McIntosh -- good for show, not for sound, says dealer

Hello  One & all  i want to say that i had a Mac Mvp Sacd /cd player retail new was  6K yes its face place is beautiful & thats all it never served me well always trouble with cds r very slow & so on  I called Mac they said it need a softwere update a re alinement lpng  befor Covid i would have a 4 mouth  + wait  min  2+ hours serrvice charge  at 165,00 dollars & very uncaring conversation   i could by a yamaha  player that would play for ever At 1/  5th the price  this is Mac at its best  B/S  & now to all the AG  know it all i have spoke with Mickey OCD HiFi he makes alot of sense  never try to sell me big brand name JUNK  Just Tells it like it is  AG seems to have a lot of pass Used car Sales men they all no whats best  my last post ? every AG pals Put Me Down for my miss spelling a lot of LOW BLOW Remarks  this sight no longer is about our common passion of audio its a small group with nothing better to do  Take a good look in the Mirror  GL USMC COMBAT  BRONZE  STAR  recipient maybe some of you remember 

@geleary123 Thanks for your service and sacrifice for our imperfect but already great country. IF i might suggest you send an email to Randy Vikan at Elite Audio Technician in Washington state. Expert in all things Mc repair related. He only works on Mc and Primeare. i trust him w my family heirloom MC240, etc. 

i think finding a totally invincible CD player is a unicorn myth, they all fail….eventually…i have a dead Marantz Pro boat anchor…but i guess that’s a different thread…

Best to you. Jim

Mr Mike you'll notice I give almost as good as I get. BUT I never met a person I didn't like. Some of the things they do is a different story. I'm no different. That speaker is the last place a dog I had for 16 years loved to hang out. Toy Fox Terrier his favorite spot the Sub section.. I never had the heart to finish the thing. 6 years now. Maybe next year..

My early years with Holt (CAT), Deere, Maxim Crain, Drilling rigs in the gulf (water welder) Pile Driving, mining, tunnel work then foundational drilling, Tieback machines. Klemm Bohrtechnik (German). Where is that Roller and a chauffeur my hands hurt, thinking about it. :-)

There was a reason for me and Mac. My Dad was a WE, Mcintosh, JBL, Thoren guy.

Ask me if I would buy any new gear? I am looking for a second Cary V12R in red though. How old is that? It is my favorite amp of all time.. Dodd did some nifty stuff too.. Mac is Mac. It's like John Deere or Liebherr to me.. :-) I know very little about their newer stuff.  I just got rid of a pickup load of Thoren, Dual, and Empire TTs 25 pieces. I'm downsizing. Yes I kept my original Zero 100s. No I didn't pay for it. It was a gift. Works perfect. I'm a mechanic it takes one to keep it tuned up.. LOL What a pretty pile of crap.

I like ugly girls too. Ugly guys too, come to think of it. I like dogs better than both.

Why is this thread still going?  Moderators should close it as nothing more constructive will come from this. 

Is ^this^ the audio equivalent of cancel culture?

~Holmz

(He/Mate/Bloke/Him)

24K Plated HiFi 🤮

@holmz,

Nope, not cancel culture at all.  Do you even know what cancel culture is?

@stereo5 

@holmz,

Nope, not cancel culture at all.  Do you even know what cancel culture is?

That is why I said “Audio equivalent” (of cancel culture).

It seems like many people want to get threads chopped off at the point that they turn in a direction that they do not like.

And any voice that is not in the mainstream, gets shut down in politics, and many other places.

It is like adults cannot share differing opinions in a mature fashion and need the parents of admins, to just shut down threads and give timeouts.

I have some Mc gear, and I like the look of it.
I like it because I can lord it over others, and everyone knows it should be good… so it is great for social signalling.

But I am kind of a moron, and generally grumpy… so there is that.

Honest works for me.. I'm a grumpy ol fart until I see the neighbor lady. She's a peach for sure. 

