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Why No McIntosh Recommendations?

As I read, and continually read through posts, nobody really talks to McIntosh Products, or recommends McIntosh Products.  Why?  I can understand why they are not getting their just due.  I think their sound stage is incredible and the tube products offer incredible warmth.  I own the 2600 PreAmp, 2152 Amp, and MT5 Turntable.  I love what they do for my Sonos Faber Serafino’s.  I’m a big fan.  Why don’t y’all talk to them more.  Now I know we all have our bias.  And I know that they may be out of many price ranges, but they are wonderful products, in my ears.  

BTW - Currently Listening to Hugh Maskela’s Hope on a Quality Pressings Release!  Sounds superb!  Excellent recording whether you are listening to a CD or a high quality a 180 Release from the original master tapes.
pgaulke60
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
If reliability and security are most important then Mac is an easy recommendation. Sonically it’s not bad stuff it is just not the absolute sound. It gets dissed a lot by people who can’t afford it. It is true that their speakers are generally a nightmare. Great Tuners, a very nice universal disc player. Ok tube stuff, not ARC. 
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,435 posts
 
I once auditioned the C1100 and MC601 in my home. The excitement of owing a cool looking MAC gear quickly wore off by its lifeless sound.

Like @akg_ca said, they failed to stir my senses or soul.

IMHO, McIntosh needs to overhaul their solid state lineup. Their tube gear is reasonably good. 
wlutke
725 posts
 
because..  you get this kind of thread when you do try to talk them up.  Not worth it.  Just enjoy.
grinnell
1,094 posts
 
They made some nice tunas-MR-71, 74, 67, .......
ejr1953
912 posts
 
I have a McIntosh C2500 tube preamp and MC452 solid state power amp, driving a pair of Focal Sopra No2's.  In my search for a new pair of speakers, I found the MC452 was the best match for the Sopra's, brought out the best soundstage, smooth but defined high end, and really well defined midrange.  All the more "modern" amps I've heard driving the Sopra's made them sound "thin" and "lifeless".

My system has all "digital" sources.  I've found that, of all things which are improving the most lately, it's the DAC technology, so I don't use the DAC built into my preamp.  Instead I have a PS Audio DirectStream DAC and transport and their P15 Power Plant, to deliver clean AC power to all my components.

I have a number of audio buddies who poo-poo McIntosh.  Hey, if you like something else, go for it!

When I attended an information session at the Capital Audiofest, one of the presenters said he thought that most of the audio brands of today would go out of business 10 years later.  I suspect that McIntosh will not be in that group.
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