Why do no audio enthusiasts use McIntosh?


With the exception of some of there tube gear, not many really use this stuff(or admit to it anyway), I am mainly referring to there amps. They look pleasant, they look good on paper and have the price of high end gear, but I seldom hear anyone claiming to like or one day dreaming of owning McIntosh. I have never really listened to there stuff, no good word of mouth sort of scares me away from it, the only people who like it are those who sell it, an uncanny coincidence? I don’t know. Sorry it this has been covered many times in the past, I ran a search and could not find anything.
tireguy
Hi, I'm a big fan of McIntosh gear and have been for over a decade.

My McIntosh MC7300 amp was originally bought by my father in the early 90s and I'm still enjoying it as much as I was back then. The logo bulb finally burnt out after 12 years of use and they fixed it for free AND paid for UPS 2day back and forth!!! Where have you heard of a company fixing 12 year old, out of warranty equipment for free including shipping? (this amp weighs almost 100lbs)

There are many fans of McIntosh, many even call it a cult. A high-end audio can not stay in business for over half a century without any fans. Listen to them yourself, you just might like it.
I definitely don't belong in the "lazy" category (as described by Szutinglee). My choice was based on research and lots of listening. I upgraded from mid-fi Arcam integrated/amp bi-amp combo to a simple MA 6200 Integrated. I went with Mac for improved sound, customer service, the look and vibe (I wanted the simplicity of an integrated and couldn't hang with another skinny little plastic box that would be out of syle in 6 months).

The only other experience I ever had with Mac gear was at The Hit Factory studios in NYC- some of the rooms used big ol' solid stade Mac amps. I was amazed at the improvement in sound quality from the Arcam bi-amp setup that I was using before - I would like to move up to seperates. Mac isn't the last word in HiFi, but I still think they have a place among serious listeners.
My own experince: I used to work at a store which sold both Mac and Sunfire, among others. We demoed these lots and the Mac kills the Sunfire. No doubts. However, Mac tube gear with the stock tubes (275 2102...) was killed by a Air tight amp we brought in one day.

Just our experince at the store.

Drken
Recently, I stopped in to listen to the McIntosh MA2275 Integrated at a local dealer. It was thrilling! Some forty years has passed since I last listened to tubes – a product of a home brewing friend of my father’s. In that instant, I knew what had been lost (at least, for me) over all those years to solid state “cleanliness” and digital “convenience”.

To be sure, this Mac incorporates elements of all three in its presentation, but its output is pure, warm analogue. At $6200, it comes in at five times what I can afford, but that McIntosh audition sure pointed the way for me in a quest for affordable tube audio. Mac is back – and back as a class act.