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The McIntosh Clinic Story

AudioClassics1

AudioClassics1

Super Member
We now have the pleasure of intoducing the McIntosh Clinic Story written by David O'Brien. Visit our website at www.AudioClassics.com for more details. It is a great account of David's years of doing the clinic. A must read for any McIntosh enthusiast.

In recognition of this story, any Audio Karma member that stops in our store, will have the opportunity of having any of their equipment tested and rated by myself or Steve Rowell. We will walk you through every step and show you how your unit(s) are functioning. All of this, as it was with the clinic, is at no charge to Audio Karma members.

So sit back, read the wonderfull stories of the clinic and if possible, stop by!
 
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Mc clinic

It is nice to see you are "reviving" the concept of the McIntosh clinic. What a great service to provide to AK members!

:thmbsp:

VintageMac
 
For once, I wish I still lived in New York! I wonder if I could bring my 2505 as a carry on when I fly back for my friends wedding? LOL
 
This is great! My C33 is not working properly, and it would be nice to know what the problem is. Maybe when I am on break from school, I will go back home to NY, and have my C33 looked at and repaired. However, I do need to save some money first, so that I can afford to have it repaired.
 
Ah, memories...back in the late '70's-early 80's, I took my Mac stuff (C32, MC2205) to several of those clinics for "checkups" and passed with flying colors every time. I also have an MR78, but they didn't check those, as I recall, because they needed special rooms to test and align tuners, or so they said.

I sure miss those clinics. The guys were really nice, and were fonts of information.
 
Hi folks,

McIntosh should revive the clinics! They were a great tool for educating customers about the advantages of owning Mc gear and how they kept their performance through years of ownership. Also, you could really see how Mc was engineered relative to other makes of gear. :yes:
 
WARNING -- entering the inner sanctums (sanctii?) of Audio Classics can lead to uncontrollable desires! I have been a very bad boy lately (and likely worse to come). There's all that lovely McBlue lighting on the McGoodies - and they make fine music as well.

Seriously, they (my experience with Ryan) treat you like to want to be treated. Don't miss the chance to see them if you can.
 
LOL..so true...that is one place i am not "allowed" to go whenever I visit family in NY,,,,one day though,,
 
ninohernes said:
This is great! My C33 is not working properly, and it would be nice to know what the problem is. Maybe when I am on break from school, I will go back home to NY, and have my C33 looked at and repaired. However, I do need to save some money first, so that I can afford to have it repaired.
Click to expand...

What's wrong with it? I'm not a service tech but I've been known to dable....
 
Doing these kinds of clinics today, I would imagine, be extremely expensive.

All this nostalgia amazes me. Not trying to be a party pooper, but with the Internet and this discussion board, we benefit from what these clinics are all about (exchanging info, talking shop, learning).

Now, if Bill Gates can only invent a way to do a remote "virtual" repair and test of McIntosh gear, then we will be all set. In fact, if every new McIntosh unit came with a USB port, I think it can probably be done (at least the diagnostic aspect).
 
McIntosh Clinics

As info. Back in the day DOB and McIntosh performed test results on many different audio manufactures. I remember going to them with all sorts of different gear. I actually still have in my collection a Marantz 2270 to which I am the original owner of.

I have all the original "The amplifier test clinic" paperwork for above unit dated 6-6-78 and of course signed off by Dave O'Brian. Test was performed at Audio Consultants on Davis St. in Evanston, Il. Because of this documentation Iv'e been hard pressed to let 2270 go. Too many fond memories of these clinics held.

The clinics originated in 1962 in there words " To better understand your amplifier"

MR78, MC2255, C33, MR71, MC30's (pair), Teac X1000r, Cary V12, Concept tt, Khorns, Energy Veritas 2.4i, various Marantz units.
 
I met him at a clinic I attended. We talked a bit while he tested my amp
for me. Very nice man he was.
 
Funny how this thread should arise from the dead after all these years as I brought this book home Friday. There's some very interesting reading from an equally interesting period of time in Mac's history.
 

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That's a great book.

The anecdotes are especially priceless - from the surgeon to the man having some kind of attack, the guy with his wife in the delivery room to the man about to get married -

- none of whom would leave..."until I get my amplifier tested..."
 
I attended the clinic twice with different power amps and while back then they were not McIntosh units Dave checked them out and gave me a hand written test report. The second time I went they were doing a digital dynamic test and I also received a photo of the waveform of that test. Those were great days and those clinics were part of the reason I finally got McIntosh in my home. It would be great if the clinics were back in operation again. Maybe Audio Classics will start a trend for all McIntosh dealers.
 
62caddy said:
That's a great book.

The anecdotes are especially priceless - from the surgeon to the man having some kind of attack, the guy with his wife in the delivery room to the man about to get married -

- none of whom would leave..."until I get my amplifier tested..."
Click to expand...

Hmmm; I haven't gotten to those parts yet but they do sound interesting. Ak should've stayed offline a few more hours as I'm about halfway through it right now:D.
 
I wonder why McIntosh was the only audio company who held these clinics. It would seem to be the perfect outlet for other companies to provide the same service to their customers. I cannot think of a better way to educate people about their audio gear, and for the customer to appreciate what they have.

Just one reason why McIntosh has become the premier audio gear to own. :music:
 
4Play said:
I wonder why McIntosh was the only audio company who held these clinics. It would seem to be the perfect outlet for other companies to provide the same service to their customers. I cannot think of a better way to educate people about their audio gear, and for the customer to appreciate what they have.

Just one reason why McIntosh has become the premier audio gear to own. :music:
Click to expand...

In the beginning of the book it's mentioned that a few of them tried something similar but were not successful with their variation. Having your product perform as advertised and fixing it on the spot if it didn't apparently is a claim that not many other companies are able to follow through on. It's amazing to me that Mcintosh was able to this for the 30 years they ran their clinics.
 
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