What Does 80 Grand Get You Nowadays?

A system was playing in a shop. I sat down and pretty soon I thought gosh, I’m glad my system sounds better than this.

That system - just preamp, amp, and speakers - cost about $80,000 new.

I didn’t make the speakers at first, because Sabrinas look far better than the usual Wilson house look. They were driven by one of those new high-end Marantz amps, and I don’t think that was a match made in heaven. The Marantz was driven by a Dan D’Agostino pre that looked like a Minion had been crushed in a hydraulic press. Audiophile music was streaming, but I did not catch whence issued those dulcet ones and zeroes.

I suppose that system constitutes high-end for some. Now, it certainly sounded competent, but it also sounded boring. I thought, this is the Audi SUV of audio: competent and boring.

Conversely, I was impressed and pleased to no end that the end sound of my modest system from the last century could play in the same league as an almost-six figure modern system, and do so in a more engaging and fun fashion - to my ears, at least.

I’m biased, of course; and I am certain many high-priced systems out there leave mine in the dust. Still, I would have thought $80,000 guaranteed a better baseline sound.

How about you, have you heard a lot of gear whose sound was way out of whack with its price?

devinplombier11-03-2025 11:19pm

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foggyus91 Details Discussions Posts This discussion 612 posts 11-07-2025 at 07:14pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @invalid They are from the same era and founded within 4 years of each other. Marantz was founded in 1953 by Saul Marantz in New York to manufacture high-fidelity audio equipment, starting with the "Audio Consolette" preamplifier. Dissatisfied with the sound quality of available equipment, he built the first unit by hand in his basement, and its popularity led him to establish the company to meet demand. Though Marantz sold the company in 1964, the brand has continued to produce audio gear under various ownerships, with the original spirit of Saul Marantz's high-quality sound philosophy still influencing its products today. McIntosh was founded in 1949 by Frank H. McIntosh and Gordon Gow in Maryland, later moving to Binghamton, NY, where it is still based. The company gained fame for its high-power amplifiers featuring the innovative "unity coupled circuit" and iconic blue meters. McIntosh products have been used in major public events like President Lyndon Johnson's 1965 inauguration and the 1969 Woodstock festival, and by NASA for the Apollo program. The company has navigated several ownership changes, including being acquired by Clarion in 1990 and later by a European company before returning to American ownership in 2014, and is currently owned by Bose Corporation as part of the McIntosh Group. Early years and innovations Founded: Frank H. McIntosh and Gordon Gow founded the company in 1949. It moved to its permanent home in Binghamton, NY, in 1951. Unity Coupled Circuit: McIntosh's initial success came with the 50W1 amplifier, which featured the "unity coupled circuit" to deliver 50 watts with very low distortion, establishing the company's reputation for quality. Iconic products: The 1960s saw the introduction of the legendary MC275 tube power amplifier and the C22 preamplifier, which became a hi-fi staple. Styling: By the 1960s, McIntosh products featured a distinctive look with a black glass front panel, blue power meters, and chrome chassis, which remains a brand trademark. Public and professional milestones Presidential inauguration: McIntosh amplifiers were used to power President Lyndon B. Johnson's 1965 inaugural address. Woodstock: The 1969 Woodstock festival used 20 McIntosh MC3500 amplifiers to power the main sound system for the 400,000-plus attendees. Grateful Dead: The Grateful Dead's iconic "Wall of Sound" system in 1974 was powered by McIntosh MC 2300 amplifiers. NASA: McIntosh amplifiers were used by NASA engineers during the Apollo program to adjust equipment on the lunar module. Modern history and ownership Ownership changes: McIntosh has been acquired several times, with Japanese companies Clarion and DNM Holdings among its owners. In 2014, a management buyout returned control to the U.S. before it was renamed McIntosh Group. Current ownership: In late 2024, Bose Corporation acquired McIntosh Group. Continued manufacturing: McIntosh continues to design and hand-assemble its products in Binghamton, NY. You can watch this video to learn about the history of McIntosh audio: 43s cheapaudioman YouTube • Aug 23, 2025 17m The History of McIntosh Laboratory YouTube·Multimedium McIntosh Heritage McIntosh was founded in 1949 in Silver Spring, MD. The company moved to Binghamton, NY in 1951 to the 2nd floor of an existing bui... McIntosh Roger Russell's McIntosh History Page In 1962 McIntosh Laboratory Inc. started what was to become one of the most successful and longest running marketing campaigns in ... Roger Russell, McIntosh 13:55 The Truth About McIntosh No One is Talking About... YouTube·cheapaudioman McIntosh Laboratory - Wikipedia Frank H. McIntosh and Gordon Gow co-founded McIntosh in 1949. The company was originally located in Silver Spring MD. It moved to ... Wikipedia Highlander Partners Announces the Acquisition of McIntosh Group, the Leader in Premium Consumer Audio Technology – Highlander Partners Jun 14, 2022 — The Group is anchored by the legendary McIntosh brand. Since 1949, McIntosh amplifiers have been engineered and handcr... Highlander Partners McIntosh Engineering Labs Apr 11, 2017 — Gordon Gow, who joined as the first “employee” of McIntosh in 1946, replaced him as CEO. McIntosh passed away in 1990, Engineering and Technology History Wiki McIntosh Laboratory Part 2 This year, Clarion sold McIntosh for an undisclosed amount to D&M Holdings based in Tokyo, Japan. D&M also owned Marantz and Denon... Roger Russell, McIntosh
parkergetdean Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,036 posts 11-07-2025 at 07:17pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete it could have been such an interesting conversation but sadly it was derailed.
facten Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 3,119 posts 11-07-2025 at 07:25pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @parkergetdean "I go to my local shop twice a month. 4 rooms, about 150 speaker pairs" What's the name of the shop are you refering to and where is it located?
parkergetdean Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,036 posts 11-07-2025 at 07:44pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @facten I will seriously count it tomorrow. I actually went on their web site just now and I could easily count 25 pairs in their main rooms each from photos that show most of those rooms. They have 3 of those large rooms. Then they have 2 smaller showrooms, and the used stuff room with 10+ pairs in each. A bunch of speakers in the hallway and the entrance area. So I could have been off 10%. (+ or -) Since this is not my first rodeo here, I do not wish to disclose where I am and who they are. But it’s in the top 5 largest cities in the US so it’s not unimaginable we have a few very established hifi shops with large floorspace here. I know someone will comment here about what they ever observed and say that I am lying because they know there is no audio store ever with 6 show rooms. And I totally forgot about their 2 HT rooms so that’s 8.
facten Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 3,119 posts 11-07-2025 at 08:12pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @parkergetdean I don’t care if you are off 10% or whatever percentage. I asked more out of curiosity of what brands and the breath of each particular brand’s lineup they carry. While I haven’t been in a store such as HiFi Buys in ions, they carry numerous speakers including those of 2 or 3 higher end brands so yes a store with a lot of speakers to potentially listen to exists. That said, in those situations the auditioning set-up isn’t ideal, and the lineup of brands/models generally favors an "affordability" market niche. Now , if you feel the store you are referencing needs to be kept a mystery so be it. I think from your above post that it likely is similar to a Hifi Buy. Depending upon what someone’s goals/focus is there’s nothing wrong with that. Likewise, there’s nothing wrong with someone being more focused on higher end