McIntosh - is it that great?

Mac gear has weathered the test of time. To this day the older pieces particularly the tuners sound wonderful.

All Mac components are built to almost industrial standards; most parts are still available and should the need for repairs and/or alignments arise both the Mac factory and companies such as Audio Classics provide professional service.

And they look cool as hell.

If you want something that is all but bullet-proof, and will last as long as you care to have it, buy McIntosh, especially the amplifiers. I have an MC2255, one of the greatest amplifiers they ever built. I also have an MC352. I worked for an audio dealer while getting my Bachelor's degree and someone brought in a MC2255 that came in for service. It had be dropped and had several heavy items dropped on it. I looked terrible, but it was put on a bench and worked perfectly and sounded great, regardless of all the damage done to it. After is was restored it was an absolutely beautiful amplifier. I decided then that oneday I was going to buy one. I've had mine for probably 10 years now without it ever having any issue. The last one was made in 1984 and sold for about $2500 new. Mine, which shows just a bit of it's age, cosmetically, is worth more over 20 years later than it was new. There aren't many pieces of electronics that can boast that.

Did you know the U.S. Navy uses McIntosh amplifiers to drive their sonar? Why, because they need something they can rely on and doesn't fail. Considering the price tag of a nuclear submarine, seems the navy could have just about anything they want. McIntosh was obviously what they wanted.

gentlemen:

i recently reviewed the c 220 preamp. it will be available for your reading pleasure in a few weeks on the website
audiophilia.com.

i also own the 275 amp.

what is greatness ?

i have no answer, as it is too subjective and moot.

i found the preamp free of any significant deviations from neutrality. the amp needs some tube changes before i have any serious comments. with the stock tubes, the sound is threadbare.

I think Mcintosh amps look great and sound pretty good. I have heard quite a few of them in my day. They are kind of like Harley Davidson's, tough, powerful, and definitely have a following. And by no means am I knocking them as a company or as a finely built American product,but for my money, I don't run with the pack. Spectral and Halcro are where I'd put my money.

I have been in this hobby for about 40 years and if I had discovered Mac a long time ago I could have saved a mint!!!