An Audio Amateur's question about McIntosh Audio

The electronic components of my systems have been exclusively McIntosh since the late 70’s. (See my current setup in virtual systems) My best friend since first grade dad had a fairly high-end and ever evolving Mac system until he died and that’s where I learned to love music and specifically McIntosh. I bought my first component, a MA6100 integrated amplifier, as soon as I could afford it. It’s what I know and what I like. Yes. I like the way it looks too. But it’s hidden away in my basement man cave and I have people over to my house very rarely. So it’s not any sort of “hey look at me” thing. I just like the way it sounds. And isn’t that all that matters?  

Growing up as a teen in the 70’s, McIntosh was a huge name in Audio electronics along with Audio Research. I knew a couple people who owned the equipment, mostly my friends parents. I always wanted to own some of their equipment but never bought any of it. As I grew older many more companies produced high quality audiophile grade electronics that met or exceeded the sound of McIntosh. I always felt McIntosh was the safe bet as they had a house sound and you knew they were built like tanks and would be supported for many years and had good resale value. As I got older and could afford higher end gear like McIntosh, I was just not attracted to anything they made considering the competition and always felt I could find something better for the money. I still feel this way about their equipment but have nothing against the brand and I feel they make very nice equipment. In audio it’s always personal preference and peoples opinions on gear and what sounds best to them. I always felt the company dated themselves in designs with the continued use of the audio transformers in their solid state amps. 

@stereo5

is it not spelled McInBose now?

Talked to a top end dealership in Phoenix az rolls alot of mcinbose and they thought the influx of cash could be a good thing in r & d. Mac has been bought and sold several times over the decades and yet it still exists. Got pulled from best buy most likely due to lose. Marantz,focal ect have all been  through the exchange of Capitol through the years. Hope all audio companies stay in business. Mcintosh has gone to the dark side and has class d mi502 hypex module x4 very good  1kw in 4 ohms but not 200 amps to pound the base. Enjoy the music and Mcintosh is a great value on the used market.

@jfrost27

I never considered myself a McIntosh guy.  Since my beginnings in this hobby in the early 80’s (as many of us in high end audio), McIntosh was never on my radar, mostly because of price, and the biased rep that they were more show than go.  So, I never considered them, and it wasn’t because of the “McIntosh sound” 🤡 .  Then, a couple years ago, my friend at Best Buy hooked me up with his employee discount, 40% off retail.  Then came the split between McIntosh and Best Buy, and I lucked out with a two day blowout sale and snagged the latest preamp at 70% off retail.  Well, I now have McIntosh gear, along with PS Audio gear.  If people were honest, McIntosh has a lot of haters out there, but it has nothing to do with the “McIntosh sound.”