Why do no audio enthusiasts use McIntosh?

There are alot of audio enthusiast that own McIntosh, but there are also alot of McIntosh owners who have never heard of Amperex or Teles (not casters)- in other words a brand of good equipment that might be owned by many who have never read TAS or heard of Audiogon - different then let's say folks that own DeHaviland SETs for example. Mac sells alot of gear to alot of types of folks, some are not audiophiles mor do they want to be, but they have some money and they want some "good" stuff and they trust the brand of their fathers. Regradless, excellent gear at the beginning, and again today (there was a dark ages IMHO).

Silly statement indeed. I think people would agree that for the most part people on this site are audiophiles or at least take pride in their equipment. Plug Mcintosh into the systems search page and you will find about 400 people who use Mac gear in their systems...

I think many people like to crap on Mcintosh because it is a larger company owned by a conglomerate not necessarily because they have ever heard the equipment setup correctly. Mcintosh has a history and heritage and is a business adn to some that defies the idea it could be a real high end company.

MC is also still standout expensive in an industry of generally expensive products. I currently own Mcintosh equipment as well as stuff from CJ, SAE, ATI,Portage, Harman Kardon, YS Audio, Creek, Cambridge Audio, and others. I just bought some "new" vintage MC equipment I am having refurbished by Terry DeWick. I like the MC sound but prefer the older SS or tubes to todays stuff....maybe because I can afford more of it. I do, however, see where it is different depending on the music I listen to, the source I use, the speakers its played thru etc. Generally I feel MC is a little less detailed on the highe end but makes the mid-range just right, real, warm and like music. I started with MC 35+ years ago and have left and come back more than once. I found over time that most others SS sounded etched on the high end even though it was seen as "detailed". I found I could not listen as long or as intently as ot the MC. AND, I have never even owned MC tubes and dont consider myself an audiophile but rather just a music lover who occasionally has extra money to try to make his experience better! I have it in mind next that tubes will be something I have to get deep into as I heard a wonderful MC tube amp setup and system at Overture Audio 2 years ago that bests all the rest of my audio "memories". I think it might be my "last system". To each his own I think is the real answer....if you like it buy it. You should at least listen with open, objective ears.

In my 30 years as a 'recorded music' fan, I have not heard anything as stunning as Burmester electronics, a company started by a musician/engineer. Burmester has all the virtues of tubes, with the quickness of ss. I had a McIntosh MCD500 for a year, and was quite impressed with it. Their amps are decent also. But, their preamps do nothing for me-no magic or emotion. For me, music is about passion and emotion, and Mc gear does not do it. However, I am old enough to know that it does not mean Mc gear is not good stuff because I did not connect with it

Talk2me - My only piece of Mc gear is the MCD500, which I have found to be musically quite impressive at its price point. Since you no longer have your MCD500, did you replace it with another CDP? If so, may I ask what replaced your MCD500 and what you prefer about it over the MCD500?