Mcintosh Has Been Sold

[Modegard]

I just read this today: http://www.twice.com/articletype/news/dm-sells-mcintosh-fine-sounds/103476

The Italian company that owns Audio Research now owns Mcintosh.

 

[Skylab]

From one audio conglomerate to another. The new owner seems to own more compatible brands in some ways, although D&M has been pretty good about letting it's companies run themselves (which is why Denon and Marantz still have a lot of similar products).

It does mean it's finally hard to call McIntosh a US company anymore.

 

[Modegard]

From one audio conglomerate to another. The new owner seems to own more compatible brands in some ways, although D&M has been pretty good about letting it's companies run themselves (which is why Denon and Marantz still have a lot of similar products).

It does mean it's finally hard to call McIntosh a US company anymore.

I recall D&M was Japanese anyway. And before D&M they were owned by Clarion. Mcintosh hasn't been American owned since 1989.

 

[Skylab]

Right you are - I knew that D&M itself had been sold a while back and thought it was a US company that bought it, but looking now, it seems that the company that owns D&M is Japanese.

 

[mhardy6647]

I recall D&M was Japanese anyway. And before D&M they were owned by Clarion. Mcintosh hasn't been American owned since 1989.

Yup, about as American as, e.g., a Toyota Tundra or many Mercedes models, as they're US-built but foreign-owned. Actually, come to think of it, Chrysler is probably a more accurate (and contemporary) parallel.

I wonder how this change in ownership is related (and/or if it's in any related) to McIntosh's shift in marketing strategy in the past year or so to a "luxury lifestyle product" niche? I do note in the linked article that the new parent company Quadrivio/Fine Sounds, refers to the "international luxury audio arena" market segment and that they're "positioned for substantially accelerated global growth".

 

[sully1801]

My 1st thought was, as long as they leave them alone, more or less as Clarion and D&M did...
But, after more consideration, they need some guidance...
IMHO, they have lost their way the last couple years

 

[MX117.MC7150]

Great. :thumbsdn: Now we can look forward to leather wrapped gear. :nono:
MT10 will become history, as will McIntosh speakers.

 

[devani]

GREAT....now I have to hold on my gears....

 

[SoCal Sam]

Great. Another buyout with perhaps more debt piled on. Let's hope this doesn't lead to...gulp...costcutting.

 

[jlovda]

From one audio conglomerate to another. The new owner seems to own more compatible brands in some ways, although D&M has been pretty good about letting it's companies run themselves (which is why Denon and Marantz still have a lot of similar products).

It does mean it's finally hard to call McIntosh a US company anymore.

Notice that Denon and Marantz are made in the AP whereas Mcintosh is made in the US. The D&M owners must feel that AP is the most cost effective place to manufacture electronics.

 

[62caddy]

More Mc product is exported than is consumed domestically. Point 2- The Italian market had been one of Mc's strongest for decades and would likely make as good a parent as any. Point 3- Under both Clarion & D&M Mc had continued its mission relatively unchanged. Point 4- Mc will still be manufactured in Binghamton which still makes it a bona-fide US product, as far as I'm concerned.

My 2 cents.

 

[Deyorew]

I too think they could use a little redirection. It seems in the last few years their amps have been overkill. Most people don't need 150 lb amplifier delivering 400 watts per channel and a two box preamp. Its great that these are offered and they are very beautiful looking and sounding, but it would be nice if they could have a set of products not so grandiose!

How about a cheaper 3 channel metered amp for starters!

 

[jlovda]

I too think they could use a little redirection. It seems in the last few years their amps have been overkill. Most people don't need 150 lb amplifier delivering 400 watts per channel and a two box preamp. Its great that these are offered and they are very beautiful looking and sounding, but it would be nice if they could have a set of products not so grandiose!

How about a cheaper 3 channel metered amp for starters!

Porsche refused to come out with a car less expensive than the Boxster because that's not their market. The people who can afford 150 pound, 400 w amps are the people Mcintosh is after.

