Bose buys McIntosh

@mwinkc

My thoughts exactly…I definitely can see them exploiting both Mac and SF into “life style” products. BT Headphones, BT speakers, how about a Mac docking station for iPhone? The atrocities are limitless! R.I.P.

I wouldn’t worry about McIntosh. Bose might trim off the waste. McIntosh’s main strengths are in electronics although they make every kind of component. Are their turntables competitive against the other high-end TT makers? They "make" phono cartridges that are badge engineered Sumikos. They make headphones. How many do they actually sell? They make large speakers, but are typical McIntosh electronics buyers also buying speakers under the brand? Are McIntosh rack-mount solid state amps for whole-house audio selling well against competitors? How many buyers of McIntosh gear buy everything possible from the brand? How many buyers of the brand are first-time McIntosh buyers and what do they typically buy and what do they typically own? I would guess new McIntosh buyers might come from Denon, Yamaha or Marantz, upper mid-market brands. (Back in the day, Bose also occupied that space, with speakers, the 401s/501s/601s and 901s, and support electronics, when Klipsch made only what is now their Heritage line.)

wouldn’t worry about McIntosh. Bose might trim off the waste. McIntosh’s main strengths are in electronics although they make every kind of component. Are their turntables competitive against the other high-end TT makers? They "make" phono cartridges that are badge engineered Sumikos.
 

Great point. I really enjoy McIntosh but don’t really care about their speakers and Turntables or Cartridges. 
Maybe Bose get rid of this and McIntosh can get back to making great amps. 

BTW I don’t care about the colors on the amps just the sound. 
How many of you just stare at your amp?

Looking forward to the future of Mac and SF

My second set up is a MC6700 and SF Sonus Faber Sonetto II 

Both purchased locally and at a fraction of the original cost. 
 

The blue meters are distinctive, but only mean anything to a small number of audiophile owners. Still, they set McIntosh apart and probably should be left alone, or at least kept where a Vu meter is expected and appropriate. Signature design features do matter, a lot. Meters are expected in high-end amps. Technics, now in its super-premium revival makes great efforts to place them on its $16k TOTL products.  VAC does the same, even more elaborately. Sure, it is theater, but necessary theater.

I too have some industry insider info regarding the purchase of McIntosh- it was primarily a play for car audio and especially focusing on noise reduction in vehicles to eliminate most ambient engine or road noise. Bose engineered an electromagnetic car suspension system and sold it off a few years ago to an active suspension company, so they are always thinking about that sector. I think we might expect to see an expansion of the Mc name for OEM auto head unit partnerships (beyond Wagoneer), since the Bose name in car audio has taken a hit in recent years. But I do not expect any major changes in core Mc home audio equipment EXCEPT an infusion of cash that should positively impact engineering of Mc home audio.

I surmise that the SF purchase was due to a cash-flush company that saw higher than normal gross margins, just like Bose, and a premium speaker company that might somehow improve Bose's portfolio and perception with high end audiophiles. They cannot say that for their own brand.

I agree with many of the posters that Bose does not need to dismantle or negatively impact either company - the strategy does not appear to be a race to the bottom for parts or quality savings. You may not be aware that Bose is owned by Massachusetts Institute of Technology - donated entirely by Amar Bose upon his death. MIT's endowment fund exceeds $23.5 Billion.