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Why do some audiophiles beat up McIntosh?

I've been around audio my entire life. I'm 45 and I bought a decent Technics system when I was 12 with my paper route money. Genesis speakers built in New England which were actually pretty darned good. I would spin vinyl every single day to the point it drive my parents crazy. My buddies father had a McIntosh system that I was in love with and he was allowed to play it. It was haunting for me to hear his fathers system.

Fast forward 28 years later and I'm perplexed at the hatred I see posted online about McIntosh. Is it really that bad or is everyone upset that McIntosh is so successful? It doesn't make sense to me that the resale value is the best in the business yet audiophiles bash them. I personally have always loved their gear and sound. I don't own any, and probably never will. Still, I just don't get it. I've always admired McIntosh. Looks aside, I always enjoyed the music. Can someone tell me that they're junk or do you just not like the presentation?
donjr

Showing 10 responses by roxy54

roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,686 posts
 
It really makes me laugh when people say that McIntosh is overpriced. Overpriced in comparison to what? Other competing brands can be outlandishly expensive, and although I'm not saying that Mac is on top of the heap sonically, it's best offerings are very good, and far less expensive than the very top players.
As far as them being "junk" sonically or otherwise, I think that professional and consumer response has finally clarified that issue. As usual, they are one of the available flavors. Some will love them, some will not.
One thing that is getting really tiresome though is the comparison to Harley Davidson. They aren't noisy or unreliable.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,686 posts
 
"I have been into audio for more than 50 years & have never had a single piece of Mac equipment in any of my systems."

Paladin,
Since you admit that you have never owned a piece, how would you be qualified to make a blanket judgement on their equipment?
I sell Rolex every day, as well as Audemars Piguet and Breguet. As far as exclusivity and design value is concerned, the latter two beat Rolex hands down, but in the end, they all tell time, and as we also know, a Seiko quartz is more accurate than any of them.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,686 posts
 
Audiozen,
For once, I almost agree with you. Yes, they don't use boutique parts and the priciest casework, but then they are only a fraction of the price of the brands that you mention. I recently updated my old Mac 2105 amp with new speaker terminals, input jacks and IEC input. The old stuff was dated and pathetic by today's standards. That said, even in it's older condition, it sounded far more like real music than the Pass Labs X250.5 that I thought I had to have. I couldn't get rid of it fast enough. So in the end, talk is talk, and as it is with most controversial topics, there will always be someone like Paladin giving an opinion that is based on an opinion.
To each his own, and let's remember that it's about music, not brand names.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,686 posts
 
Touché Goheelz.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,686 posts
 
05-16-13: Liquid-smooth
I do own Mc and I still feel that there are better options out there for the money these days...

I saw one of your recent threads, and you seem to think Adcom is one of those better choices. That's funny.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,686 posts
 
Taters asked:

Who are these people that are unhappy with Pass? I've never seen a negative comment about Pass.

I am one. In my system, using 4 different speakers, the X250.5 sounded thin and electronic. I bought it because I never read a negative comment either. Sent it to Pass for a check up, and it was all good. Ironically, I bought it used here on Audiogon, and the guy who sold it to me told me (after the sale) that he had replaced it with Mac 501 monos and liked them much better.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,686 posts
 
Tbg,
You forgot to add IMHO.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,686 posts
 
Alycat,
Every company says they are the best, and your other comments are just regurgitated drivel that others have said many times before. They are one of the many flavors out there and Mac is one of them, and one of the more reliable ones at that.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,686 posts
 
Georgelofi and Tbg,
Please tell the rest of us which pieces you have owned and used in your own systems that that led you to these conclusions.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,686 posts
 
I'll turn that around and ask you to explain in technical terms, what sound improvement benefit is there to be had by putting and output transformer on a solid state amp?

Cheers George

Oh no you don't. I never said that there was a "sound improvement" because of the output transformers. I asked YOU what Mac gear you had used in your system that led you to your conclusions. Still waiting for an answer.
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