An Audio Amateur's question about McIntosh Audio

Mcintosh has been contentious in hifi circles for decades.  I think it started in the seventies.  One of the biggest gurus in the hifi publishing world (maybe Julian Hirsch?) panned a Mcintosh in a review and Mcintosh took strong exception.  The argument escalated until Mcintosh kind of ended it by retreating from the stereo publishing world, pulling all advertising from stereo mags and not providing any equipment for review.  For several years there was zero mention of Macintosh in any of the hifi magazines-at least in the US.  You would find full-page ads in Esquire and ads in Popular Science but none in HIFI, Stereo Review, or Audio magazines.

With no mention in the major publications, information about Macintosh in the audio circles was largely rumour-based and word of mouth, resulting in a reputation that the brand was expensive and not really high end but was aimed at well-heeled folks like doctors and lawyers who wanted showpiece equipment to impress their friends.

It wasn't until the 1990s that Macintosh started reappearing in reviews and ads in the publications, with consistent high marks by the reviewers.  And, even though I have not seen a poor review, the stigma kind of still hangs on in some people's minds today.

I can't really speak to your comment about lack of mention in today's articles as I really haven't read hifi magazines for a few years now but my impression is that Macintosh is currently a well respected brand with a strong following.

My Mac gear is now over a quarter-century old and still going strong.

Bill

@amitb 

As has been said here by others McIntosh gear seems to have a love, hate opinion about the brand and its gear. As you probably already know McIntosh has been around since 1949. Some of the negative comments are that McIntosh hasn’t progressed in its styling of the brands equipment. Some dislike their traditional blue meters and others dislike their warm producing sound. Some equate that warm sound as a lack of detail. As far as the comments about pricing, yes, McIntosh gear is costly but there are a lot of other brands out there that are equally expensive and and a lot more…

I’m in the other camp and have an all McIntosh system with the exception of speakers and subwoofers. For me it does everything I need and does it extremely well! (IMHO) I’ve had many other good systems but my current system is the end of my system creating journey. I now, will simply enjoy the music it produces through the three mediums, ie; Vinyl, CD/SACD and Steaming. I love my system, it really is quite wonderful…You can view it here in “My Systems”….

Great listening to you!

McIntosh power amps are some of the best-designed, engineered and constructed amps in history! They are so good that they powered the Grateful Dead's revered Wall of Sound concert rig!

https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/about/news/perfect-harmony-mcintosh-and-the-grateful-dead-celebrate-half-a-century-of-collaboration

amitb!

I bought a McIntosh MC240 amp and C11 preamp in 1965.  The MC240 is still in use today driving a pair of Vandersteen 3A's. The C11 was replaced by an Apt preamp several years ago because the Apt had more functionality for transferring  my vintage vinyl collection from a vintage Thorens TD160 to a Revox A77 RtoR. 

In 1965, the MC240 cost $288. For many years the McIntosh reps would visit the McIntosh dealer in my area and scope units, retube and produce a performance printout at no charge. Great customer relations! I have no experience with today's  McIntosh gear so I'm not one judge. I'm a vintage (analog) guy and still love the sound of the old MC240!