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Why do some audiophiles beat up McIntosh?

I've been around audio my entire life. I'm 45 and I bought a decent Technics system when I was 12 with my paper route money. Genesis speakers built in New England which were actually pretty darned good. I would spin vinyl every single day to the point it drive my parents crazy. My buddies father had a McIntosh system that I was in love with and he was allowed to play it. It was haunting for me to hear his fathers system.

Fast forward 28 years later and I'm perplexed at the hatred I see posted online about McIntosh. Is it really that bad or is everyone upset that McIntosh is so successful? It doesn't make sense to me that the resale value is the best in the business yet audiophiles bash them. I personally have always loved their gear and sound. I don't own any, and probably never will. Still, I just don't get it. I've always admired McIntosh. Looks aside, I always enjoyed the music. Can someone tell me that they're junk or do you just not like the presentation?
donjr
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

As not many would understand Pops.

Source:
My own heavily modded CDP switchable input receiver from PM200 HDCD chip to DF1704
PCM1704K (selected) 24bit R2R ladder Multibit dacs.
Very special zero feed back direct coupled active I/V stage, and pure class A zero feedback output buffer.

Preamp:
Of course one of my passive Lightspeed Attenuator

Amplifiers:
Two x ME-850 stereo bi-polar solid state amps 40kg each.
Real tested measurements were
140w-8ohm
260w-4ohm
490w-2ohm
910w-1ohm
The one ME for the ESL panels, is heavily biased into Class A

http://www.me-au.com/me850data1.jpg

http://www.me-au.com/me850data2.jpg

Speakers:
Two latest aluminium vapour deposited Martin Logan Monolith esl panels, almost identical to the new Neolith panel. My own 3rd order hi-pass passive xover at 150hz
Two ACI SV12 bass units best (bass units ever) in 4cu-ft sealed enclosures discrete active 4th order low-pass xover at 150hz.

Cheers George
sid42
302 posts
 
And back to you, George: You're right, I don't like the autoformers in their amps, AND I don't care for their cd players either. However, I don't bash the McIntosh brand, which is what I thought this thread was all about. I love the sound, resale is fantastic, and I do own one of their pre's and amps. And although they have had several owners since Frank and Gordon passed, they are still one of the longest lasting USA companies to still be in business since 1949!
yioryos's avatar
yioryos
723 posts
 
MtAcoustat
They are trying to sign a petition to bring you back on CAM,in case you didn't know.
Cheers
George
taters
1,149 posts
 
Mc intosh has a built in market. There will always be doctors and lawyers in this world. They don't have to worry about the latest craze in the market. From a business point of view they are in a great place.
jclctr
9 posts
 
I saw a pair of Mc60s in a Pennysaver ad in 1980 and drove through the snow in Upstate New York to buy them from a guy in a trailer park. They have been bullet proof and have never failed to please. The McIntosh owner stereotype is a doctor with a lot more money than hi-fi knowledge or time who wants a plug and play system that sounds good. Those doctors tend not to lurk here, obsess over tweaks, or listen critically to hardware. They like their music and maybe the exclusivity of the brand. For me, I like the tube glow, sweetly colored euphonics, and heritage of the brand. It's romance I don't get from my ARC, Levinson, or Krell gear.
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