I'm no party pooper. Who cares what others think, they have the right to be wrong and ashamed, and all about the same thing. Mcintosh is, like JELLO, there is always room for Mac. :-) 

Regards

I have owned many MAC components during the 60s, 70s. I even worked for several high end audio shops during the time. MAC gear is good stuff made well but just not the best sounding gear for the money.  Back in the 60s and 70s the MAC had tech that would travel their dealers and test and fix any gear they made that was quite nice of MAC. However, that was when Macintosh own the company and that perk no longer exist as MAC is owned by some Japanese company.

  MAC gear is still built well and only the ultra high-end gear is built to a higher quality.  Regardless of how much you love your MAC gear it's not the top sound gear buy a long shot. It's not bad sounding either just not near the top either. However, it's way good enough to listen to music. Would I trade my Pass Labs for MAC no way.  So if you own it an enjoy it that is what counts, listening to music not to equipment.

Jim

Well I'll tell you what laoman and tsushima1 IF I post the cases next to my dog will that satisfy you or are you going to continue. Will you promise to leave and NEVER come back?

Heck Mike is fine you two though. He has a purpose, what the heck are you two REALLY about?

At this point I'm pretty sure you can get away with anything an AG. Look at the pair of you. Admin/Moderator put up with you two. Insulting folks, making fun because your not in front of me.. We all know that's true. Your both are rather sad.. BUT I still have my 24k cases and you don't. There is a fact.. I would have told you who to contact but, I'd doubt they would have anything to do with you. You're both quit the nasty little pair.

Remind me of hemorrhoids. You know you get them from workin' your A$$ off not your mouth.. 

Have either of you said anything constructive? ONE SINGLE THING? Please point me there. Insult my country, insult my gold cases, what else are you going to stoop to. My dog, then the rabbit?  I THINK NOT. I draw the line at the rabbit, The dog can whip the pair of you at the same time. She's 14 lbs..

Funny guys.. 

Admin quit erasing my post  and shutting down threads. I don't like it. That's all you need to know. I don't like it at all.. Please stop. Your bothering me. Your on this earth to make me happy, no one else.. I wish you would figure that out.. 

Thankyou for you hard work.. 

BTW I want to me Emperor. First order of business. The two funny guys, bring um here, go get a young calf, we'll see if they are really up to it..:-) I'll take the video.

🤣

@oldhvymec I forgot the Fox Terrier !! DOG is my second language.. I did see the pic and hes adorable. I meant to say something about him but forgot I could not agree more that Dogs are far better than people.

LOL I can dig fugly machines, rat rods, hoopdies and the like for sure. While I may extend out of my preferred weight class and punch a welterweight in the trunks, I dont do broken helmets. Tons of respect for a man who does and will admit it. I like you more because of it ..lol See ? I knew ya had it ... Turning wrenches is meditation for me. My knuckles keep snapping me out of the trance though. I used to laugh at the plumbers butt crack when I was a kid.. Shiiiiiii.....Little did I know ....

@laoman ສະບາຍດີ !  🙏  You are a brother before you even speak to me..

🏅

mikepowellaudio

ສະບາຍດີ, ຂ້ອຍຄິດວ່າເຈົ້າກໍ່ເປັນຄົນດີຄືກັນ 

IF I were in the US I would buy equipment from you, because you tell it like it is and are not full of bs.

I love the guys trashing McIntosh who emphatically claim “it’s not as good as <insert brand they own here>” like it’s a statement of fact.  Taste is a very personal thing - we’re all entitled to our opinions, but that’s all it is…an opinion.

Mike Powell posts to me:

OP, why dont you join me in a Zoom chat we record to discuss what you think you know ... ?? Ill post in on YT ..... Ill be polite and you can ask me questions and get answers because you are currently assuming a lot as if you know what you are talking about.

Your promise to be polite but in your invitation is already a veiled insult ("what you think you know"). No, you’ve already proved your ability to be abusive. You can make another video -- calling this "the yellow" site and calling folks here "hens" etc. No, your invitation to name-call and abuse on Zoom is politely declined.

And what do I "know"? I have not claimed to know anything -- I have posted your video, your comments, verbatim. As you can see on this thread, many took offense to what you said -- again, your words, taken verbatim. Those not recalling can look on 02-15-2022 at 06:13am. It's not the only point where I rehearse what you said, but it will do. People who wish to could also re-watch your video. They can judge for themselves.

