I really prefer that audio discussions not be served with a side order of political arguments.
Frustrated McIntosh Owner
I’ve been a satisfied McIntosh separates owner for quite awhile. Two months ago, I got the bug to upgrade, so I decided to trade-in my MC462 stereo amp for MC611 monoblock amps. I reached out to my local authorized dealer that I’ve done business with for years, we worked out a deal and placed my order. He told me he expected he would have the monoblocks from McIntosh in about a month. I called my dealer yesterday asking for an update and he’s now telling me that McIntosh won’t tell him when my order is shipping, let alone if they have been manufactured yet. He even went so far as to inquire with his McIntosh regional rep. I trust my dealer and know that Covid has stressed a lot of manufacturers, but the lack of communication from McIntosh to their dealers has got me concerned. Basically what I’m getting is, they will ship when they ship- it could be in 8 days or 8 more weeks, possibly longer. Have any of you experienced any issues like this with McIntosh lately? Is this a sign of any bigger issues with them?
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@stereo5 Well, I have tubes purchased directly from McIntosh that are stamped made in russia. I will post a photo when I have time. Don't ever try and associate any post from me to that pin head tucker... why has an audio forum become political? After I post my photo I will delete my account here. |
McIntosh communication still sucks a year later.... I ordered a pair of MC611 amps in mid June (4 MONTHS ago) from a large dealer and still have no idea when they will arrive. I totally understand production delays to due to chip shortages, COVID, shipping issues, etc. But what really pisses me off is that McIntosh will not provide any delivery timeframe or updated information to the dealer. Any company using modern manufacturing techniques to manage their supply chain, delivery channels, and finances can provide detailed delivery information about each serialized device they make. It's part of a well-run company. If Mcintosh cannot do this - then it’s time for new leadership at McIntosh. But above all, the poor communication with your dealers and subsequent end-customers is just plain wrong and inexcusable. McIntosh products have been in my family for 40 years -- maybe it is time for a change. |
Guys, please, in case you have a tv, watch a preferred music dvd or bluray, nothing else. The "news" channels are the virus, nothing else. And use deliberately the red button on that tv remote after watching that music program. Simple question, for owners of McIntosh remote HR085, this came with my C2500 preamp. If you want to select a specific input, the only way is to scroll thru the inputs and find the specific one? I don't see another way for this task. Thanks. |
Next week we settle on a new house. When we ordered the fridge, washer, dryer and freezer months ago the salesman let us know that, due to supply chain disruptions, freezers would not be available until 2021, and that he hoped the fridge we ordered would be available when we settle, but he couldn't be sure. Nobody's the "bad guy", except maybe "Mr. Covid". |
My questions regarding upgrading your Mc-462 to Mc-611’s are this,if your not powering the amp from a dedicated 20 amp line for the amplifier alone then you will not get the amps best performance,nor will your Mc-462 be able to reproduce peak swings over roughly 875 watts ,a 15 amp line will not allow your amp to deliver its 1,800 watt peaks , the specs between your Mc-462 and the Mc-611’s are the same so no advantage to the Mc-611’s except a 150 watt bump in wattage will not even give you the extra +3db increase in volume to hear a slight raise in volume ,there is litterally no audible difference between 450 watts and 600 watts ,and if you plan on running the Mc-611’s on a 15 amp line the 611’s will be held back even more due to lack of incoming power . How many dedicated lines do you have & are they 15 or 20 amp ? A much better upgrade where your assured to hear a difference would be upgrading to a C-2200 up to the C-2600 tube preamp if your not running one of those models already ,if you are then upgrading your speakers to one of the Mcintosh line array systems would be a massive upgrade that could be heard at all volume levels,used XRT-28s up to the XRT-1k would both be a much better and more audible upgrade path than boosting amplifier wattage for a 1db increase in SPL by jumping up to the Mc-611’s . |
