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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
pawlowski6132's avatar
pawlowski6132
592 posts
 
I don't think any of these posts actually answr the original question. The answers are mostly people who own McIntosh trying to vindicate their purchases and defend themselves.

But, I think it's true: Looking through discussion posts, at members' systems, real high end systems don't have a lot of McIntosh mixed in. Systems where I've seen them are ALL McIntosh.

I think they have a MidFi reputation and so people stray away. Regardless of how they really sound.
unclejeff
1,313 posts
 
Anybody wanting a really fantastic amp should get the McIntosh 2102. As a stand alone amp it beats just ablut any other i have listened to.

This amp, in all honesty, would be the last system component I would part with.
flyski
40 posts
 
I do, I have 501 monoblocks and I love them. I have also owned and heard many others. My last system was all BAT. 501's Stereophile awards the MC501 Monoblock Amplifier the Amplifier of the Year 2004.
HiFi Grand Prix award goes to MC501 Monoblocks 2004.
Absolute Sound reviews the 402/C46 amp/preamp and claims "the best sound I have had in my system"

So unless Stereophile, Absolute Sound and my own ears are lying, McIntosh makes great HIFI gear. I can't find one fault. Let your ears be the judge and give them an audition.
larryrosen
83 posts
 
My amp progression has taken me from Hafler to Conrad Johnson to Krell to a Mac 352. True, all solid state, and all fine sounding amps, but the Mac is easily the best sounding amp I have ever owned. So there is my 2 cents.
tireguy OP
1,964 posts
 
I can't believe people are still argueing about this, this thread was started in 2001! Let it go, we're not making any progress.

And I still have not owned any mac gear.
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