Hail to Mcintosh


In respnse to another thread about why audiophiles dont' pick Mac.I think (in my humble opinion) is unfounded. Not everyone (as this is a BIG world) spend their time on audiogon or any other forum "playing expert in hearing sound reproduction". Sound is subjective.In the guitar amp world many players choose their amps for different reasons....some monetary,others by what their heros played and some by what their ears are hearing, build quality or a combination of things. I've owned many boutique,vintage fender and clone amps of famous designs....,to me ,nothing beats the sound of a 60's Marshall w/ a Strat or LesPaul guitar. And many would agree......but not everyone. SO WHAT!! Now getting to Hi-FI..... When I was 16 or so (I'm 43) I heard my friends Uncles stereo I was BLOWN away,much like seeing a rock concert when the band Has that......MAGIC and everything flows. I wanted it! It was some Mac tube gear and Klipschorns. The passed 3 years I've listened to MANY systems tube and solidstate and to my ears the Horn loaded speakers w/ tube gear does it for me . Doesn't matter whether Rock,blues jazz or folk. I've chosen Mcintosh first for sound,quality ,history,looks and convenience of my dealer ...Audioclassics.com. I live 1 hr away from both the factory and them! I bought my Mac gear from them used (MC 2102's, MC2000 amps,C2200 preamp,Rosewood Khorns,ect..)My C2200 went awry,I explained my problem to "Ryan" at audioclassics and he contacted Mcintosh,they never encountered the problem I described. I thought to myself "OH brother" NO stereo for awhile......WRONG!! Ryan drove down to my house with a Brand new factory sealed C2200 and said "here, its yours" and took the other one back. No, it was not a loaner but an exchange,what company or dealer does that??? Nuff said!
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I've never experience with McIntosh before until 3 weeks ago I got the MC202 and I can tell it's going to stay for a long long time. The bad thing is now I need a new pair of speakers. :<)
I owned a MC2105 some years ago, and absolutely loved it. I still regret selling it to this day. It was supremely musical, with real "grunt". I really should go and listen to some of their latest designs, to see what I'm missing.
Yes, agree with everything "Flyski" had stated! McIntosh is music to me today and nothing ever will change my mind abou it. Today, my MVP841+MCD/MDA1000+C501+WP7 makes music that no other gears had even presented to me before.

Its McIntosh for me! Always!
The McIntosh look is beautiful to me. I hope they never change it. The sound doesn't have the last bit of resolution, but with all negatives comes positives and the coherence and musicality is definately worth the tradeoff. It's a compromise that favors the music instead of the audiophiles. For me, that is the way it should be.

If McIntosh didn't please so many people (most of which don't give a rat's ass about audio forums) they would have gone out of business like so many others did in the 80s. But no, they are one of the top dogs today because they are doing it right, obviously.
Yes..Me too. I am the quintessential prodigal son who returned home to vintage McIntosh after wandering 25years in the audio desert. Now at age 49.. I grew up in a home rich with McIntosh gear.( C-8,C-11,C-22,C-28//MC-60/MC2105..My Dad had them all paired with the then SOTA KLH-1/JansZen ELS speakers..I still get to hear the Janszens with the 2105/C-28 combo at his place on occasion!

While the audio journey has not been all bad, I have enjoyed many other fine components including some nice sounding tube amps...There is a certain "rightness" to the sound of Mac's. The vintage 60/70's gear with or without tubes have a nice balanced freq response that gives weight and power to music..I love classical orchestra in-particular in my system. Clearly the best I have ever heard for me.

Toady's newer Mc gear is certainly more extended and is more transparent. Excellent sounding..perhaps better suited to all music genres. Lovely to look at and proudly display. Fit and Finish as well as customer service at Mc exemplary indeed

When Im at the point to change again..( no doubt will have the itch to try more gear!) Im certain Ill audition the latest Mc gear too.