Exactly. Someone said today Biden was in Iowa. The last time Biden was in Iowa was when he finished fourth in the primary there. Fourth! His running mate (although according to him he’s running with her), the least likable candidate of all time (sorry Hillary, second place again) couldn’t break 1%. Even with Obama’s help he can’t draw the crowds Trump’s daughter Ivanka gets. These are the pathetic losers the lying media is telling us are running away with it. Like everyone is dumb enough to believe that after 2016. Well not everyone. Just democrats. They’ll believe anything. Just as long as its on CNN. The once great cable network now with fewer viewers than Mark Dice. Yet there’s people here carrying on like we don’t all know exactly how pathetic it all really is. Right. |
Biden doesn’t know what he owns. Have you seen the guy? He thinks he’s running for the Senate, against some Mormon guy- and that’s when he’s dosed up enough to be let out in public. The one good thing is soon he will be put out of his misery. Because its elder abuse what they're doing to him. But we should show some empathy. To judge by the level of denial, projection, and obliviousness people around here show they are all once again about to be screaming incoherently at the sky. Only this time having lost an even bigger landslide. Save your breath genez, you’ll need it to cheer Trumps victory- and for the perp walks soon to follow. |
Yea OP I bet those panels do like it, I've never seen one that didn't, like a LOT of power/high current. I've heard a few that sound good, with lower watts and still sound good though.. First Watt and Pass.. I love my Mac gear, I'd fill the house if I could.. I would.. Be like Elvis slumped on his throne, but me on a BIG pile of Macs. LOL Regards |
stereo54,220 posts10-18-2020 11:53am@oldhvymec, You are scaring me with the report on your C2500. I have had one for 3 years and love it. I hope mine doesn’t suffer the same fate as yours. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I've had Macs for 50 years, you made a GREAT choice..Really.. Here is the deal, that C2500, was in a cable drop incident, about a year ago. I did a lot of damage with that blunder. It blew the right channel monoblock (VTL 300) and the MC275 right channel. The Pre amps works just perfect, for about a month. BAMB... It lost a valve on the "MAIN" right rail. I replaced it and there was a notable volume difference. I got it back up and running with a pair of test 12ax7s, same.. It failed because of the cable drop, I have no doubt.. I took a very closely matched pair of valves, (dug out my 539) and still low volume.. Repair time.... They are a solid piece, don’t do cable drops.. "Oh man", expensive.. First time..in 50 years.. 15,000.00 if I just replaced.. I was one sick puppy... THEN I had a heart attack.. LOL Gee whizz... ALL better now.. I have a MX120/121, MX110, C20, C11 in my que, I just love that C2500. I really do.. The C20 (Samra touch) will whip it good it a contest, but it is one of my favorite pieces of all time..Easy to use, and it’s a Mac... all the way.. OpAmps and all.. LOL Regards |
So @oldhvymec, after my last update where I had talked to McIntosh customer support about the status of my MC611’s, they showed up at my local AD 8 days later. They must have sensed my waning patience... Anyway, I’ve installed them and have been busy breaking them in. I’m pleased with what I’m hearing thus far. These mono blocks have taken my Maggie 3.7i’s to a new level. The Maggie’s are power hungry and the 611’s have plenty to give. Best wishes with your C2500 repair- hopefully it won’t be too much longer. |
It’s funny, The left arguing with the right, the right arguing with the left. The only issue is the top 1/10 of one (1) % and the rest of us... That includes EVERYONE that logs on the AG. There are no exceptions I have a funny feeling Bill Gates isn’t seeking our advise, or could care less if you’re on the left or the right.. BUT I’m sure he backs Mcintosh all the way. Just because it’s spelled different than Macintosh Computers. Old joke, but once, quite true.. I bet he could buy Mcintosh, 100 times over, with the spare change in his pocket. Left or Right... LOL It’s TOP or bottom... Say where’s that Mac gear you ordered.... I’m in the que for a repair that’s taking a while...C2500, bias circuit.. local authorised repair shop, waiting on parts.. They say they can't guarantee the repair without using MAC parts.. LOL They have a part that will work (Quite well) BUT won't back their own work.. I told them the original circuit failed, is the new one different. answer NO.. Hmmm, why not use a different part, then.. Won't guarantee his own work..Struck me funny... I want my stuff back.. :-) Regards |
Case numbers are supposed to go up. Its the nature of viruses. Why are they testing? To scare the public with large numbers. Why test? Because, most people show no symptoms. "A virus so deadly, you must be tested to know you have it?" Think about it. They never tested in the past just to see who had a virus. Only those who got real symptoms were counted. I am not getting my news from Fox news. Hardly watch it.. Where I work I had direct contact with the dept of Health people, and others involved in the medical field. One furious nurse told me that in the hospital she worked, deaths from heart attacks and cancer were being reported as Covid 19. Why? The hospital will receive 30,000 dollars for every C-19 death they report.... She was livid! That is why see such high numbers! When I brought that up to some folks working with the health department? Told them what the nurse told me? I was stunned by their response. .... "Yes, we know." Fake news is the new warfare! |
