"The Upgrade Company" for McIntosh

[ismelllikepoop]

google them and you will see some blue goop photos for shielding. Not sure how anyone would trust them for anything, or what would convince anyone spending money there would be a good idea. Seen too many forum posts that read like ads for them too.

[Audiophilehi]

Originally Posted by jlbrach

I think one would have to be nuts to do such a thing with high end expensive mcintosh components....lower level equipment perhaps but not top of the lien stuff

+1

[MyPal]

Don't get scammed or sucked in by this "value-add". There are no secrets. This company provides this dubious service as a front to push grey market product.

If you feel that you need to improve your components with addition EM/RF shielding, then search some of my other posts for SOtM EM absorption sheets. I have mentioned 3M product too.

The use of adhesive EM absorption sheets is essentially DIY & reversible.

[Beowulf62]

I do modify my equipment, once it is out of warranty. However, I have not felt any need to do so with my C2200. In my case, there is no risk as I do not intend to ever sell my Mc, I have considerable experience in designing, building and repairing audio amplification equipment and all my "mods" are reversible. In the case of the C2200...I might someday upgrade some of the capacitors in the signal path, however that would involve re-voicing the amplification chain. McIntosh could easily have used higher quality capacitors and RCA's in the design, however that would have added another $500-$1000 to the price. At the moment, I am too happy with the sound to bother.

If you do it...make sure you know exactly what you are seeking to achieve AND that the upgrade will accomplish this

Douglas

[miketuason]

I didn't say I was going to do it, I was asking if anyone has heard of the company and I just wanted to relate what they said. Also, after reading their testimonial from their customers, which is a lot by the way, it was all very positive. I know I wouldn't do it on my Mac gears.

[Lordofacid]

Originally Posted by miketuason

I didn't say I was going to do it, I was asking if anyone has heard of the company and I just wanted to relate what they said. Also, after reading their testimonial from their customers, which is a lot by the way, it was all very positive. I know I wouldn't do it on my Mac gears.

+1

[Maks]

Originally Posted by miketuason

I didn't say I was going to do it, I was asking if anyone has heard of the company and I just wanted to relate what they said. Also, after reading their testimonial from their customers, which is a lot by the way, it was all very positive.

Playing devil's advocate, of course it's positive. If people spend $1,000 on magical secret upgrades, they will WANT to hear a difference and they will likely tell themselves they've heard a difference. I find this testimonial interesting, "Detail is 30% better in a smooth artifact free analog way, never etched nor aggressive." How did he quantify 30% better? Thirty percent of what? How does something SOUND 30% better? There's a lot of snake oil and wizardry in this hobby.

[Lordofacid]

Originally Posted by Maks

Playing devil's advocate, of course it's positive. If people spend $1,000 on magical secret upgrades, they will WANT to hear a difference and they will likely tell themselves they've heard a difference. I find this testimonial interesting, "Detail is 30% better in a smooth artifact free analog way, never etched nor aggressive." How did he quantify 30% better? Thirty percent of what? How does something SOUND 30% better? There's a lot of snake oil and wizardry in this hobby.

You're absolutely right. We hear, what we want to hear. If I want to hear a difference, I will do so. It's a tricky placebo effect.

[surf123]

Anyone who spends a $1000 on magical upgrades must say they can hear the difference or they would confirm they were ripped off.

[Mike Gillespie]

The Upgrade Company does something beneficial in applying substances -- be it blue tape or whatever -- that probably reduce EMI/RM noise which often makes the noise floor lower, yielding more detail, bigger soundstage, etc. But as mentioned above, they charge too much, you void the warranty, and you can DIY -- reversibly -- with SOtM or 3M EMI absorbing paper. I tried to get some but I found you had to buy an awful lot of the stuff to meet the order minimum. Still, it's way less than what the Upgrade Company charges.