Any advice, suggestions, concerns, or comments about buying new gears from retail stores?

[JeffS7444]

While discounts on big-ticket items might not be regularly available, you might try a different approach, such as inquiring whether the dealer will give or heavily discount some small, high-margin items as part of the deal. This might include decent-quality cables, shirts, entry-level phono cartridges, headphones, accessories, etc.

 

[mhardy6647]

Why McIntosh, they aren’t anything special in terms of measurement , they are a ‘pride of ownership‘ lifestyle product.
Keith

Took the liberty of fixing that for you, sir

The Mac of 2020...

 

[RayDunzl]

Why no meter on the turntable?

 

[Doodski]

Took the liberty of fixing that for you, sir

The Mac of 2020...

View attachment 51427
View attachment 51428
View attachment 51429

I've always considered McIntosh to be analogous to the Harley Davidson of Audio gear. It retains it's worth over time and it's black and chrome'ishy with great timeless visuals. I've worked on a few pieces cleaning them up for the next decade of use and it was like machinery not lightweight plastic stuff.

 

[mhardy6647]

I've always considered McIntosh to be analogous to the Harley Davidson of Audio gear. It retains it's worth over time and it's black and chrome'ishy with great timeless visuals. I've worked on a few pieces cleaning them up for the next decade of use and it was like machinery not lightweight plastic stuff.

Fair assessment on all counts, I'd say (and FWIW). My own personal experience is with mostly with vintage Mac hardware. By the 1970s, it had taken a turn, IMO, towards the burly but not particularly impressive (in terms of design and construction ethos, and the components used in 'em).

That said, my daily driver FM tuner is a Mac

On topic, I think I'd discourage the OP from serious consideration of Mac hardware, unless there's some specific model (or models) that really float his/her/their boat.

Why no meter on the turntable?

'cause that's the cheapie McIntosh for the vinylista.
One's gotta spend quite a bit more to get a blue meter tt from Mac!

entry level Mac standalone tt

middle of the road tt

the big kahuna Mac tt (avec meter)

To the OP -- sorry for the digression. Really.

 

[RayDunzl]

Ah.

My ign'ance reveals itself again.

 

[bluefuzz]

Fair assessment on all counts, I'd say (and FWIW). My own personal experience is with mostly with vintage Mac hardware. By the 1970s, it had taken a turn, IMO, towards the burly but not particularly impressive (in terms of design and construction ethos, and the components used in 'em).

That said, my daily driver FM tuner is a Mac

On topic, I think I'd discourage the OP from serious consideration of Mac hardware, unless there's some specific model (or models) that really float his/her/their boat.


'cause that's the cheapie McIntosh for the vinylista.
One's gotta spend quite a bit more to get a blue meter tt from Mac!

entry level Mac standalone tt

View attachment 51433

middle of the road tt



View attachment 51438

the big kahuna Mac tt (avec meter)


View attachment 51435

To the OP -- sorry for the digression. Really.

Wow! That thing's real. I thought it was a joke you'd cooked up in Photoshop ...

 

[mhardy6647]

Wow! That thing's real. I thought it was a joke you'd cooked up in Photoshop ...

Oh, no -- it's completely real and available for purchase.
This one's a joke, though, I am pleased to report.

And, to the OP -- I really, truly will stop, now!

 

[direstraitsfan98]

No worries, I found it highly amusing. It’s funny because aside from that 8 track player the image is accurate. I think the 8 track player makes more sense then having a tube powered phono stage built into the table.

 

[pjug]

If they don't offer a discount, maybe they would give you 0% financing to make you feel better.

 

[bluefuzz]

This one's a joke, though, I am pleased to report.

That actually looks more practical. Well, aside from the valves sticking out the top, but they appear to be real!

I've never really paid McIntosh much attention before, but browsing their stuff I'm somewhat shocked people actually pay serious money for this kitsch. It's a strange world we live in ...

 

[Soniclife]

I've never really paid McIntosh much attention before, but browsing their stuff I'm somewhat shocked people actually pay serious money for this kitsch.

I think it's heartwarming they only employ blind people in their design department.

 

[Tom C]

Go ahead. Laugh your little heart out. Some of us dig it. A lot.