Looking at these threads, I find it hilarious that Levinson, touted as far above McIntosh, has transferred its interestes to home theater, can't service their products in any reasonable amount of time, and have products like the 331-333 with their capacitors leaking all over the place. I've owned Levinson, Krell, Pass Labs, Threshold, Rowland, McIntosh, BAT, Sim Audio, and gone round and round the merry-go-round. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. Personally, when I went into the Mac room at the 2002 CES, I had to leave. It was horrible. But, needing to try it just once, I bought an MC-602. I loved it. Paired it with a Sim Audio P-5 preamp, B&W 803's, and was quite satisfied. (Never even came close to tapping its power) I love Levinson's preamps, (owned a 32) really couldn't stand the thin, sterile sound of their amps. My own opinion, here. The point, ladies and gentlemen, is that after owning many of the "high end" brand's amps (ain't the used market great?) I've come to the conclusion that it comes down to personal preference, room, speakers, cables, etc. Why argue? Buy and try. In your own home. A dealer's room will never sound the same as yours. That's the beauty of Audiogon! I'm trying an MC 2101 tube amp next. If I don't like it, I'll sell it, and try something else.
Why do no audio enthusiasts use McIntosh?
With the exception of some of there tube gear, not many really use this stuff(or admit to it anyway), I am mainly referring to there amps. They look pleasant, they look good on paper and have the price of high end gear, but I seldom hear anyone claiming to like or one day dreaming of owning McIntosh. I have never really listened to there stuff, no good word of mouth sort of scares me away from it, the only people who like it are those who sell it, an uncanny coincidence? I don’t know. Sorry it this has been covered many times in the past, I ran a search and could not find anything.