@chattaudio
Yeah, those judges could get a little persnickety
A little Car Audio Nationals story from the late 1980s.
We were pretty proud of one of feature cars. It was inventive, tastefully done, and I was a serious home audio guy. So, I thought our use of "good stuff" and my ability to tune it properly would give us a distinct advantage in the sound quality category.
At any rate, our featured car was being judged at the regionals in Chicago and, of course, I was a nervous wreck. Suddenly, everything stopped, and judges and officials from every lane were rapidly converging on our vehicle. I, literally, thought the vehicle had caught fire, or something and was in a total panic mode. I finally worked my way over to the judging lanes where all the officials were standing around, and asked: "Is everything okay?" The judge said: "Yeah, everything’s fine. This is our new sound quality reference vehicle and I wanted the rest of the judges to hear it." I felt a little better after that. And, won our class by 40 points.
|
@waytoomuchstuff - those were the good times! I was finishing my main power wiring in a hurry, did not measure the battery to fuse holder lead, ended up just an inch longer than regulation. Lost 5 points, ended up in 9th place. Arghh! My system sounded GREAT - Eclipse head unit, Eclipse 4 x 100 amp, CDT Audio separates upfront, DD Audio 15" 3500 in the back all in a white Mazda Protege.
|
The only reliable part of the Jeep Grand Wagoner now IS the McIntosh system. Then again... If Jeep put it together... Maybe not.
The dealership's mechanics will enjoy premium sound while your Jeep is in the shop :-)
|
Remember that the first brand to purchase McIntosh from the original owner was Clarion.
The Jeep thing is probably the result of UAW demands that their mechanics be enabled to listen to music while they work. That means they have to be able to operate computer systems some have not seen, etc., etc. So Mac was the low bidder to do this marketing campaign. The Jeeps, which in my experience, are often called into the shop like Muslims to Mecca, will no doubt offer their Mac network up for sacrifice to the highest volume.😏
Everyone reading this will fully appreciate the undercarriage of this type of deal that involves all the advertising, marketing, media and others who have recently traded-out part of their professional services (or whatever) for a brand new Mac amp and the ability to add to it at accommodation prices. How many Mac components will go into the homes and offices of Chrysler/Jeep executives and families and those of others associated with the deal? Influencers? Bunches.
Wow! We just went to a this new Jeep campaign and our unit sales on integrated amps went up like a skyrocket!
Actually, here's a "good job" buddy to the manufacturers who have pioneered this kind of idea. Unless the gear put into the cars turns out to be crap.
|
...are they Real Blue Meters, or just digital versions on the dash screen?
Saw a brief glance of them in a Jeep commercial...first thought was 'another one bites the big one, another slide into mediocrity...' and y'all would (and did) start a post party...
'Tosh in a Jeep. Surprised a crowd hasn't gathered with torches and pitchforks yet at the factory...but heresy plays well of late...;)
|
So, the same folks who buy Skullcandy earbuds and use Alexa for home music are going to jump to Jeep's marketing Macintosh? They haven't a clue, (not that the marketers don't know that it won't stop some from buying anyway..."oooh, the blue light thingy"). But those who truly know the brand are all here on Audiogon and know better than to fall for supposed audiophile sound in a toy tank. For a moment I thought, "Um, maybe this will stoke interest in quality music systems for home." When Jeeps fly.
|
It's high on my son's wish list ...
|
So funny that the OP can't even spell the brand name.
|
I bought my car for Bowers and Wilkins system. I love the sound of it. It makes my commute desirable. It is a very good system. If McIntosh in Jeep really good, some people definitely will choose. But I wouldn’t buy Jeep, no matter what stereo they put in it. They very problematic Italian cars.
|
Do not drive Stellantis if you are allergic to Stellantis or any of its components. Tell your mechanic about all the vehicles that you drive. Stellantis is not for everyone. Accidents, including fatal accidents, have occurred.
|
For some reason, whenever a hifi company starts making speakers for cars (a Jeep, no less). their reputation is a stake. I'm not attracted to it at all and that's NOT going to be changing my mind to purchase one. Hmmm, let's see Pass Labs in Cadillacs?? Not!
|
Those blue meters are very seductive. Over the last thirty or so (since I could afford them) I have gone in to a dealership determined to buy a MacIntosh component… and every time left just as quickly reminding me that it was sound that was important, not the looks. Many people love the sound, i am not one of them. Maybe a good pairing with a Wagoneer… loved the looks… went running from the performance.
|
Can't help but think of animal analogies:
1) (sort of) like beating a dead horse;
2) (better) putting the cart before the horse;
3) (best) putting lipstick on a pig.
|
@erik_squires
"music you can listen to for hours isn’t high on the list of qualities they pay attention to."
