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McIntosh Haters

I've come full circle on tone controls. Many receivers all tone controls...Melos gk 1+1, arc sp6b, arc ls7, Odyssey tempest, none... McIntosh c35 tone controls. They are wonderful on this unit and I use them all the time. I have and bought and sold lots of ss and tube gear but have my Mac gear up and running most of the time. Love the sound and look. Not saying it blows away this or that but it is what I have hooked up most of the time because it pleases me...
Jim
 
I've worked on Mac and respect the gear and company, but haven't used it here myself. I do participate in the forum when appropriate.
 
MORTIS said:
McIntosh is among the longest running of successful companies producing specialty audio components, and that success combined with a substantial following has predictably caused a polarity among audio enthusiasts regarding their merit as high end components. For some people it may not reproduce music to sound the way they like, or its functions and appearance may seem outdated if the preference is for modern minimalist. Some might not have even properly heard McIntosh and are simply parroting the opinions of other enthusiasts with whom they trust. And yes, some people are just jealous of things that are beyond their means to obtain.

Yes I personally have heard the haters, as well as the numerous folks who truly understand our deep appreciation for the design, the engineering, and of course its superb musical reproduction. I've been into high end audio for 40 years and nothing else has fulfilled my preferences in design and musical reproduction as well as McIntosh. Certainly there may exist components that could please me more, but I've not yet heard any. No doubt I sound like a biased and loyal fan, but for me, McIntosh has earned it.
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Absolutely spot on!

Those who hate certain things seem to have no real experience with that certain thing. Or they are jealous that they don't have it and bad mouth it to make themselves feel better.

Either way, they are wrong.
 
Its always been the first thing I saw going into a hifi shop as a teenager. It looks unlike anything else and it cost a fortune. I now am beginning to aquire latest gen MAC and for the money I couldn't go with something I did not admire as a kid. I thought about others like classe, krell, bryston, etc etc but at the end of the day, when the dollars are at stake I went with my gut, and I have no regrets. Oh and those meters....ahhh.
 
I would say that if it is possible to wait indefinitely and have lots of money in your pocket at all times that you can probably get better performance per dollar than by buying McIntosh gear.

I would never ever say that any of it is *BAD* though. I think most of my stuff sounds darn good and I bet that replacing any one piece with McIntosh would result in no degradation whatsoever and in most cases an improvement.

Unless he's got some really esoteric stuff I don't get it.
 
Lesterbest said:
I don't hate Mac & even sold it; however the antediluvian autoformers will never darken my doorstep. YMMV.
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Your snarky attitude and persistent negativity towards McIntosh on the McIntosh forum is becoming tiresome and I for one am fed up with it. Substantive critique and criticism is always welcome and any you have to proffer along those lines would serve as an excellent topic of discussion; opinionated editorializing, however, serves no purpose.

Since you claim to have sold McIntosh, I would hope you have read Sidney Corderman's white paper, "Output Transformers in Transistor Power Amplifiers". In any case, I suggest you re-read the paper in its entirety after which you can regale the McIntosh forum with your deep knowledge of amplifier design as you show us where Mr Corderman got it wrong.

Here is a link to the white paper:

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LEVjExDCtYfIsAr7MnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTEzNjdzc3M0BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDRkZVSUMwXzEEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1479244977/RO=10/RU=http://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/modeling-differential-input-pair-(audio-amplifier)/?action=dlattach;attach=127836/RK=0/RS=eNNi.lkbp0fKTInsiMPMkUQNxTw-
 
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62caddy said:
Your snarky attitude and persistent negativity towards McIntosh on the McIntosh forum is becoming tiresome and I for one am fed up with it.
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This seems to be the norm in the mac forum lately, it's turning into a general audio sub forum. I have always looked at the sub forums of specific gear for the owners of and for perspective owners looking for advice. Out of all the comments I'v made on this site and time here, I have never made comments in forums like Pioneer, Marantz because I really don't have interest in them. Why would I go into forums like that and have nothing good to say about the products. The members that do love that gear need a place to enjoy and escape the static of others.
 
@kmp14

Don't trip as you own a product from a manufacturer who builds some of the finest audio equipment in the world. There is no such thing as best even within this companies line of products. Buy what you like and enjoy it is really all I can say. If it sounds good and your not having to repair or replace every few years, something must be right.
 
I have never heard any Mac equipment (to my knowledge), but if given the chance I would jump at it :). It is very expensive gear compared to my audio budget, so I can't see ownership as being a reality any time soon. I know kevzep is a big fan, and because of what he does for a living, I believe he knows good sound when he hears it, that's good enough for me.
 
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Your tastes may change with experience over time, but shouldn't be altered from some other guy's comments. If his remarks inspire you to gain more varied experience that's fine, but don't get rid of the system that is making you happy until you're damned certain you've found something you like better.

4-2-7 said:
This seems to be the norm in the mac forum lately, it's turning into a general audio sub forum. I have always looked at the sub forums of specific gear for the owners of and for perspective owners looking for advice. Out of all the comments I'v made on this site and time here, I have never made comments in forums like Pioneer, Marantz because I really don't have interest in them. Why would I go into forums like that and have nothing good to say about the products. The members that do love that gear need a place to enjoy and escape the static of others.
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I can think of a couple of reasons you keep catching interlopers in your private preserve.

One is that some folks may surf AK in a different way than you. I tend to surf from the New Posts page. I just look for interesting thread titles and if I see one I don't stop to make sure the interesting thread is in a certain subforum before entering.

Another is that someone who owns another brand, Kenwood for example, is considering a McIntosh purchase and is seeking information. Maybe you think that guy should be asking his questions in the Kenwood forum?

Another is the nature of the original post. If the original post in this thread is to be taken at face value, then opinions that vary from the McIntosh catechism were being solicited.

I don't mean to pick on 427 here. I haven't figured out how to multiquote since the change and had to choose one post to quote. There are others in this thread, his just seemed to be the best of the bunch.
 
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I can't really add much to this discussion but if there are any Mac haters reading this and you have Mac gear, don't despair, contact me and I will relieve you of your burden, I'll even pay shipping. No sense having that hatefull gear in plain view when I can relieve you of your pain.

BillWojo
 
stereofanboy said:
. I haven't figured out how to multiquote since the change and had to choose one post to quote.
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Nothing simpler with the new AK format:

Simply hit + Quote on the bottom right of each post you wish to quote. Then hit the button "Quote these messages" and all will be quoted on your own editing page.

Very easy.
 
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I am afraid people like the one the OP encountered get on my last nerve. Not because he criticized McIntosh, but because he doesn't seem to know the difference between opinion and fact, subjectivity and objectivity. And he then combines it with a holier-than-thou attitude. I remember in high school a buddy saying to me, "Can you believe he likes Grand Funk?" Even though I didn't like Grand Funk, I thought my friend was being a horse's ass. There are value judgements in such statements that are out of line. Even then I thought we are free to like and dislike whatever we choose, just don't be a jerk about it.
 
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