Mcintosh Has Been Sold

[damacman]

Wow . . . guys, what world are YOU living in? I look at McIntosh's line today and IF I had money to spare, I could certainly find something from them to suit my taste. Don't try and convince me for one second that an MC452 is simply a dressed up model of yesteryear.

I don't see any frill or marketing in their products that has offset quality or performance - if you're talking about the many re-issues of the MC275, then get over it. Last I checked, that is the most sold tube amp in history and it still has a following 50 years after its introduction.

If anything, McIntosh is guilty of not changing enough. We live in an age of disposable consumer electronics and 99.9% of the people I know do not care to sit down and listen to a single song all the way through, let alone side A of an album. Everyone has ADD anymore - all the posting on forums, reading email, texting, tweeting, facebooking and surfing the 'net in general is changing the very culture of our lives.

McIntosh has held on too long to US. We've all got stacks of Mc gear that was made in the '70s anyhow and we maintain it like we service our classic cars. Let's be honest with ourselves, only a very small percentage of US will consider the purchase of a new McIntosh component in the foreseeable future and when a friend asks us what they should buy, we're quick to recommend a 25 year old McIntosh they can buy on the used market.

Here's what McIntosh IS guilty of:

-Staying true to their roots
-Designing, engineering, and manufacturing equipment that will last for decades
-Manufacturing as much of that stuff as possible in the US of A
-Keeping a business model that is designed to allow all parties involved in the sales process to make a profit

WE have failed McIntosh. Not the other way around.

 

[redcoates7]

I'm suprised at the overall negative tone of this thread. It appears that Audio Research, SonusFaber, Wadia, Boston Acoustics, and Sumiko have thrived under Fine Sounds SpA management.

Totally agree with the sentiment of this post. Mc is going to be just fine.

One small correction though: Boston Acoustics is still with D+M, not Fine Sounds SpA

 

[redcoates7]

A quick comment on the McAire: while this might not be the way many of us on AK consume our music, this is by far the best sounding AirPlay compatible speaker system I've heard. It's built like the proverbial brick shithouse and sounds amazing.

Is it the Mc product for a stuck-in-the-70s collector? Nope

Is it a great option for those looking to integrate a modern music library with a quality hifi using the sorts of technologies expected by a current consumer? Heck yeah.

I've given up on the idea of bringing my friends around to enjoying the music the way I do... music is what drives the equipment. Follow the sources. If the great majority of the buying public is listening to music stored online or on a hard drive, any manufacturer that wants to be part of the larger conversation MUST offer viable solutions for that use case.

 

[rolltide]

Is it a great option for those looking to integrate a modern music library with a quality hifi using the sorts of technologies expected by a current consumer? Heck yeah.

So is adding a $99 Apple TV/Airport Express to one's existing setup. That's the major problem I have with building an entire product around Airplay.

 

[0luke1]

They (Fine Sound) seem to be a perfect match for McIntosh. And I think the McIntosh brand is (arguably) stronger than their other brands, which means bright days are ahead for we McFans.

As far as the MC275. I own three of them, so I'm biased, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm in love with the sound and can't see f'ing with perfection.

 

[Grey.Coupe]

Sure didn't hurt Sonus Faber...

 

[W9TR]

Thanks

Redcoates7,
Thanks for the correction!
Tom

 

[twiiii]

Way back when we used the Wall of sound and others to sell 3500's, 2300's and later 2500's, 2600's to the Mexican Disco owners, by the ton's. 2255's, 2270's and 7300's were what we sold the most of however. Big 18" Altec, EV, Cerwin Vega, and JBL woofers loved 2500's. RTR's 24" and 2300's got a long real well. But for the Home market, unless were were selling a Mac speaker pair to a customer, 2100's, 2105, 2125, 2155 were the most popular amps in our market. The MA6200 converted a lot of potential separates buyers, though! 1900, 4100's, and 4300's were popular with our Klipsch, Altec, EPI, small Bozak speaker customers. When Mac quit making 275's our Concert Grand Business dropped. I tried mine with 2100's and was disappointed. As much as I would like to see Mac build a current up dated quad balanced 2120 or 2155, I don't believe the demand is there. I've heard the 2301 and it doesn't impress me, it a step behind the 275. I'd love to see an updated 3500. But who has $30,000 for a pair of amps. If they were $6,000 a pair, I would be in line. Imagine what would happen if Mac built a line of speakers that were 94 db 1 watt 4 ft, rather than 86 db 1 watt 1 meter. Then a 100 watt amp could return.