Agreed. This is not unique to mobile audio, but products targeting the "mass market" (which includes luxury car market) in general. They think they have to emphasis what they can do TO the music, rather than the listening environment they can deliver WITH the music.
@chattaudio
"I was in IASCA finals in Greenville, SC in mid 90s"
We won our class at the IASCA finals with a Fender guitar-based vehicle. We would have won our class at the very first Car Audio Nationals -- if our customer had not totalled his car between the regionals (in Chicago) and finals (in Dallas). We had to move the entire system from one vehicle to another (slightly different) vehicle in just 5 days. I was, literally, putting wire loom on speaker and power cables sitting in the back seat enroute to the event.
|
I really do find it amazing. a 30 second ad with 25 seconds dedicated to those blue meters. Hardly Anything about the car. Test drove one years ago. just plan for 3 extra seconds if you plan to pass someone as the transmission is downshifting thru about 4 or 5 gears. what could possibly go wrong here.
|
I used to be an exploration geologist and because of some logistics problem ended up renting a Wagoneer. I was in Northern Nevada, where the towns are over 100 miles apart. The gas tank was so small that I couldn’t get off road because I would not have enough gas. The clearance was terrible and suspension only good for the city. The last time I ever drove one. My luxury 4Runner can run circles around one. I’m pretty sure the explorer version of the 4Runner can walk over any Jeep.
|
My experience so far with "boutique" car audio is that they tend to be far from neutral. They have to justify the sound quality somehow and neutral, transparent and music you can listen to for hours isn’t high on the list of qualities they pay attention to.
In my current Toyota, the JBL sound system is great, what it needs is a quieter cabin, not a better stereo. Oh, there I go pushing room treatments again. 😁
|
When the hoopla dies down with the big blue meters, I hear Jeeps going to use Faberge eggs for the shift handles.
|
Let’s see now, hi-fi in a noisy, piece of crap, gas guzzling vehicle. Yep the marketing plan seems as well thought out as everything else about the Jeep.
|
Just another marketing ploy to separate the gullible from more of their cash, while stoking their egos.
|
Jeeps used to meant for off-roading; I wouldn't think tubes would handle that too well.
|
I drive a 2019 Subaru Outback and my wife's car was a 2020 Lexus LS350. Both systems sound nice but I don't think I even paid attention to the brand of the sound system - I just wanted CD playing ability.
But my fondest memory is my no-name 8-Track player in my 1969 Chevy Malibu.
|
|
Those blue meters do a lot of selling for Mcintosh. I own MC-452 and I enjoy it's sound, but I don't think I would base a car purchasing decision, especially in $100k range based on what kind of sound system is installed. I remember back in my car audio days - @crustycoot - when Mcintosh produced seriously expensive and very clean sounding car audio amps as well as a gorgeous cd player head unit with trademark glass faceplate. I was in IASCA finals in Greenville, SC in mid 90s and remember a guy with pink/purple Saturn that had a full surround sound system in it powered entirely by Mcintosh amps. Crustycoot is right, they did not have the watts to compete with Precision Power, Orion and other old school amps. Back then your car had to "burp" 140db on the dash, which is a lot. On another hand on a recent trip to Philadelphia Alamo ran out of cars and we were given a 2021 BMW 740i with Harman Kardon upgraded factory sound system. It sounded excellent, but to me other features about the car would be more attractive as far as making a purchasing decision, some of them were crazy, even by 7 series standards - heated armrests, adjustable ride height, GPS that knows where potholes are and warns you about them - very useful in Philly! Sorry if you are from Philadelphia, but your entire city needs repaving asap. This would not be a first collaboration with car manufacturer for Mcintosh, they did one back in early 2000s with Subaru, if memory serves you could only get that stereo in LL Bean edition Outback and that car was over $30k back then. Just my $0.03 cents ($0.02 cents inflation adjusted).
|
@larsman "Does it have a tube engine?" was the best line.
