An Audio Amateur's question about McIntosh Audio

Modern Mcintosh is unfairly maligned imo. I have an ARC REF160S amp/pre-amp combo, a Pass XA3.8 amp and a Mcintosh mc462 amp/C53 pre amp that I use on my Martin Logan ESL15A speakers with some REL s812 subs. the Mcintosh gear holds up quite well when compared to the ARC and Pass. It does NOT have a particular sound signature that stands out and is musical, dynamic, detailed and neutral. All of the folks commenting on it having "house sound" or "throaty" or "soft" etc. must be imagining this or be listening to old gear or through mediocre systems that are coloring the sound. My system is really revealing and it does not present this way. And, the MC462 at 450 watts/rms is a top rated amp both by Stereophile and The Absolute Sound and one of the writers (Sasha Matson) bought his sample unit and runs his Wilson's with it as his main amp. In addition to being bullet proof and sounding good, Mcintosh is pleasing to the eye and enjoys good to great resale value.

For a time I had the $5500 C49 preamp. It was okay. I replaced it with the $500 Topping A90Pro, which is considerably better. Enough said. 

Every year for the past two or three decades people have come out to explain why the company Apple is going to fail, or has lost its way.  And every year Apple proves them wrong.  People want to be able to say they were the one who saw it coming first. When you’re a leader in your industry, you’re a target.  Reading about audio equipment is all fine and fun, but it’s meaningless without your ears.

Personally, I've always liked how McIntosh components sound and look. I started my McIntosh journey in 2013, I've tried many different components (including McIntosh speakers) and I love the system I have built. A lot of people dislike McIntosh, but to me it's about the sound, the look, the value (when you buy used, many times you can sell it for the same price if not more) and I appreciate their customer service and the fact the have parts in stock for many old pieces. 

I think McIntosh gear is well built, handsome, and not remotely overpriced given its quality and longevity.

But I’ve also auditioned it many times (tube, solid state, preamps, amps and digital) wanting to give it a fair shake. It’s not my cup of tea.  I have always found something in the category that I preferred sonically.  Indeed, I would say that it has the strongest sonic signature of any brand I’ve auditioned so I’m not surprised that it is also a polarizing brand. 

Is it a high quality brand to be admired? Yes.

Does it offer the resolution and neutral sonic signature I desire? No. 

And does it matter what I or others think of it -  if you like the gear? Not in the least.

But I also think it counterproductive if we all insist that others should like what we like.