Is Mcintosh the most popular Hifi brand?

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by jameslrock

Dan: By far one of the best posts I have read here or anywhere. You captured the essence of the topic. Jim

Jim.......Much appreciated. Those are my exact feelings. It's highly unlikely that will ever change. .

[John49]

Originally Posted by radio times

Hasn't really migrated to blighty yet, though they have I believe a stockist in deepest Scotland. You need a beefy car and lot's of pricey gas stops, but if they ever come to London I will at last post a relevant post. Heard 'em on the tube and they'l be mighty fine in a detached house. Semi searched for the desk top's a while ago.

KJ West One, 26 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 8TY

[Chericelise]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Is McIntosh the most popular hifi brand? No, if popularity is measured by sales turnover. The #1 spot would go to Denon, or Yamaha, or Bose, or Beats.

The automobile is where most people listen, so add Harman to the list - they are No 1 in OEM car audio by a large margin.

McIntosh is at once fairly popular and definitely more polarizing than any other brand of audio gear.

I think the Cadillac analogy is a good one. Arguably the CTS V-Sport gives up nothing to a BMW 5 Series. Everything, that is, except the BMW meatball. But it is a Cadillac, and they are for rich old people who don’t know any better, just like McIntosh is for rich doctors and lawyers who don’t know anything about good sound.

McIntosh has made their fair share of Eldorados and Cimmarons so there is that.

High end audio is niche market that loves high touch and is driven by the personalities of the people who run the companies involved. Joe Grado (rip), Paul McGowan, Nelson Pass, Ken Shindo (rip), Charley Hansen (rip), Dr. William Conrad and Dr. Lewis Johnson, Mark Levinson, Dan D’Agostino, David Wilson (rip), James Bongiorno (rip), Roy Gandy, Jim Thiel (rip), Harry Weisfeld, Ivor Tiefenbrun, the list goes on.

You can draw your own conclusions about the longevity of some of these folks.....


McIntosh is an anomaly that has survived for three or four generations, multiple corporate parents, and some really good and really bad owners.

Sorry for the ramble. I guess I am trying to say that McIntosh is a unique enterprise that has stood the test of time.

After reading your post and looking at your signature contradicts me bit.
Can u share your hifi journey in short summary?

Thank you.

[radio times]

Originally Posted by John49

KJ West One, 26 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 8TY

Thanks John!

[W9TR]

Hi Chericelise,
Sure. I can see why you’d be a bit confused by my post and my gear choices.

My hifi journey began with Japanese receivers and then quickly migrated to North American made separates from companies like Adcom, Hafler, Sumo, SAE, Classe’ and Bryston. Speakers were from the likes of Ohm, PSB, Dynaudio, ProAc, and Vienna Acoustics.

I always dissed McIntosh as being out of step with the times, an old brand for rich doctors and lawyers.

But then I had a chance to pick up some used McIntosh gear - an MC 2102 amp, a C2200 preamp. It sounded to me better than what I had at the time. And then I found out that it didn’t depreciate much at all - sometimes it appreciated!

So I was able to move up their line, in each case finding an improvement in sound quality. The C 2200 turned into a C 2300, then a C 500, then a C 1100. The MC 2102 turned into two MC 2301’s. And so it went. The whole time I was able to trade in or sell the gear I replaced without losing a nickel on depreciation.

That’s why I like McIntosh. Is it the end-all-be-all? No, it is not. Can I call up the founder/owner and discuss the gear, stroking our collective egos? No, I cannot. But to me, it has a sound I enjoy and a value that just can’t be beat.

There are some McIntosh things I will stay away from - but the core of their amplifier line is very solid.

Hope that helps clarify my earlier post.

Tom

[GreginNH1]

As always, Dan so eloquently explained the McIntosh experience. I have owned a few pieces myself and have been very satisfied with the performance, quality, and best re-sale in the industry.

A few months ago, I spent the better part of a day comparing McIntosh to a few other brands as I needed more power for my Harbeths. I found that McIntosh had a warm, well presented sonic signature and it did everything well. Other brands did certain things better. I still however, have McIntosh on my mind.

I am intrigued with the 2301 monos and have resisted the temptation for a while now. It's probably just a question of time!.

If I had only one word to describe the brand, I would say "Iconic".

[audioguy3107]

I definitely would agree with the word "iconic" when it comes to the high end. I also think the aesthetics of McIntosh have kept them in the forefront of the hobby....everyone recognizes the blue meters and the font of the brand name. Whether or not they are the most popular is subject to debate, but I would be hard pressed to put any other brands ahead of them with Audio Research a close second unless you start bringing in the big box names these days like Marantz, Denon etc.

- Buck

[Formerly YB-2]

Many excellent posts. Having owned a number (25?) of McIntosh pieces over the years, am of the opinion that you can never 'go wrong' with their gear (well..... maybe the sad sounding MA2275). Iconic, indeed. Most popular........ I would guess 'yes' for the high-end (surely outsold by the mid-fi and consumer brands). Will I own again....... never say never. It's great stuph.

[damacman]

Originally Posted by Mikado463

FWIW, here's an interesting perspective on McIntosh from another audio discussion board .....

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/f...mcintosh.9348/

More #fakenews and sour grapes in that thread than facts. Wow. Yet, typical of this hobby as slick marketing ad copy designed to play on the ignorance of the typical enthusiast trumps science and fact every time. Of specific interest is the complete misunderstanding of autoformers and the discussion which grows from it. At least everyone there is equally versed ...

Dan hit the nail on the head about how Mc gets such bad press. As a Mc owner for three decades, Mc is home.

[Chericelise]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Hi Chericelise,
Sure. I can see why you’d be a bit confused by my post and my gear choices.

My hifi journey began with Japanese receivers and then quickly migrated to North American made separates from companies like Adcom, Hafler, Sumo, SAE, Classe’ and Bryston. Speakers were from the likes of Ohm, PSB, Dynaudio, ProAc, and Vienna Acoustics.

I always dissed McIntosh as being out of step with the times, an old brand for rich doctors and lawyers.

But then I had a chance to pick up some used McIntosh gear - an MC 2102 amp, a C2200 preamp. It sounded to me better than what I had at the time. And then I found out that it didn’t depreciate much at all - sometimes it appreciated!

So I was able to move up their line, in each case finding an improvement in sound quality. The C 2200 turned into a C 2300, then a C 500, then a C 1100. The MC 2102 turned into two MC 2301’s. And so it went. The whole time I was able to trade in or sell the gear I replaced without losing a nickel on depreciation.

That’s why I like McIntosh. Is it the end-all-be-all? No, it is not. Can I call up the founder/owner and discuss the gear, stroking our collective egos? No, I cannot. But to me, it has a sound I enjoy and a value that just can’t be beat.

There are some McIntosh things I will stay away from - but the core of their amplifier line is very solid.

Hope that helps clarify my earlier post.

Tom

yes, it does.
Thank u Tom.