Why do people -- i.e., audiophiles -- "hate" or dislike McIntosh? It's an interesting question. I gave it some thought and came up with three reasons:
1. McIntosh is, by repute, the brand for doctors and lawyers -- i.e., presumably well-to-do people who just want fancy, expensive, nice-looking equipment for their living rooms and dens, without really knowing anything about high-end audio. Thus, knowledgable audiophiles will look down on such unknowledgable buyers. (Let me stress that I don't think this is a good reason -- but it is a reason!)
2. McIntosh amps use older, unfashionable technologies -- primarily autoformers. They are not, in any technical sense, state-of-the-art. Thus, knowledgable audiophiles, who appreciate the latest technical advances in the audio arts, disdain McIntosh equipment as stuck in the past.
3. McIntosh amps do not have a "hi-fi" sound. To audiophiles searching for a hyper-detailed presentation, they may seem "veiled" or rounded off. This may be particularly true for audiophiles who primarily listen to amplified music.
I should add, in the interest of full disclosure, that I have owned and enjoyed an MC402 power amp for over a dozen years. I've changed speakers, sources, power cords and cabling during that time, but I've never seen any reason to get a new amp. I listen to about 80% classical and 20% hard rock, and I find the MC402 does everything I want.
