I have seen some Interesting comments about Mcintosh lately

Well, there is a blizzard on the east coast to honk about

Nobody said ONLY the rich buy MAC and since it was sold the FACT is it did go out of business in the manner original company did same .

I sense ebm is jealous of tater's abundance of posts recently ? Using sarcasm as a defense mechanism ?

I love these very important posts me sarcasm you must be joking.

Hip hop and rap sound awesome with McIntosh gear

David, that's racist!   ; )

Calvin/tostadosunidos, that's your cue....

Taters. ..I have an idea for your next post:

"Some say that women should never have been granted the right to vote. What do you think?"

+1 with Schubert. Although Mac has had several buyers, the business continued as usual in the same location. Several companies infused large amounts of capital in the company, which allowed Mac to versify and do some operations more efficiently. Personally, I wish they'd stick to what they do best, and not get into so many differing items. So, Mac is doing quite well, thank you, and will continue to do so for a long time in the future.

IMHO - Mac is like Rolex - High profile, but not in the top ten of watchmaking or audio!

But the Rolex will actually work....
When you need it to..
1961 MC240 never in shop except for a tube or two..been to many a clinic...always makes specs..
Now finally 55 plus years later needs a PS recap..

Wore the input selector switch out on the MX110 Z..had Rimo rebuild it...family treasure I believe were his words.

MC 202, MCD 205, C15 ran a decade with ZERO issues...oh I guess a lightbuld burned out on the amp, fixed that myself..YES the service dept took my call at MAC - which has never gone out of business..

Did the Mac stack sound as good as the ARC and Ayre that partially replaced it ?

no..but in terms of value I would call it a tie.

Sometimes the hobby is not about value..

Starting to think Taters is smartroll spelled wrong...

Paladin,

The funny thing is people that own Mcintosh or Rolex think they own the best and are not shy to tell you so.

My impression, perhaps too limited in scope, is that the Mac reputation was built on the MC60.  We had a bunch of them in the labs.  Their new glitzy products seem the antithesis of that amp.

some of the people...
100' down the Submariner ( no date) always seemed to work, sold it for 2 X what I paid for it....

for the uniformed rolex actually does make a pretty good watch despite what snobs say.

dchang, Its not that Rolex makes bad watches, just that they are nothing special unless you just happen to really like their casework. You buy their case and their reputation much like a lot of audio equipment you see advertised in the audio magazines. And get about the same amount of accolades from those who notice but don't really know. 

McIntosh Amps are what I call, "Rolls Royce"....more than adequate for any reasonable demand. And they never break. A lot of what Mac makes I could live without, but that's me. I just love the company and a few of there amplifier designs. MC2255,MC7300, MC275, MC2600, MC1201 mono blocks, MC352. All of these amps are special. I think there are many misconceptions when it comes to McIntosh. Frankly speaking, it is quite blatant in some places. If you have never owned one of these amps I mentioned.....don't post stuff about something you know nothing about.


Matt M

Yes indeed, Rolex does make a good watch, not as accurate as a Seiko but good .

Wrong, cleeds, the people are the business not the factory,
New owners = different company .

Schubert,

I thought Mcintosh has had the same CEO for the past 25 years.

Taters..starting to like you more....

Who pays the CEO ?

They sure made great tuners, didn't they? Not many companies have a Richard Modafferi designing for them.

People buy McIntosh and Rolex for the primary purpose of impressing friends and stroking their own ego and in the vast majority of cases it is mission accomplished.  

Amen !

People buy McIntosh and Rolex for the primary purpose of impressing friends and stroking their own ego and in the vast majority of cases it is mission accomplished

Rolex customers appreciate the quality and craftsmanship required to make a mechanical watch that is designed and crafted to last a lifetime. In a world dominated by disposable products, craftsmanship and quality is becoming extremely rare and should be celebrated for holding true to their past.

Total BS, Rolex’s are as ugly and tacky as sin , to make SURE others know what it is ! Nobody with any taste whatsoever would wear one .

Schubert’s correct, they are ugly and heavy, I prefer something light and cheap, something like say men’s Baby G. Much cooler than Rolex ever thought of being. Although I probably wouldn't turn down a Rolex bubble back.

I am going to assume that,  like myself,  everyone adding to this dialogue has at one time or another owned a McIntosh whatever?  

I've owned a C28 preamp,  a cd player,  an Mc2100 solid state,  a MAC6700 receiver, and most recently the latest version of the 275 tube amp,  the Mark 6.  All were fine to one extent or another,  but I don't own any McIntosh now.

One has to admit that the legendary reputation of this brand,  if only out of curiosity,  drives customers to its hallowed doorstep. Countless reviews of McIntosh laud its performance,  longevity,  immediately recognizable looks;  people like me-self and the "nouveau-riche" are/were willing to try it out.  I don't consider myself a sucker in looking into their stuff,  nor do I consider people who like Rolex and Mercedes to be suckers,  either.  I believe Jack White's recording studio is 100% McIntosh,  or very close to it.

Is it good stuff?  Is Mercedes a good automobile?  Rolex a good watch?
I've owned a few Benzes in my time and yes,  they are good vehicles.  I prefer Audis,  but Benz is no slouch.  I've never owned a Rolex nor harbor any desire to possess one - I think they're ugly,  and I truly don't give much of a hoot about wristwatches anyway.  (I wear a Mondaine cuz I can see the time...)

While my current Pioneer SX series stereo receiver is not the first one I ever bought,  it's perhaps the only gear I've been unable to be without over the decades.  (It's my backup piece.)  My interest in acquiring new gear,  the funds I have available to acquire new (er) gear,  comes from a reservoir similar to every reservoir - it rises,  it falls,  when it floods and reaches my knees I buy.