I’m done with you, dude. You tried to stir the pot in the guise of truth-teller, you pissed a lot of people off, and now rather than say something simple like, "I overstated things" you’re making more videos and doubling down. I don’t think you’re a bad guy, but you’re not owning up to your hyperbole on your video and your trash-talking, here. This is why I suggested that friends help you with an intervention. It’s not because you’re all that messed up -- you clearly know a lot and you have a passion for audio -- but an intervention is appropriate because you are refusing to see what to most everyone else is obvious.

I will not reply to further comments from you. People can agree with my summary of the situation or not, but the matter to me is plain -- you will not address what you said, and prefer to attack rather than offer up a crumb of contrition. Goodbye.

and I thought the demise of Jerry Springer would leave a void that could never be filled…..

hilde45, I applaud your approach and clarity.

bigtex22, So well said. How do we define "good" or "better" when it's a matter of taste? 

@laoman So you are that guy that keeps sending his banking information to that Nigerian Prince. All this guy is, is hot air. I have no horse in the race either and I do not hate American companies like you though.

IF I were in the US I would buy equipment from you, because you tell it like it is and are not full of bs.

jerry, jerry

and what a remarkable coincidence you mention banking and Nigeria..

and what a remarkable coincidence you mention banking and Nigeria..

I thought they made a power conditioner?

The Swiss are also known for banking.

@hilde45

Your promise to be polite but in your invitation is already a veiled insult ("what you think you know"). No, you’ve already proved your ability to be abusive. You can make another video -- calling this "the yellow" site and calling folks here "hens" etc. No, your invitation to name-call and abuse on Zoom is politely declined.

fair point -- we should be reminded that words are cheap

many checks are written with words that cannot be cashed with actions

like the wife beater who says honey can i come home, i’ll be different this time

utter lack of self awareness is often one's greatest weakness, and source of one's undoing

Hilde is right....

And in real life there is 2 kind of people like in Hollywood cinema too: those who stake so much for truth that they can apologize if their words were misundestood or overstated and those who cannot because of their ego...

Ego people are not bad, we all have an ego, but in some criticial situation ego matter less than truth and intention must be clarified in a way or in an another...

Hilde make a good point with a no "insults" thread appealing to a clarification....

I concur with him....Clarification has been made...

None of you that constantly argue about the "sound" are actually into this hobby for the music.

It is not false but it is not true either like many encompassing statement...

I like to discuss about "sound" but i listen music because my system and audio room are done...

Then i like to discuss what come about from my experience and experiments to help strirring what appear to be the right course for most and for me....

I am in the two categories at the same time.. . The most important category of people here i think....

None of you that constantly argue about the "sound" are actually into this hobby for the music.

Here is a good retort to this OCD Guy.

My take is that Mike cannot buy McIntosh and he is out smearing them.

He also had his AGD deal yanked also.

It is all conjecture at this point....

My feelings about  all these threads is  about Mac sound is certain people??? Trying to take sales away from Mac intosh .

I don't care what anyone says or thinks, I love each and every piece of McIntosh equipment I own.  It sounds great, makes me happy and I no longer futz with my system.  I just listen to music which relaxes me.  Many of you aren't happy and constantly futz with your system, doesn't leave much time for listening, does it?

Some years ago there ws a childrens’ programme on TV with a ventriloquist’s dummy called Jerry G. This was the Jerry G show. I often wondered what happened to Jerry G. Now I know.

"Jerry G, Jerry G, who and what and where is he"?

Sorry never lived in East Berlin. @laoman 

@stereo5 And you should, that is why you bought it.

It is an Iconic Brand and like Mr Jay says if it weren't for McIntosh most of these other brands would never exist.

People just love to hate like Laoman.  

Jay is a very honest person in his review....I liked very much his video....

brain+heart is a winning couple ....

I can say that even if i am at the opposite of his way of speaking about audiophile experience and costly gear.... (I insist myself on no cost products and acoustic....)

But the world is enough big from different perspectives and needs...

None of you that constantly argue about the "sound" are actually into this hobby for the music.

there's a dude on another thread who's head over heels because he's got a system that enables him to listen to his speakers and ignore the music - serious!