@genez you are describing the political party you are associated with. FYI, watching OAN and FOX is the reason your party is full of clueless, stupid and hateful people. Change the channel, there are news outlets including BBC which are more truthful. Did your know Rupert Murdoch’s son REFUSED the head job at FOX because he won’t head a company that gaslights the public every |
Stereo 5.... Did you get that from CNN, or MSNBC? We have a media that has been taken over by a lying political machine that is determined to transform the United States into a nation that will not longer threaten the esteem of inferior systems which are run by political tyranny. Many people today can not understand how the Germans could have been so stupid to follow Hitler. Guess what? We can know now. For we have people among us today just as stupid, blind, and hateful... History repeats itself. The founding fathers who wrote the Constitution would not be surprised in the least to see how so many Americans today are run by selfish emotion, not by principle. If Joe Bidden wins? The United States of America will cease being the USA. Only the name will remain. Why? Like the Germans who were stupid and followed Hitler? We have the same breed of emotional haters amongst us today..... They will gladly believe anything they are told as long as it hurts those whom they hate and are jealous of.... |
One trend I have noticed in the past 10 years or so is that no one wants to hold inventory. Things are made as they are ordered so if there is a glitch in the supply chain there is an inevitable delay. Warehousing is expensive and manufacturers don't want to store it. Retailers don't want to tie up funds on inventory because regardless of the item, we have become a Walmart nation. We want everything cheap so manufacturers and retailers have to drive out cost. We've done it to ourselves. |
Sometimes the answer is, "We don't know." - and the manufacturer cannot commit to an answer because of supply chain logistics. I can relate. I sold Sony professional video equipment and, at one point, had a customer that had ordered nine, 8-inch video monitors. Sony made them once a year and could not give me a production date as they had several parts that were custom manufactured, and there was a delay in the custom parts. Every month I called Sony, got the same answer, called the client and gave them an update - no delivery date from Sony. This went on for six months before the monitors were delivered. Manufacturing and delivery delays happen, and no amount of righteous indignation and getting upset will make the delivery faster.. |
Follow up to my original post. As suggested by some of you, especially @hgeifman, I called McIntosh today. I was connected to Chuck, presumably the production manager. He couldn't have been more helpful. Within 3 minutes he told me exactly where my order stood and when it should be shipping (within 2 weeks). Not sure why my local dealer has been giving me the run-around when it was so easy for me to get this info? Also, I learned from Chuck that McIntosh produces 50 pieces of most line items in their catalog every month. Most are already sold by the time they are produced. Again, thank you all for your advice. Cheers! |
I have owned McIntosh amps, CD players, server, oscilloscope, preamps, and AV controllers, all without trouble, so I had not had an opportunity to "test" their service department. However, I had a much better recent experience with McIntosh. I purchased a MR-78 from our kids pediatrician when he retired and decided I wanted the Modafferi modification from Audio Classics. Having had terrible experiences shipping antique radios with UPS (Oops?) and FedEx when they did the packaging, I called McIntosh to order a shipping carton from them
designed for the tuner. The very nice lady said they would have to make one, but it would probably be 8 weeks or more before they could get around to it. It arrived a week later, labeled for MR-78, and even included 4 feet to keep the unit located in the double-boxed shipping carton in case my unit came out of the wooden case and lacked feet (it did). |
McIntosh publishes a monthly inventory update that is delivered to dealers. It’s short on specific production dates but does give some projected timelines on backordered items...so they are at least trying to give customers, via their dealers, realistic expectations. Their mantra is: It’s worth the wait. We deal with other companies who give us nothing but “when we have it we’ll let you know”. |