McIntosh -- good for show, not for sound, says dealer


More unvarnished truth from YouTube.
"real audiophiles...know it doesn't sound that good"

https://youtu.be/sMUQqAagKm0?t=181

Real audiophiles -- be aware. You've been read the Riot Act. 

Discuss.

128x128hilde45

Showing 31 responses by roxy54

An MC2105 in good shape commands a ridiculous premium over its original retail, but if you own one it makes some sense. I think that it's foolish to pay what most sellers are asking if it hasn't had documented service, including at this age replacement of capacitors, and even transistors. If that maintenance is done, it is a pretty amazing amplifier, and holds up very well against a number of modern competitors.

Why do some people feel the need to brag about their cars even when cars aren't the subject?

"Mac is sort of like the Rolex of audio..."

russ69, 

How many times has that stupid, meaningless sentence been uttered here? And you have to do it once more...it's embarrassing.

 

 

Of course if you want to reproduce recorded music accurately, there are pretty much unlimited other choices, but hey, if looks is your thing and not music, well, go for it!

Cheers!

Congrats richopp, another stupid post...

"To me the looks good versus sounds good thing is pretty stupid."

Right you are triodelover1499.

"As I stated in a previous post in this thread, Macintosh is not for me; it would be pretty close to the bottom in the line of hi fi equipment I would consider."

Of course you wouldn't consider McIntosh laoman, you can't even spell it.

richopp,

You didn't present any of those "facts" in your blanket comment which implied that their gear was purchased for looks rather than sound; and the story you tell me now is really ancient history. 

Do you really believe that McIntosh has stood still since that time and not advanced their technologies, just as Audio Research has? 

Actually laoman, you said that it did not sound good and was not good value for money. 

I didn't say it was an insult, I just wanted to clarify what you said. As far as Jay is concerned, I have zero interest in his opinions of audio gear. His opinion of McIntosh gear is one of the reasons why.

"Nevertheless, to consider the McIntosh solely on looks to give others an impression of the owner being sophisticated really cracks me up."

That's just one of the silly myths of McIntosh lore.

laoman, I think that you meant done. Sorry, I only speak one language fluently, but I'm getting pretty good at it.

To my ears, the sound is very grounded, the opposite of "thin" or analytical, not the very last word in resolution, but still very good. I think that it has gravitas that other amps that I have owned didn't have, and what I like to call "architecture". By that I mean that the picture is big, tall and solid. Imaging is as good as the source and preamplifier allow. I will also say that compared to ARC as an example, and some other amps i have owned, it is not super fast sounding, although it's not at all sluggish, and it's a bit on the dark side not a lot, which I don't mind at all. 

All of that said, it is very good at getting out of the way and letting the music play.

What are you talking about laoman? It doesn't need to be in any quotes at all. Putting the word done in italics is perfectly fine.

I answered another poster who asked what the Mac sound is, and I wanted to add something to that. Oldhvymec, who owns 100 times more Mac pieces than I ever have or ever will made a good comment to the effect that over the years many pieces of Mac sound differently. I agree. I have heard vintage Mac gear that sounded very different from my SS am and direct coupled Mac that sounded different again. My point is that I suppose that it's not entirely valid to say that there is a Mac sound, other than the one a particular owner has experienced. 

Thanks Steve. I missed that story first time around, and it's very telling.

kaplandesign, you are a no value proposition. No idea of wat you're talking about and no value at any price. 

Good for you vuch. Lay down with dogs, wake up with fleas my Dad always said.

And I guess you never had a good dealer, so you don't know how a good one behaves vuch.

Tell them about the other courteous response you sent on this same thread days ago vuch when you told me to go back to my shoe shine box. Some people might find that offensive ... 

hilde45, I applaud your approach and clarity.

bigtex22, So well said. How do we define "good" or "better" when it's a matter of taste? 

Richiegtt,

We don't use foul language here, and I'm sure the moderators will inform you of that if you continue to do so.

"Did you know that The Grateful Dead used McIntosh amplifiers for there shows even Woodstock. What a buncha lawyers! Hahahaha."

I don't think that there's anyone who doesn't know that Matt.

I am not obsessed with the brand, but if someone gave me one of those displays, I'd use it.

Maybe you should read the current thread about his cable company Verrastar. Some former customers don’t agree concerning his "outstanding reputation".