. High-end turntables often invoke the same reaction.