As far as the guy in the YouTube video from the OP's post...to each his own. I've heard Mac on a number of occasions and they sound stellar to me. Maybe not his taste...but mine for sure. Easy to listen to, engaging and effortless sound. I've heard w/ B&W and Klipsch and impressive to say the least. I can't imagine Sonus Faber not sounding good as well as many other brands too.

Richiegtt,

We don't use foul language here, and I'm sure the moderators will inform you of that if you continue to do so.

As others have said it is personal taste and I love the sound of mine. But my mac is far more likely to still be working in 30 years.

Jessica Williams is pouring out her witty soul tonight…thru my 60 year old MC240…..

ah, sublime……

Jessica Williams 2001 Live At Maybeck

Mcintosh makes so many products, it started in the 80’s when they were purchased by Clarion. Now they are part of the Fine Sounds Inc family. Prior to the 1980’s they were mainly known for their rugged and built like a battleship amplifiers, over the decades this has not changed you just have to wade through a whole bunch of crap to find the Mac products that are worthy. The McIntosh MC352 is a great example of a double balanced push-pull solid state amplifier that sounds fantastic and was designed in house by Charles Randall ( McIntosh Pres). And of course the Magical MC275 tube amp, the MC2600 was a truly awesome sounding solid state behemoth. McIntosh also made many direct coupled amps to drive speakers with a more difficult load, these are less desirable on the used market. Today MAC makes high wattage solid state amps that are very expensive quad balanced designs. A amplifier to me has to drive my speakers NOT my ears, and I can listen quite loudly for long periods without ever feeling fatigued, that’s what a great McIntosh amp is all about!

Did you know that The Grateful Dead used McIntosh amplifiers for there shows even Woodstock. What a buncha lawyers! Hahahaha.

Also, Ive never met a Krell person who likes McIntosh...just saying.

Matt Miller

There are a lot of brick and mortar stores dealing in high end that can keep the doors open solely due to their McIntosh sales…and are therefore able to offer more esoteric gear as a benefit, even if these lines sell to a fraction of McIntosh. To me, that gives McIntosh value, as I want these folks to stay in business and continue to offer the variety that they do…anyone else agree with this?

there's a dude on another thread who's head over heels because he's got a system that enables him to listen to his speakers and ignore the music - serious!
 

@pesky_wabbit 
I am not surprised. Some people become so focused on analytical listening that they stop hearing the music. It’s only about the “sound”. 

@daveyf 

anyone else agree with this?

absolutely! My supervisor started off with McIntosh gear when he first got started. As his tastes changed he was able to sell the gear at no loss and move up to more expensive and esoteric brands. He loves McIntosh gear, but as he told me his listening style changed and his gear long with it. 

@vuch ,

”Mikey told his side of the story of what happened. He said people can continue to buy the brand if they want. That’s not sour grapes. That’s explaining his decision to drop the brand and move on. If the company didn’t honor it’s agreement and then put unrealistic demands on Mikey as a provision of continuing to represent the brand, who could blame him for dropping them?”

You are free to believe what ever you want, but I think it’s bad form for him to to bashing company after company and it seems a little suspicious that he’d attack them in such a way. And by the way, it seems that Denafrips is sold in at least 19 other countries, by at least 19 other dealers who don’t seem to have a problem with  how Denafrips does business.

Oh, and  I don’t have Mac anymore and but other  than breaking my little toe on an amp about thirty years ago ( and then I said a lot of bad words!) I have nothing bad to say about the brand.

JD

"Did you know that The Grateful Dead used McIntosh amplifiers for there shows even Woodstock. What a buncha lawyers! Hahahaha."

I don't think that there's anyone who doesn't know that Matt.

But some might not know, Dead first or early PA were 4x MC240 bolted to a board… 200#, probably running mono at 80-90 watts per amp….

It doesn't matter what brand you use because some people will always have something negative to say about it. Not everyone will all agree that one brand is the best. This is why folks we have an amp game!

Brand matter way less than acoustic...

This resume all audio threads unbeknowst gear idolatry ignorance and some sellers professionally biased oriented ignorance...

I can say I did not buy my Mac because of looks. If looks were important to me I would not have bought tekton speakers... it IS about the sound.