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Seeking Honest Opinions: Your Experience with McIntosh Audio Gear

I'm reaching out to this knowledgeable community to gather some honest feedback and personal experiences regarding McIntosh audio equipment. As many of you know, McIntosh has a storied reputation in the high-end audio world, known for their distinctive blue meters, impeccable build quality, and, of course, their sonic performance.

Whether you've had McIntosh gear in your setup for years or had the chance to experience it in some capacity, I'm curious to hear about your encounters. Specifically, I'm interested in:

  1. Sound Quality: How would you describe the sound signature of McIntosh gear? Do you find it warm, neutral, or something else entirely?
  2. Build Quality and Design: McIntosh is renowned for its craftsmanship. Has their build quality lived up to your expectations?
  3. Value for Money: Considering the premium investment McIntosh demands, do you believe the performance and satisfaction derived justify the price?
  4. Customer Service and Support: Have you had any experiences dealing with McIntosh's customer service? If so, how would you rate their support?
  5. Overall Experience: Would you recommend McIntosh to fellow audio enthusiasts? Why or why not?

Your candid opinions and personal stories will be invaluable, especially for those considering making a significant investment in their audio setup. McIntosh has a dedicated following, but every listener's ears and preferences are unique. Let's shed some light on the real-world experiences behind the brand's prestige.

Looking forward to your insights and honest opinions!

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jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
827 posts
 

Back in the late Seventies when the small manufacturers/underground hifi was taking off McIntosh was considered stuff for the Carriage Trade! Pretty much still is!

benanders's avatar
benanders
213 posts
 

I am a McIntosh owner of many years.

  1. Sound Quality: Very good. Some variance between select tracks will be heard, which is to be expected.
  2. Build Quality and Design: Nothing IMO to set it apart from the gamut of similar cases, except the ever-present teal color. To me, what’s inside the case is indistinguishable from any other brand until the music starts playing.
  3. Value for Money: This is complicated because my unit was free. And marked as NFS by the manufacturer. 
  4. Customer Service and Support: I’ve never needed it and honestly don’t expect I ever will. No reason to suspect it’s anything < sufficient, though. 
  5. Overall Experience: Great. It’s one of the best demo CD’s I’ve owned. 😆
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,461 posts
 

I recently set up my Dad's new MA 8950.  Awesome Amp,  definitely one I would be proud to own.  

exigem2
8 posts
 

I'm new to McIntosh but have been very impressed across the board. My setup is mostly vintage gear, Altec Lansing Model 19 speakers with Quad Jubilee Tube amps. I have two pieces of Mac gear, the M1100 phono preamp and their new MQ112.

  1. Sound Quality: Very impressive. The MP1100 is super clean and detailed, with no noise. The MQ112 is extremely useful in improving the sound quality of some lesser recordings, while adding no color if bypassing for better ones (UHQR etc). 
  2. Build Quality and Design: Excellent. Clearly built to last decades. The MP1100 has more features than I've been able to take advantage of, which is great as I expand my system with additional turntables and cartridges. 
  3. Value for Money: I think it depends on the unit you are buying. I think their Amps are very fairly priced and as pointed out earlier hold their value really well. You can't say that about most audio gear that plumets in value after the purchase.  
  4. Customer Service and Support: Excellent presales support from the two dealers I've worked with. None of my gear has needed service but I wouldn't expect any. 
  5. Overall Experience: Its a keeper!
pennfootball71's avatar
pennfootball71
237 posts
 

Sound quality is warm and not neutral their autoformer is a not a good transformer and a design that colors things too much. Pass slabs is better if you want that warm sound but better build and even Pass is entry level hifi. McIntosh is midfi sound at hifi price.

Build quality is kind of junky and their Autoformers have issues.

Parasound has better value for money and doesn’t break ever!

Customer service is a joke it takes forever to order an amp now after Covid. One dealer I know dropped them they would send 1 mono block instead of 2 and wait 3 months before the other monoblock came.

 

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