Is Mcintosh the most popular Hifi brand?

[70sMac]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Chericelise.......

For me, McIntosh is the sound of music. It is as simple as that. No matter what other manufacturer's amplifiers and preamplifiers I have heard in people's systems or my own, McIntosh always makes me feel like I have returned home. It's comfortable, cozy, and feels just right. Not only does the equipment sound astonishing by all measure, it has an essence of truth in its sound that does not try to exaggerate any part of the frequency spectrum in an attempt to claim some sort of greater resolution, claims that many other companies make but seem only to be able to produce an etched presentation that in the long term does not please my ears. I'm not saying there aren't many wonderful power amplifiers and preamplifiers available from well known manufacturers, but there isn't one that has been able to pull me away from the joy that McIntosh preamplifiers and power amplifiers have given me for over five decades of hi-end audio involvement. Come to think of it, there isn't another audio company that I can think of that has produced such an extensive catalog of audio equipment for 70 years other than McIntosh. It's not uncommon to see 50 year old McIntosh components still in service and sounding excellent, even by today's standards. McIntosh still provide parts and service for most of their gear no matter its age. What other audio manufacturer can make that statement. I am also fond of the fact that McIntosh is manufactured in the USA, creating jobs and helping support American families. That means something in this day and time.

So, to answer your question, "is Mcintosh the most popular and sought after Hifi brand?", I would say it certainly is popular on a worldwide basis among a large segment of experienced audio enthusiasts. Most popular? Who knows, but you would not fail to recognize McIntosh gear when you see it, even from across the room, and you will see lots of it in plenty of high-end sound systems around the world.

By the way, it is McIntosh, not Mcintosh.

Here is a YouTube video I posted four years ago of my now 54 year old McIntosh MA230 integrated amplifier still producing amazing sound. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1eEhFwApxE

I didn't know the man, but here's another great post from a very helpful member of the forum. The first four sentences in JDandy's post [above] pretty much crystallize the feeling I first got, way back in the late-70s with the MAC4100, and the feeling I still get when I fire up our own Mac equipment. You may not see it in every home in America, but, when you do, you can be assured that the reflection in that black glass usually reveals a smile.

[sgbroimp]

popular...schmopular. Thing is that it's historically been the best and most reliable and that goes back past even the 50 years I have owned. Other than a tuner alignment and some (well documented) MSXXX issues, I have not had one piece of Mc equipment ever have to go to the shop. I know nothing else that delivers that kind of value and I typically have kept each piece I have owned 8-10+ years.

[SAM992]

For me, McIntosh is a benchmark company... why?


-High Quality, USA made (could be any other first world country for me, just not China, Vietnam, etc).

-Great sound

-Built to last, and proven to do so

-Super sexy looks, very understated, yet not all at the same time

-Price is very reasonable for the market segment it serves

Again I own good stuff, such as a dCS Rossini with clock, and I've owned high end Sony before, Nakamichi and other stuff... but for me McIntosh is a reference system, and while I don't like everything they make, certainly in the amplification department they're in the top of the top for me.

[Kuky]

Originally Posted by Levitator

I have had, and compared, the previous 452 against the 1.2KW Mac amps and can say that while the two amps had a similar sound signature, the 1.2KW did a better job at driving my speakers more effortlessly and as a consequence did sound better than the 452. My speakers however were the 800D3’s which were deserved of larger amplifiers with more ‘juice’. I would say that speakers will have influence on your ability to access what the bigger amps are able to ultimately deliver to the speakers...

Either amp will do a great job - the upside of the 462 is the space you save, not to mention you will save your back by not having to move the 1.2’s!

Thank you for your answer. The Triangle Quatuor also need lots of current (amperes) so in this regard are the same as the B&W.

Can you quantify (of course in a subjective way) how big was the difference between 1.2 and 452?

For example if we say the 1.2s are at 100% sound quality the 452 were at 80% or towards 50%?

[Masterlu]

Kuky... Welcome to AA!

[miketuason]

You know what they say, “once you go Mac, you’ll never go back”

[Levitator]

Originally Posted by Kuky

Thank you for your answer. The Triangle Quatuor also need lots of current (amperes) so in this regard are the same as the B&W.



Can you quantify (of course in a subjective way) how big was the difference between 1.2 and 452?



For example if we say the 1.2s are at 100% sound quality the 452 were at 80% or towards 50%?

That’s always a tough question but if I had to put a figure on it my gut feel would say somewhere around 30% improvement. The difference for me was quite significant and well worth the investment - just a pity it wasn’t a 30% increase in price as well, but that’s typical as you move up the chain with things in audio...

[George Prentice]

I have been into high end audio for about fifty years. I remember Mac way back when. Then really didn’t see it in the high end circles I explored until the last ten or twenty years. I Love the look. I have gone down to listen a number of times, really wanting to like it, but not found it not to my taste. I think I get it. To me it sounds like it would be really great for rock. To me it sounds very bass heavy, powerful, reminiscent of JBL / ‘70s rock... like in the muscle car category. That sound coupled with the looks I can see would be appealing to some. I can see how the brand would be polarizing as well, it is a very unique sound. Ultimately audio choice is about what appeals to you. Sounds like it appeals to quite a few people here.

[Formerly YB-2]

Most iconic......... absolutely. Most popular.......... likely. Best......... as high quality as any. However, as I look back over the many pieces of McIntosh gear I've owned over the years (far more than any other brand) I realize that it was not the most musically satisfying. Other than the MC75, MC275, MC500, MC2200 & MVP861 (all of which I would happily own again), none of the others was in my system longer than 6-12 months. That tells me that I prefer the sound of other brands. But, that's me and, obviously, YMMV. Whatever floats your musical boat is the correct choice.

[SAM992]

I'll say this... It might not be the best anymore, but for a long time it was the best brand of audio equipment you could buy... just like Rolex brought high end watches to popularity but are by no means the be-all and end-all of watch making, McIntosh is a high end product that is on par or better than most... but certainly not the best..

That said, I've lusted after a McIntosh based system since my early 20's.. 30 years later, like other dreams I had as a young man, I managed to make it happen and I've got no regrets... Of course I wanted the best, but I couldn't justify (nor sanely afford) brands like D'Agostino for my amplification ... but I did get the best in the digital domain by going with dCS.