2014 CES McIntosh NEW Products!

[JBT]

Originally Posted by 1KW

These products are not priced entry level . They do not appeal to hard core audiophiles or to young people who have no room for the big stuff or the funds to afford them. My son's are in there 20's, they would not buy any of these products at these prices .I do not think $6500 for the MB100 is going to attract a 20 something year old person. They are going to find a less expensive alternative, same for the head phone amp. I don't know what Mcintosh has been thinking ?? This is the 3rd year in a row they have released products I don't want or need. A MS750 replacement for $6500 list would have been nice if there was away to import your cd collection. Having to copy onto your computer and then transfer from your computer gets very complicated. The MB100 is a rebadge of Mirage's product with some modifications , big disappointment.

How do you know its just a rebadge of Mirage??? And not built from the ground up by Mcintosh

[mcintoshmagic]

Originally Posted by JBT

How do you know its just a rebadge of Mirage??? And not built from the ground up by Mcintosh

See the photos showing the back of the two units. All the computer related connections and their locations are 100% identical including the DVI port and wall-wart style power supply which is most certainly not a McIntosh design. The audio outputs on the other hand, have been modified so it's likely using a McIntosh designed daughtercard for the audio.

Originally Posted by Maks

[mcintoshmagic]

Originally Posted by rscotth

And the MXA60 speakers are angled back with lever foot to make perpendicular, don't know if the MXA70 speakers are angled or not. They appear to be fixed.

Photos from CES show the MXA70 speakers having the same angled back design or maybe it's just the top. It's hard to tell as all those photos so far are very dark.

[mcintoshmagic]

Originally Posted by AM123

Oh sorry, didn't realize that you were looking at the mini system.

One other thing, HD Radio only works in the US, so other markets cannot use it. So to have that feature on anything other than a dedicated tuner probably will not happen.

True but since the MHA100 and MXA70 are apparently 100% identical, then if they had offered HD Radio on the MXA70 then those outside the US could then just buy the MHA100 instead. Sort of how they offer the MAC6700 receiver in the US and the MA6700 integrated amp elsewhere which is the same thing as the MAC6700 minus the TM-2 tuner module.

[JBT]

Originally Posted by mcintoshmagic

See the photos showing the back of the two units. All the computer related connections and their locations are 100% identical including the DVI port and wall-wart style power supply which is most certainly not a McIntosh design. The audio inputs on the other hand, have been modified so it's likely using a McIntosh designed daughtercard for the audio.

Looks somewhat similar, but I see some differences. Remember at shows the new products are not always what the company produces. The MCD1100 the final product looked different than the one at the shows. When its released this spring we'll know for sure.

I'm hoping Mcintosh designed and built this from the ground up to justify the 6500 price tag.

[mcintoshmagic]

It is a McIntosh modified Autonomics Mirage MSS-5A. It uses the same motherboard as the Mirage which is why all those ports are 100% identical but instead of using the cheap DAC on the motherboard it's using the DAC from the D100 on a separate board along with a modified analog section. Even the enclosure is the same size. It looks bigger from the front due to the glass panel overhang. One could argue that this is more than they did to differentiate the MS300/700 models from their Escient counterparts but it's still based and reliant upon on another companies design which is troubling, especially since what it's based on isn't especially compelling to begin with.

[RobertS]

Originally Posted by Stahle

... Because of this I have a new product idea - add a pair of XR50’s to an MA5200 and then call the combo an MXA5200. Mcintosh could market this gimmick as a celebration of the return of the small integrated amplifier or something like that. Unfortunately, it’s a bit late for this year’s CES but it could be an early spring product release!

I think you may be on to something here, Stahle. Create a whole series of "integrated combos", maybe knock 10% off the indivdual prices for buying the package. Something like these...

MXA5200 = MA5200 + pair of XR50's
MXA7900 = MA7900 + pair of XR100's
MXA8000 = MA8000 + pair of XR200's

Maybe also a pairing of the MHA100 + MHP1000 headphones. I like it.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by mcintoshmagic

It is a McIntosh modified Autonomics Mirage MSS-5A. It uses the same motherboard as the Mirage which is why all those ports are 100% identical but instead of using the cheap DAC on the motherboard it's using the DAC from the D100 on a separate board along with a modified analog section. Even the enclosure is the same size. It looks bigger from the front due to the glass panel overhang. One could argue that this is more than they did to differentiate the MS300/700 models from their Escient counterparts but it's still based and reliant upon on another companies design which is troubling, especially since what it's based on isn't especially compelling to begin with.

The Autonomics Mirage MSS-5A retails at $4250

[JBT]

Originally Posted by mcintoshmagic

It is a McIntosh modified Autonomics Mirage MSS-5A. It uses the same motherboard as the Mirage which is why all those ports are 100% identical but instead of using the cheap DAC on the motherboard it's using the DAC from the D100 on a separate board along with a modified analog section. Even the enclosure is the same size. It looks bigger from the front due to the glass panel overhang. One could argue that this is more than they did to differentiate the MS300/700 models from their Escient counterparts but it's still based and reliant upon on another companies design which is troubling, especially since what it's based on isn't especially compelling to begin with.

Until we see the guts of the MB100 we just don't know.

[mcintoshmagic]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

The Autonomics Mirage MSS-5A retails at $4250

Correct. What was the price difference between the Escient and McIntosh models at the time? With those they didn't even upgrade the DAC or make any changes at all really, other than cosmetic.