McIntosh always reminds me of equipment owned by a middle aged guy who listens to Sinatra or Perry Como lps on still dressed in his work suit in the evening with a cocktail and maybe smoking a cigar or pipe. He'd usually also have a new or newer Buick, Olds or Caddy sedan parked in the driveway.
I first started to get interested in stereo gear when I was about twelve in 1970 and I noticed a lot of my friends' dads had McIntosh. I remember them all sounding very good and being told by everyone not to touch any of it.
I've always thought of it as good gear that lasts a lifetime and kind of looks like it. As I starting building my own systems, I never really considered McIntosh gear seriously because I considered it not very exciting, kind of like your old man's equipment.
All stereotypes I know. But I still have the same impression even though I'm now a dad and middle aged. No offense intended and I know it's mainly good stuff because some of my more conservative friends own new and even classic older McIntosh gear.
Tim