Why the hate for mcintosh amps?

Whatever that means...

Very good question. I’ve used McIntosh amplification, pre and power, to win more ‘best sound at show’ awards at venues like Rocky Mountain, AXPONA, and T.H.E. Show than I can count. I also use them in product development in my reference system. They’re dead neutral and bulletproof. I think what a lot of guys don’t understand, it’s the system set up, not magic shiny boxes, that deliver great sound. Audiophiles on the never ending merry-go-round are constantly looking for the next magic box that will somehow transform their stereo; I call this affliction, Shiny Box Syndrome.

Yours in music,

Ted Denney III

Lead Designer/CEO Synergistic Research Inc.

There are a number of audiophiles that think equipment cannot be good if it is popular. Their loss. 

You don’t need to bias any of the older Mcintosh valve amps unless you rebuild the power supply. Then only once. You can replace the little pot they use to set the bias with a fixed resistor. You measure the value of the pot and match the resistor. I install a better pot and then I can change it if I want.. I seldom do..

The only thing better than Mac is another Mac.. The only start to finish system made. Down to the wall plug. There is not a single component you need to go outside of Mac for, including speakers. I made their speakers work well with little change. I’ve yet to find a speaker that makes me completely happy other than my own contraptions anyway. I like a few of Macs LS speakers.

50% of the sound is the room anyways. A ground up approach, Electrical, Room, Subs, and everything else. 40-45% at the most is split between, the recording, the source player, amplification, main speakers (up to 3) and cabling. The actual power amps if given a number 15-20% maybe.

The one thing folks seem to forget. The equipment’s job is to make ME happy not anything else. The reason I LOVE Mac it is very neutral, and true to the WAY the music was put to the media. The great part is, I may not like the way it sounds, but with a Mac, I can change any of it to make ME, not YOU happy. AND Certainly not "rules set forth by rooky audiophilers". Like no tone control, silliest thing I’ve ever heard.

They ALL started with tone control and then CHEAPED out and removed it on a lot of equipment. WHY? Because they are CHEAP that’s why. It’s not easy or inexpensive to design a good tone control system like Macs with VARIABLE loudness, not fixed. It’s EASY to leave it out. It’s hard to put it in. You pay for what you get. You open any NEW Mac what do you see? Vishay, WIMA, silver traces on the IC boards, Glass, two part chassis, plated, powder coated. They are not cheap to make or design..

Mac has seen a LOT of companies come and go. My C2500 was just fixed, guess how much? I have to pick it up. Go ahead guess, blown right channel, cable drop blew a 20 amp house fuse..

Happy new year.

.Regards

If you haven't heard a McIntosh pre-amp or amp using NOS Mullards and Telefunken tubes, then I highly recommend you do if you have the opportunity. I just updated the signal tubes in my 275 and 2700 with these two and replaced the power tubes with Gold Lion. The clarity and separation of instruments and vocals in the music was worth the cash. The Telefunken added a nice little sparkle in the top that was not quite there before. The bass is also a lot more defined with the new power tubes. 

I keep getting farther down the rabbit hole.