Bose buys McIntosh

I began to worry when McIntosh partnered with Jeep to make car stereos. They incorporated their iconic blue meters into Jeep's infotainment display. Wasn’t a good sign.

This seems like a lifestyle corporate purchase for an iconic lifestyle brand. McIntosh certainly makes quality equipment, but most is far from state of the art. The use of the auto formers really adds a distinctive sound character and the use of the high gain 12AX7 tube in line sections seem limiting to me. The hybrid amplifiers seem interesting but those autoformers…

I’ve been underwhelmed by Bose products since their early days. The imaging of the 911’s was gawdawful, with voices the width of the speaker separation or wider. 

Now if Schiit were to be bought by Bose, THEN I would be upset!
 

Absolutely great news couldn’t be happier. 

@bondmanp 

The best mfg car stereo I had was an Infinity labeled system in a Chrysler Sebring. I believe what made it sound so good was the room - er, interior. A soft top lowered the noise from bouncing around, and when the rag top was down, the sound was even better. When one states that 50% of sound is the room, I believe it. So if sound is to be bettered in a car, you would need the engineer to start with a clean slate of nothing and work up from there. 

I found the McIntosh in the Wagoneer to be a sellout of sorts; even the meters are merely screen shots. I do, however, believe that a far better McIntosh wireless bluetooth (or portable) system will be in the offing as Bose is really good with doing things "apple" like. 

@1971gto455ho 

I wish I was on the other side of the pond! But the mfg claim could be said for the UK as well as they have yet to find peace with what has already happened. 

I remind folks to give Leonard Cohen's edition of "The Future" (live version is the best) so that they can prepare to.."slide in all directions"..

I’m just going to get a portable generator for the 252 and bookshelves and toss them in the back seat. Why not?