McIntosh MVP 851 – High End Stereo Equipment We Buy

McIntosh is one of the most dependable brand names when it comes to high-end audio systems. For years the brand has been recognized by audiophiles throughout the world as equipment that delivers clear and consistent quality in music. McIntosh is probably best known for its amplifiers and preamps, but the company produces many other components and parts for stereo and home theatre.

What are the specs for the McIntosh MVP 851?

DVD Frequency Responce:
4 Hz to 88 KHz (48kHz sampling rate, linear audio) / to (96kHz sampling rate, loinear audio)
CD Frequency Responce:
4 Hz to 20 KHz
Signal to Noise Ratio:
115 dB
Dynamic Range:
103 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion:
0.002 %
Size:
5 1/3" H x 17 1/2" W x 15" D
Weight:
20 Pounds

What else to know about the McIntosh MVP 851?

"Final Take. First up was 2-channel CD listening through the balanced analog outputs. I was very pleasantly surprised by the immediacy and powerful dynamics of the MVP851. The sound is very smooth on top, with a slightly forward midrange, and a strong, tight bass response. There is a tremendous amount of detail to the music without being fatiguing in any way, imaging is just simply excellent, and the player is very transparent to the original source. The soundstage is fairly wide, but the perspective is much more intimate and up close. The sound is more forward than that of the Krell DVD Standard, creating an impression that you are sitting in the front row of the performance, and the imaging is so strong that it is easy to see the vocalist a few feet in front of you with the mind's eye. The bass response is among the best that I have heard. A feature called Digital Re-Mastering Enhancement Circuitry, designed to extend the frequency response on CDs beyond 20 kHz by upsampling to 88.2 kHz, is available through the digital and analog outputs. Moving on to DVD-Audio, the same sonic signature was again apparent.The McIntosh makes everything that you put in it come alive. One negative was a somewhat slow responding transport-taking a couple of seconds to switch between tracks. DVD movie material was next. The player has a front panel switch to turn on progressive scan, which is very handy for those who have HD televisions that lock into ""full"" mode. The picture quality is very smooth, film-like, and detailed with minimal noise. There is an interesting comparison here with Faroudja-based products, which will often have a built in enhancer in addition to the Faroudja de-interlacing chip. Many of these players deliver a very sharp, detailed picture where the edges of objects and people are clearly delineated. The McIntosh's picture was detailed, but smoother edges are softer. Some people find this effect more pleasing, personal preference will dictate. The subject of de-interlacing does bring up the sole area with which I have reservations about the MVP851. As it is based on the Panasonic RP91, it shares the antiquated Genesis chipset. Although this player does well with properly flagged film DVDs, it does not have the de-interlacing prowess of a Faroudja-equipped unit, and poorly flagged, tough material will cause artifacts. Video-based material will also cause some problems with artifacts especially if there is a significant amount of motion. The up-side is the picture quality overall is very good, and the unit does make the best of the Genesis chipset so, in most cases, artifacts are not a major issue. Still, I can wish that McIntosh had based its product around one of the newer Faroudja-based products. It is worth mentioning that the interlaced output picture quality is also quite good, and it is important to remember that those with external scalers for a projector or Plasma system are not going to use the progressive output anyway. The McIntosh also functions very nicely as a transport for CD, DD, and DTS, and the Krell processor mated very nicely with the McIntosh sound. It is very obvious that McIntosh's heritage is as an audio company first and foremost. The audio capabilities of the MVP851 are simply top-notch, and for those that watch the occasional Hollywood release, the picture quality of the player will be more than acceptable. If this player had been based on a better de-interlacing chipset and perhaps even had a more massaged video section I would be willing to put it on a pedestal. If I could be allowed to dream a bit further, the addition of SACD would make it perfect. As it is, the video side is good, but the audio side is flat-out fantastic, making this McIntosh one player seriously worth auditioning for those with audiophile leanings." - HomeTheaterReview.com

Brief History of McIntosh

Long mapped-to Binghamton New York – the current headquarters and manufacturing center for McIntosh Labs – not many people know the brand was originally launched outside of the Nation’s Capital in Silver Spring Maryland, in 1949. In 1956, the brand built their original facility in New York, according to the official brand website.

Other McIntosh Products We Often Buy

Typically, StereoBuyers purchases mostly used amplifiers, especially the vintage amps and high-end McIntosh models such as the MC202 or MC252, and the C220 preamp, for example. We have also purchased many pre-owned tuners from McIntosh over the recent years, including the MR67 and MR78 models, for example.

StereoBuyers has purchased tens of thousands worth McIntosh brand equipment since 2014, with individual buys ranging from $100 to well over $50,000. If you are moving, ready to upgrade, or have McIntosh equipment you do not or will not be using, why not contact us today to find out if it is worth good money?

If you are interested in selling your used McIntosh equipment to us in the greater NYC area or Colorado, please click here to fill out a Free Quote Form and we will get back to you. If we agree on terms, we come to meet you where you want, and pay cash.

The following images show actual McIntosh equipment purchased by StereoBuyers.