If McIntosh didn't exist, what brand would you be loyal to?

[a_retent]

Unlimited funds?
Boy, you guys are cheap. I'd build a recording studio outfitted with the very best equipment and environmental sound treatments currently available with the ability to create recordings in various formats so stellar it would require purchasers to submit a list of their playback equipment to meet approval before sale. Oh, and buy the band to record.

Otherwise:
Audio Research (sorry twiiii )
Conrad Johnson
Accuphase
Luxman

P.S. Never owned any Mac gear, audio or computer.

 

[arts]

ARC everytime you need to replace tubes the amp needs a full going over.

Yeah yeah, we get it, you are the worlds biggest Mac fan and god help anyone who disagrees, but constantly trying to spread the same old tiresome BS is doing nobody any favours. Can't you just give the constant ARC bashing a rest? Cause let me tell you, I wouldn't want to have the service reputation of a local McIntosh dealer when it comes to professional incompetence.....

 

[rollcentre]

I was pretty impressed by the Threshold NS10 and Audio Research SP-6A preamps that I picked up last year. I wouldn't mind exploring the rest of the equipment in the series. Unfortunately I let go of the Threshold before I could find one of the matching amplifiers. The old ARC SP-6A is still in rotation, and will probably stay forever.

 

[CohibaJoe]

Never stick to 1 Brand....I like choices and that's what I do. Luxman, PrimaLuna, Parasound, Mac 4100...And the next unit
for 2021 spring will be NAD M33.

 

[jayvis]

When my audio hobby started back in the 70's, I was on the Pioneer wagon and gradually jumped over to Yamaha in the mid to late 80's. Both of those brands offered excellent reliability with generally acceptable to very good performance for the money depending on the component. Both brands seemed to stale a bit after that, and as I aged and more funds became available, I gravitated to more critical listening and higher end components that included McIntosh. Just like in my earlier years, I expected the stuff to work and now understood that small incremental sonic improvements required increasingly higher price points. Not to say that I haven't had any issues with my McIntosh components over the years because I have, and McIntosh customer service is nowhere near what it was back then. The factory warranty hasn't changed and has become kind of pale considering what you have to pay, and trying to find adequate and convenient service for a super heavy McIntosh piece has become almost nonexistent for anyone not living in a large urban area. I've always had to resort to shipping my giant components back to the factory to get what I consider to be professional service. Now that I'm in my 60's and my ears aren't quite golden anymore, I'm starting to contemplate what my next major component move will be in the not so distant future. I'm leaning more toward the thought of integrated components that are lighter weight and require less space and cabling. I'm anxious to eventually hear an item like the NAD M33 to see if something like it can overcome the shortcomings of class D amplification. If it can convince my ears, it will give me hope, even though I consider the $5,000 asking price for a Chinese made component to be a bit excessive. Made in China will remain a sticking point for me even though some of my priorities are starting to change.

 

[jblnut]

I would probably venture into more of the home market Japanese gear, starting with Accuphase. Either that or I would try some boutique brands like Spectral, Naim, Nagra or BAT. So much good stuff out there! As much as I love Mac I will probably try some of it anyway just to see if it works with my system.

Jblnut

 

[Archguy]

Yeah, Bryston, C-J, Pass and Jeff Rowland would also be on my list.

But not really 'brand-loyal' nor is there any reason to be.

 

[W9TR]

If tubes then Audio Research.
If SS then Ayre or maybe Boulder.

The criteria:
Made in the USA.
Excellent service department.
High resale value.

None has a product offering as wide and deep as McIntosh.

 

[Bill Ferris]

While I own Mc amplifiers (tube & SS, old and new), a CD player, a MA 6100 Integrated, 5 Preamps, and 4 pairs of their speakers, I`m still not a absolute loyal fan !
I like their performance & reliability. mostly reliability..
I also own 2 pairs of wonderful sounding DQ 10 speakers, a very reliable ARC D 76A, that I`ve owned since 1977, & only needed to re-tube it`s 6550 output tubes once, 2 pairs of Dynaco Mk. III mono blocks, also have been reliable, with good performance for what they are.
A bunch of very reliable, & clean sounding Crown amplifiers, that powered my first Mc. speaker system (1990 purchased XRT 22`s), first in a regular configuration using 1 Crown SA 2, then 2 SA 2`s in mono mode, then bi-amped, with first D 150`s for the tweeter line arrays, and finally in the mid nineties, I replaced the mono`d 150`s with DC 300 series II, and the 2 SA 2`s with 2 Crown Power tech III`s, and those Crown amps remained in excellent service, even when in 2003 I replaced the XRT 22`s with the Mc. XRT 30`s that I still own and use in their tri-amp mode.
And I remained a dyed in the wool Crown power amp guy for all my house`s HQ audio systems, until 2006 when I decided that for the first time in my pursuit of this so called "Hobby", that it would be nice to have my 2 Mc. speaker systems powered by big Mc. amplifiers, as the Crown amplifiers that I had for decades were getting "long in the tooth", and though still meeting their specs. I wished to hear what Mc. power house mono blocks could do for me.
And I wasn`t let down, when I had them installed, and finally in 2010 I was able to purchase first 2, then quickly 2 more Mc. MC 275LE`s configured in the mono mode to replace the XRT 30`s tweeter/mid range array`s Crown DC 300 series II`s that were still producing stellar mid/high frequency performance !!

FWIW. 1 preamp tube in my bedrooms C220 preamp, and the bedroom`s 2 Mc. 1201`s front panel bulbs finally burned out recently, and that`s the only failure I`ve had with any Mc. electronics, no other hiccups, burps, or farts elsewhere, but neither did any of the Crown amps give me any trouble either for their thousands of hard hrs. use.

I, can also say that for over 20 yrs. my car garage`s Sony receiver hasn`t failed to sound excellent playing 24/7/365 into Infinity Primus III`s w/2 passive subwoofers either, though that (circa 1999~2000) 100 watt per ch. receiver is probably not thought of a HQ piece of HiFi equipment !

Anyway, enough noise from me. ,


Ciao

 

[techguy0192]

Like I have said before we had a ARC dealer in town and a lot of ARC owners were having issues back in the late 80's and 90's and we tried to help because of ARC policies we couldn't. And over half of them ended up sending their units back to the factory. The others either bought new ARC or some thing else. Very few bought Mac because they didn't want some renovated or reissued MC 275. If I just happened once or twice that would be one thing but when it happened 5 or 6 times a year you begin to wonder. And remember you are only supposed to use factory hand selected tubes in your ARC.

Yes, like you have said before...over and over....more or less the same thing, that is pretty much a copy and paste job at this point. One of the things some dealers do that I cannot stand is trash brands they don't carry. Every single time I have experienced this, that cavalier and dismissive attitude left a band taste in my mouth. I mention this due to knowing that you were in the industry.

I always find your broad lack of detail, that is posted over and over to ad nauseam, the most interesting part. If the ARC products were so terrible, as you describe, why no mention of specific models and failure modes. Surely, if they were that bad some of these facts could be recalled. That lack of detail doesn't help reinforce credibility. Although, I'm sure now, there might be an attempt to toss out some specific models. Still.....not gonna buy that, because at this point it would simply be an attempt to add some credibility to what myself and others have shown to be misinformation.

"Only supposed to use factory...tubes..." This is yet another false fact. Sure the factory tubes are highly recommended. They are backed by the ARC tube warranty and if anything happens to the product, they take care of the repair. Yes, they are expensive. You call the factory provide the model and serial number and get perfectly matched tubes. The process used to test, match and ensure the quality of tubes sold by ARC is beyond over the top. See the attached PDF file for additional information. I have used both ARC and non-ARC sourced tubes. The main thing is if you're not buying them from Audio Research, go with a trusted tube seller....not some rando cheap junk off eBay.

 

[E-Stat]

T ARC everytime you need to replace tubes the amp needs a full going over.

Hmmm. Purchased my first Audio Research component in 1981 and have owned multiples since. Never needed a *full going over* for any of them. I have, however, opted to send two back to the factory for upgrade packages. Gee, don't recall McIntosh ever updating older product to new performance levels.

 

[techguy0192]

Hmmm. Purchased my first Audio Research component in 1981 and have owned multiples since. Never needed a *full going over* for any of them. I have, however, opted to send two back to the factory for upgrade packages. Gee, don't recall McIntosh ever updating older product to new performance levels.

x1000 on this post.

"Owners of Audio Research SP3 preamplifiers have the option of updating to the SP3C. The SP3 was introduced in 1972 and was instrumental in establishing Audio Research’s worldwide reputation for sonic excellence. Several thousand were sold during the period of 1972 -1976 and most, we believe, are still in service today."

SP-3A (1974)
SP-3A-1 (1975)
SP-3B (1978)
SP-3C (2001)


Vandersteen, Audio Research, and Ayre are among the very rare handful of companies that offer product updates. Likely one of the reasons I love and respect these three brands so much. That said, McIntosh does do a great job of supporting legacy products, no doubt about that.

 

[432HzBob]

Luxman... been a fan for years now.
Cant afford their new high end gear but the older stuff from and 70’s and 80’s is still possible to afford

 

[Porthos]

Luxman... been a fan for years now.
Cant afford their new high end gear but the older stuff from and 70’s and 80’s is still possible to afford

I have a Luxman CL-36u Ultimate, 100% proceeds to Christian charity, look on eBay if interested. Normally wouldn't post this here but all goes to help less fortunate.

 

[rajoo]

I started off with a Marantz 2270 then on to Pioneer, Sony & Sansui, Yamaha receivers. Moved on to Denon, Yamaha, B&K, SAE separates, later Bryston, then got the McIntosh bug and now I am on the Luxman bandwagon. I am not partial to any one brand, just whatever interests me.

 

[motorstereo]

I'd want to stay with made in USA gear. There's a few to pick from but I'd like to empty out my pockets and give Mark Levinson a shot.

 

[JWJW]

Bryston

 

[Velocityboat]

My PS Audio direct stream DAC and recent P20 power regenerator has transformed my McIntosh system making it sound way better than before. Not ready to jump ship to other non Mc amps and preamps or speakers. Though I have read of others selling off their MC 601s and going to the BHK line up. Yet others trialing BHK then going with McIntosh tube preamps and solid state. I do see some MC1.25KW on my amp wish list

i do like Yamaha but don’t see my self going to their top line electronics.

If I won lotto Focal Grand Utopia or the Wilson top line offerings would be fun with New McIntosh power and Preamps.

 

[stereocuuple]

Accuphase then Sansui. after that I would rather die.

 

[Jimbo40]

Soundcraftsmen. Love that MA5002
Pioneer. Has done everything right for me.
It's not an argument.
It's just what I like.