I will be interested to see what the relationship will be like between Mcintosh and Audio Research. Two high end tube equipment manufacturers serving the same market.

 

[rolltide]

Porsche refused to come out with a car less expensive than the Boxster because that's not their market. The people who can afford 150 pound, 400 w amps are the people Mcintosh is after.

I don't think McIntosh needs to make lower priced gear (after all, you can just buy it 10 years later like I do), but I also don't think they need to make clocks, bookshelf systems, magic cables, etc Of course I don't know the sales figures on such things, but getting back to basics and some common sense slimming of product lines probably wouldn't hurt.

 

[SoCal Sam]

Come on MAC, get back to the basics and stop the car audio and home theater madness. Get out of Magnolia too, the salesmen do not do MAC justice at least at the Mag near me, which incidentally is 1/2 mile from a MAC dealer that has been around for decades. Two-Channel is where the rich audiophiles are. They should "re-issue" all the classic old tube amps, preamps, and tuners and come up with a service warranty similar to Bryston. This will keep second hand values high, which in turn will reduce depreciation and make buying new an easier proposition. This will also firm up vintage prices as has happened with the MC275 and the MC75. While they are at it, bring back Mac Clinics. Get it? These moves will bring back the old groupies and start a new generation of groupies. Ask the other MAC, er Apple. Groupies are repeat customers.

 

[MX117.MC7150]

Well, Sam, I wish it could be so. But, that is a different company for a different time. Unfortunately, good taste and class (in most all things, including stereo gear and music) have been supplanted by cheap and easy (iPads and MP3, etc.). Don't think we can turn the clock back.

 

[kevzep]

Well, Sam, I wish it could be so. But, that is a different company for a different time. Unfortunately, good taste and class (in most all things, including stereo gear and music) have been supplanted by cheap and easy (iPads and MP3, etc.). Don't think we can turn the clock back.

Yes I agree, as much as I am fond of those times and certainly the McIntosh products, we do live in a different time now......
They are merely heading in the same direction as other companies.......as much as we dont like to see this, things just never stay the same....
Time and tide waits for no man.....

Although walking into my lounge you may think otherwise.......

 

[twiiii]

This time period reminds me of history when Mac was trying get into home theatre with the C-39, MX-130, and 7106, all of which weren't stellar products. Now with digital as the preferred source material over the internet, Mac is struggling again with the C-48 and 50. The MT-10 is a me, too product and their speakers, though trying to improve on the tradition of the XRT 20, 22, and XR 290, don't. Today's customers with the big bucks are totally different, than those of us of professional training of yesterday. People of today don't want to see speakers, amps pre-amps, etc anymore. Those that really care just want sound. As an Article in Stereophile mentions, Accuracy is not the answer. Why do some of us love vinyl, but would love to love Digital. Well with Analog KISS was the motto of the day that gave the best sound. So it was in the 80's and 90's with Telarc, but today; the more the better. More can be good, but its complicated and doesn't fool the ear in my experience. Some of my favorite recordings were made with Just 3 mics, and a sweetner, vocal solo or instrument mic. That one mic ruined the perspective most times. So, I say even today KISS. McIntosh has for gotten that engineering principal. But I pray they find their way!

 

[sKiZo]

I too think they could use a little redirection. It seems in the last few years their amps have been overkill. Most people don't need 150 lb amplifier delivering 400 watts per channel and a two box preamp.

Speak for yourself. I don't need 400hp under the hood of my car either, but the devil makes me do it.

I just hope they maintain the current level of support for the older products. It's simply amazing what you can get for a 30 year old box from them guys.

 

[kevzep]

Speak for yourself. I don't need 400hp under the hood of my car either, but the devil makes me do it.

I just hope they maintain the current level of support for the older products. It's simply amazing what you can get for a 30 year old box from them guys.

I absolutely agree with both points here........especially the support they have for the older products....:thmbsp: