An Audio Amateur's question about McIntosh Audio

One of my Audiophile Laws states that it is fairly useless to judge brands and genres of gear apart from discussion of actual systems. Without direct comparison, there is little to be gained by commenting on performance. 

There have been very few systems containing McIntosh products that stunned me at audiophile shows. But it happened this past AXPONA, and the system was the SV Audio Fenja Speaker with McIntosh MC1.25KW amps. I sound quality was arresting, imo the best showing by a McIntosh product at the shows I have attended in the past 20 years. Hearing what the MC1.25KW can do, if I were looking for a set of higher power amps, I would probably audition them. 
 

@tomic601Life begins and ends with my 

1968 MC 240

@cwz Im driving my Vandy 2CE Sigs

with MC240. Wonderful pairing

I have owned a few pieces of McIntosh gear and they were super reliable and sounded pretty good.   

My Dad has a MA8950 and it is an excellent amp.  I'm more in the low power tube camp but that is an amp I wouldn't mind owning at all.   Sounds great , can drive any speaker ,   runs cool especially for a 200 watt amp.  

A buddy of mine's Dad gave him a C26 preamp.   I took it home, cleaned it up, re-lamped it cleaned all switches and controls.  Plugged it in and it sounded pretty good.  It had been recapped a few years ago.   Amazing something of that era still works and sounds good.   Can't really say that about most gear.   Most companies from that period in time are long gone.  

@amitb 

Um, you could click on a publications search function and type something like um, McIntosh and click search. There are countless others that pre-date these in just these two publications. You should also consider that most introductions to McIntosh's product line have a very long marketable life and they can't make the headlines every year. It's a very vast a competitive market and journals stay alive by staying abreast of what's new.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/mcintosh-ds200-streaming-da-processor

https://www.stereophile.com/content/mcintosh-laboratory-mc462-power-amplifier

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/mcintosh-ds200-streaming-dac-review/

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/mcintosh-msa5500-streaming-integrated-amplifier-review/

@stereo5 @ghdprentice 

Regarding McIntosh synergy, I personally experienced very poor sound from an all McIntosh system driving high end and reported very neutral, Sonus Faber speakers.  

> As ghprentice stated, they were 'throaty', and I will add decidedly vailed.

I was the only customer in the room and could sit/stand in every location.  My disappointment was both surprising and profound (especially considering the cost of the McIntosh mono amps, preamp, etc.).

The sound was so poor that it now makes me wonder if McIntosh fans spend much time listening to very well-regarded brands.