Mark, I have six pieces of non-Mac gear from back then that are chrome plated, so Mac was neither the first, nor were they the best. Of the gear that is chrome plated, Mac actually did the cheapest job, which is why I noted it.
I also deliberately switched the Accuphase saying, but only as a tweak!
Mac didn't overengineer their gear, they designed it in a typically industrial fashion, and they have continued that philosophy for their corporate life, excluding some years during their car stereo ventures. By that nature, their specs are quoted as a minimum, not a maximum, so "underrated" specs is akin to "tube" watts...it either meets/exceeds quoted, or it doesn't.
As far as McIntosh authorized service in our area, they are the reason why I sold the seven pieces of Mac gear I owned. After the first MC250 went up in smoke following a service call, after I paid twice for the same repair on a 1900 in four months, and had a 6100 that would drop a channel whenever it got moved(a chassis rail flexing too much,) I realized my wallet could not support McIntosh.
A second Mac authorized tech successfully diagnosed the 6100 and fixed it, but enough was enough. Mac:thumbsdn: Accuphase and Levinson:thmbsp: at my house. :yes: