McIntosh today is a Financial Instrument for Private Equity Groups to broaden their investment portfolios. Unfortunately this has nothing to do with Audio Greatness.
This story started when Quadrivio - an Italian PE group who was known for their investments in the frozen foods market started an audio holding company called Fine Sounds. Under this banner Quadrivio bought, Acoustic Research, Wadia, Wolf Cinema, REL, Sumiko and McIntosh.
McIntosh then merged with LBO & Yarpa and bought Fine Sounds from Quadrivio - it wasn't cheap. They have since re-branded as The McIntosh Group. They are now a producer of Fine Audio Lifestyle Equipment. Their commitment is solely to their share holders who demand guaranteed returns on investment.
In order to meet those demands compromises have been made which is why these companies have become Homogenized. Their products are good enough to command their price points but not great. Which is a shame because they were all pushing towards greatness earlier on before being absorbed. The companies that would not compromise were ultimately, re-branded into what you see today - Wadia, or they cut and ran away- REL and Wolf Cinema.
This story started when Quadrivio - an Italian PE group who was known for their investments in the frozen foods market started an audio holding company called Fine Sounds. Under this banner Quadrivio bought, Acoustic Research, Wadia, Wolf Cinema, REL, Sumiko and McIntosh.
McIntosh then merged with LBO & Yarpa and bought Fine Sounds from Quadrivio - it wasn't cheap. They have since re-branded as The McIntosh Group. They are now a producer of Fine Audio Lifestyle Equipment. Their commitment is solely to their share holders who demand guaranteed returns on investment.
In order to meet those demands compromises have been made which is why these companies have become Homogenized. Their products are good enough to command their price points but not great. Which is a shame because they were all pushing towards greatness earlier on before being absorbed. The companies that would not compromise were ultimately, re-branded into what you see today - Wadia, or they cut and ran away- REL and Wolf Cinema.