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McIntosh Audio A Tradition of Excellence

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Old 10-12-2019, 12:54 AM
Chericelise Chericelise is offline
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Default Is Mcintosh the most popular Hifi brand?

Just for fun discussion.
I have been here for some time and Mcintosh seems to always have the most active discussions and most number of Threads and replies over here.
It is really much more if u go and see the numbers against other brands sections.

So I am just wondering is Mcintosh the most popular and sought after Hifi brand?
Share your thoughts and why do u think so?

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  #2  
Old 10-12-2019, 01:18 AM
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McIntosh gear is a right of passage; you must own it first, before you can buy any other brand.
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MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
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MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
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Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES

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Old 10-12-2019, 04:06 AM
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For The Love of Music For The Love of Music is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Masterlu View Post
McIntosh gear is a right of passage; you must own it first, before you can buy any other brand.


Something like that
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Old 10-12-2019, 04:11 AM
Charles Charles is offline
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I'm in jdandy's camp. In my heart I believe Mac's the best. Wouldn't swap it for anything on the market.
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Old 10-12-2019, 04:50 AM
Chericelise Chericelise is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Masterlu View Post
McIntosh gear is a right of passage; you must own it first, before you can buy any other brand.
I like the way u phrase it.
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Old 10-12-2019, 05:15 AM
Franklmu Franklmu is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles View Post
I'm in jdandy's camp. In my heart I believe Mac's the best. Wouldn't swap it for anything on the market.


Me too [emoji106]
I agree. I've tried other brands, all better than the others, but nothing works ... I always come back to Mcintosh.

In my ears and eyes nothing equals this iconic brand. And since I paired the 1.25kw with my Alexia2, I'm not ready to back down!

That does not mean that i claims Mc is the best brand in the world, but just that there is a special relationship between Mc and me
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Old 10-12-2019, 05:42 AM
Chericelise Chericelise is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Franklmu View Post
Me too [emoji106]
I agree. I've tried other brands, all better than the others, but nothing works ... I always come back to Mcintosh.

In my ears and eyes nothing equals this iconic brand. And since I paired the 1.25kw with my Alexia2, I'm not ready to back down!

That does not mean that i claims Mc is the best brand in the world, but just that there is a special relationship between Mc and me

I understand how u feel.
Would u mind sharing some other brands and components u have tried?
After all this is about personal taste/preference as no right or wrong.

Thank you
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Old 10-12-2019, 07:34 AM
radio times radio times is offline
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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.
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Old 10-12-2019, 10:02 AM
Franklmu Franklmu is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chericelise View Post
I understand how u feel.

Would u mind sharing some other brands and components u have tried?

After all this is about personal taste/preference as no right or wrong.



Thank you


I started with the Jadis da88s, then the mx136 and mx150 with the 1201, then change with the couple Ayre kxr and mxr, and finally back to Mc with the C500t (that I still have) with the 452, then the 601 and finally the 1.25kw.

Once again, you are right; everything is a matter of taste, and there are many, many brands certainly better ... but not for me [emoji6]

Frank
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Old 10-12-2019, 11:11 AM
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jdandy jdandy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chericelise View Post
Just for fun discussion.
I have been here for some time and Mcintosh seems to always have the most active discussions and most number of Threads and replies over here.
It is really much more if u go and see the numbers against other brands sections.

So I am just wondering is Mcintosh the most popular and sought after Hifi brand?
Share your thoughts and why do u think so?
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
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STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113
VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A

Last edited by jdandy; 10-12-2019 at 11:25 AM.
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