I find the many comments I read here amusing and overstated. Whatever happened to just enjoying a car for what it offers. I drive a late model Crown Victoria that rides great, handles well, can accomodate my family and has a trunk the size of Rhode Island. I paid a very reasonable sum for it as a used car with low mileage. It's reliable and repairs are few and far between. Everyday riding home I am passed by Volvo's, Mercedes etc and know from talking with colleagues that own those types of cars they are more often that not in the shop getting repaired. I also own a 1988 Cadillac Deville inherited from my mom which has the best ride of ANY car I've ever owned or rode in which happens to include a Rolls Royce. So my advice to all you "foreign" car buffs is keep wasting your money on those types of cars and when the bills keep rolling in sell some of your audio equipment here on Audiogon so I can take advantage of it. As for the original question about Audio manufacturers the answer is "McIntosh" period.
Who's the Cadillac of Hi-End Audio?
In "Get Shorty" John Travolta's character arrives in Los Angeles and the only car available at the rental agency is a minivan. Throughout the film people question why he's driving such an "uncool" vehicle and his character's response is "It's the Cadillac of minivans." By the end of the film everybody is driving the Cadillac of minivans.
Being that cars and hi-end audio have absolutely nothing to do with each other, notwithstanding so called hi-end auto systems, what company do you think is the Cadillac of hi-end audio? What's the Porsche? What's the Dodge Dart? Is any hi-end company as quirky as Saab? For that matter, what's the Harley-Davidson of hi-end audio?
My vote for the Cadillac goes to McIntosh. Both are old school companies with proud histories. Yet each offers products that while not cutting edge, are quite modern. Still, there are no documented cases of anyone under the age of 50 having purchased either brand within the last 30 years.
Except for my answer there are no wrong or right answer responses. Use you imagination and freely express your biases and preconceived notions.
Being that cars and hi-end audio have absolutely nothing to do with each other, notwithstanding so called hi-end auto systems, what company do you think is the Cadillac of hi-end audio? What's the Porsche? What's the Dodge Dart? Is any hi-end company as quirky as Saab? For that matter, what's the Harley-Davidson of hi-end audio?
My vote for the Cadillac goes to McIntosh. Both are old school companies with proud histories. Yet each offers products that while not cutting edge, are quite modern. Still, there are no documented cases of anyone under the age of 50 having purchased either brand within the last 30 years.
Except for my answer there are no wrong or right answer responses. Use you imagination and freely express your biases and preconceived notions.