Lost my B&W P6 + McIntosh MA5100 combo. Looking for that same emotional, divine sound—but with more power.
About a year ago, I had a setup that did something truly special: a McIntosh MA5100 paired with a pair of Bowers & Wilkins P6 floorstanders. The sound quality was so divine, warm, and emotionally captivating that listening to it literally brought me to tears.
Unfortunately, disaster struck. Something was wrong with the amp—it likely output DC or clipped severely—and it ended up completely frying both of my B&W P6 speakers. Losing that system was heartbreaking, and I’ve been on a constant hunt ever since to recreate that exact sonic magic. So far, nothing else has quite hit the mark.
For those familiar with these pieces:
The McIntosh MA5100 gave that rich, lush, smooth vintage warmth with zero harshness.
The B&W P6 (with the famous Kevlar midrange and tweeter-on-top design) brought incredible staging, vocal presence, and sweetness.
Together, they created an incredibly musical, non-fatiguing, and deeply emotional soundstage.
I’m looking for recommendations for a setup (or amp/speaker pairing) that can replicate that sweeping emotional warmth and clarity, but with a bit more power and headroom (since the MA5100 was 45W/ch).
Budget: $18.000
Room Size: 18x24 f
Music Preferences: Electronic, vocal classics, French chanson, soul, acoustic tracks, classic Israeli music, and audiophile vocal jazz (think Dalida, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Edith Piaf, Norah Jones, and Diana Krall).
My music taste is very diverse.
Thank you!