Belonging to this site,  reading members opinions on brands and everything else under the sun,  has taught me that no one particular brand holds the answer to everything.  I prefer other equipment to McIntosh,  but seeing for myself was pretty much a necessary step to take along this oft-expensive,  oft-frustrating,  and thoroughly enjoyable pursuit.

As JS of Ohm Acoustics would say,  "happy listening!"

Schubert,

Do you think People that drive Ferrari's are tacky?

Total BS, Rolex’s are as ugly and tacky as sin , to make SURE others know what it is ! Nobody with any taste whatsoever would wear one .

Haters are going to hate....

... they are ugly and heavy, I prefer something light and cheap,

I am not a huge fan of the Rolex look, but this is where function trumps form.  Rolex watched are waterproof to over 100m and can withstand 10 atmospheres of pressure.  Light and cheap need not apply.

Well, let's see, when was the last time you found yourself at 100 m or at 10 Atmospheres pressure?  Take your time, you don't have to answer right away.

taters,No. I do not, Ferrari are elegant and the people who drive them usually just like to drive, unlike Rolex buyers who simply have mafia level taste .

You can buy a Seiko or Citizen that will do that.
Buying a mega-buck watch is just plain foolish but if you little ego drives you to it at least buy an elegant Omega like mine .

geoffkait...

Haven't been at those levels,  but I'm eight miles high every weekend!

FWIW I would never wear a Rolex.

I grew up down the road from the Hamilton Watch factory.  An American classic.  At normal PSIs anyhow.

Lets face it it not that hard to keep accurate time these days.   Just like its not that hard any longer to have good sound.   There is a common theme there.

Well, let's see, when was the last time you found yourself at 100 m or at 10 Atmospheres pressure?  Take your time, you don't have to answer right away.

Any time you dive into a pool with a watch on it will experience pressure equivalent of 100m at water impact.

Buying a mega-buck watch is just plain foolish but if you little ego drives you to it at least buy an elegant Omega like mine .

Just your Omega right, not all Omega's because the last time I checked the Speedmaster and Seamaster series (designed to compete against the Rolex design) cost big $$

taters,No. I do not, Ferrari are elegant and the people who drive them usually just like to drive.

Justin Beiber, Kim Kardashian, Floyd Mayweather, Chris Brown, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Ozzy Osbourne are just a few examples of "drivers" who own Ferrari's.  People who own Rolex are people who like to know the time LOL.

testpilot, you are silly, I don't follow celebs like you do so must be why I said USUALLY . 
As to my Seamaster  ,it was willed to me by a beloved Uncle which is the sole reason I have not sold it and given the proceeds to  Save the Children  .

Mac & Rolex have 3 things in common:
1) High profile.
2) Very good re-sale value - Due to being overpriced to start with.
3) Neither are within the top ten of watchmaking or audio.
As one of the most respected internet watch dealers for the past 25+ years - I have come to the conclusion that Rolex pays the Swiss government to COSC certify their watches as I cannot recall ever seeing 2 Rolex watches that run within COSC certification.
My favorite watch joke:
If you buried me wearing a Rolex - I would wake up & kick your A$$!

Total BS, Rolex’s are as ugly and tacky as sin , to make SURE others know what it is ! Nobody with any taste whatsoever would wear one

unlike Rolex buyers who simply have mafia level taste

schubert, those above are two examples of truly silly over reaching biased generalizations.

at least buy an elegant Omega like mine

As to my Seamaster  ,it was willed to me by a beloved Uncle which is the sole reason I have not sold it and given the proceeds to  Save the Children

You are full of contradictions aren't ya.

testy, ALL humans are full of contradictions, you are just plain full of it.

I collect watches, prefer mechanical ones, and have little interest in Rolex watches since they’re so damned expensive (last year nearly bought a Tudor Pelagos as I wanted a titanium watch…instead scored an older Oris Lume tt1 Titanium "new with tags" for WAY less and it's cooler…seriously...) and somewhat common…not unlike "high end" audio, there are MANY watch companies that I feel make stuff that’s more interesting than Rolex (note that Rolex makes about a million watches a year). McIntosh gear sort of IS the Rolex of audio…in all the right and wrong ways. A note about Seiko…my first water resistant watch was a "Seiko 5" my mother bought me in 1964 so I’d know when to paddle in from surfing (Honolulu…many waves break on a reef pretty far out there) to meet her for a ride home. Recently bought the 50’th anniversary Seiko 5 automatic…beautiful thing…under 200 bucks. That’s cheap even for me! My fabulous sounding Jolida 502p?…don’t get me started...

"Well, let's see, when was the last time you found yourself at 100 m or at 10 Atmospheres pressure? Take your time, you don't have to answer right away.

Any time you dive into a pool with a watch on it will experience pressure equivalent of 100m at water impact."

If that were actually true Olympic 10 meter platform divers' heads would be crushed on entry into the water.  Besides when you dive into the water the watch is orthogonal to the direction of motion.

When was the last time you surfed? My dive watches really get slammed when I surf with them (I'm an old longboarder…3rd in my Senior Longboarder contest rating a few years ago)…orthogonal my ass, but mostly I use dive watches and chronographs to determine elapsed time when grilling food as they are designed to withstand the intense pressure from eaters. 

wolf, Seiko 5 is THE watch of the sensible person !

One wonders why a surfer would even wear a watch.  Are you timing the waves rolling in?