For me, I wouldn't buy one unless (i) it was Trump endorsed, and (ii) the other cars at a traffic light could hear the deep base booming through the doors..
|
|
As McIntosh is now doing some China Hi-Fi with their name on it. Is this the trusted US made McIntosh or Chi-Fi?
|
For best sound, use tire lifters.
|
Bad reliability and a ridiculously high price? Where do I sign up?
|
80 pounds of Dynamat will do wonders for the noise floor in most vehicles and exponentially increase your enjoyment of the audio system. While an extra 36 kilos of extra weight might be like chalk on a blackboard to sports car enthusiasts, the extra mass may increase your survivability if you happen to collide with a more bulky foe -- like a Jeep Wagoneer.
|
Unfortunately high end sound systems in cars/trucks/SUVs are a waste of money. You’re just not going to get the experience you’re looking for with an engine, tires, and other vehicles all competing for your ears. I left the Burmester option out of my 911 because it was a stupid option for a car like that. You’re listening to the engine music, not “Live at the Village Vanguard”…
Frankly, I wish car manufacturers would work on better ways to integrate today’s tech (or better yet, completely disable it) to reduce the amount of distraction for a driver. I see countless examples of people with their heads down looking at a device while holding the wheel with one hand and no clue of their surroundings. And no, self-driving, electric, glorified golf carts are NOT the answer.
|
I only paid $60k for mine with an Alpine system. That runs $100k and can't do this so hard no...
|
The Jeep wagoner has a bunch of recalls ,and not highly recommended.
The meters may look nice ,a nice gimmick , and try $80k range
|
My Fiat has a Beats Audio system in it 😁
|
Oh my freakin g-d that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in a car. Next to my wife maybe. Those blue vu meters!!!!! Gorgeous! I think I’m going to cry…..
|
Geez, does it never end here? It’s not enough that we are constantly exposed to hi-end dick measuring on this forum that we also have to also endure suggestions of who might be afflicted with vehicle music shrinkage too? I drive a VW Passat, it has a no-name CD player (don’t care much what brand it is, just happy to have one in this present non-physical media world). I use the player to audition CDs I pick-up from thrift-stores, yard sales and Goodwill/Salvation Army stores. The player’s good enough for that. The better CDs will be promoted to my home system, the only place I enjoy listening to music. And that’s all I use that player for, as I never entertain delusions of dissolving into the music in my car. I’m too busy driving.
|
|
Let's see, the worst rated car with an audio system labeled from a company that can't figure out how to make home systems after 73 years.
Yep. Gonna jump right on it...can't get rid of $100,000+ any better way than that!
Cheers!
|
My nephew has one, Great sound system but the car is a beast. It's huge and unwieldy. His wife refuses to drive it.
|
@toddsyr , In a yellow 911 I always wind up getting reported to the constabulary for that behavior 🙃
|
@mijostyn They're always in my rear view mirror.
|
I hate Jeeps. They are always in my way,
|
I bet it sounds really swell, but I can’t see myself buying a huge 4x4 wanna be that costs more than my first house!
|
@carlsbad
Well I never bought a McIntosh without a jeep attached so there is that.
Thanks for the laugh!
|
holmz Well that's a lot cheaper than buying a Jeep. 😂
@erik_squires the app crashes occasionally, does that count?
|
@holmz Well that's a lot cheaper than buying a Jeep. 😂
|
I'm surprised there isn't an iPad app that turns your tablet into McIntosh meters you can put in front of your TV and call it a McIntosh.
@erik_squires there is such an app 😀
|
I would never, ever buy a Jeep. They consistently have terrible ratings, yet people still buy them
|
98’ ls 400 one of the best cars ever built. The late 90’s to early 2000’s Lexus, Toyota, Hondas we’re some of the most reliable, well built cars of all time.
It’s a shame they went
|
The best car stereo I ever had was in a 98 LS400....just the standard stereo. A MILLION times better than the fancy Mark Levinson garbage in my 430.
|
