2. amps-preamps
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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
pops
2,273 posts
 
Well put Ben...As I am new to Mcintosh with 501 mono's they continue to far exceed my expectations. I have about 100 hours on them, and they are the most natural sounding and organic amps I've heard.
drken
30 posts
 
As in former post I do believe that Mac is good gear, however both their preamps and amps are slightly on the dark and slow side for me. I think that for example CAT gear is significantly better.

And I work for a mac dealer!
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superhonestben
199 posts
 
Let me be the first to say that while i love my Mac gear, I know there are other fine audio companies making top equipment that sounds really good. I also know there are companies making very expensive gear thats sounds, well yuk. I have heard good things about CAT,BAT,Quicksilver,CJ etc and if I tried some of that geat and loved it,great, I would still keep my Mac gear.
crest
22 posts
 
Some see it as "conservative looking," or "old fashioned looking," think that only doctors or dentists can afford it, which makes no sense since all high end equipment is pricey and McIntosh is by no means the most expensive. Just one of those odd things. I wouldn't own anything else.
vincentkkho
53 posts
 
I own one original MC-275 and use it for many years. I then bought two re-issued MC-275 in the 90's and run them in mono 150W per channel for my Ediolon. I recently bought another pair of MC-275 and put them aside for safe keeping. Simply put, it has the best output transformer which is so critical for tube amp. It is magical when it is run in mono mode. I have owned many other amps before and they include VTL Ichiban, AudioResearch VT-100, Jadis JA-500a monoblock etc.. The output transformers of these amps are nothing compare to the technology of McIntosh. For pure 150Watt per channel it is value for money.
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