I bought a new McIntosh hybrid MA352 last year and absolutely love it. If it has to go in for repairs, I’ll dig my 30 year old Technics out of the closet and enjoy that for a few months. Crossing my fingers for many years of trouble free ownership.
Brent, I would expect you to have years of enjoyment. We certainly did when we sold their product. I was sharing a couple of situations where things wandered way off course, in my opinion and for those looking at used gear, for example, do so with eyes wide open. The same sort of thing, in a way, as looking at used cars.
@@audibleeleganceinc I would say Audio Classics sold me a C2500, wasnt keen on me cracking the case to do amn internal reset. Swapped it out postage free both directions and fast. Same thing happened maybe 8 months later---sent me a different C2500 that has been acting like a champ for several years now--again no questions, no charge. I will say a few years back I bought a CD player from them that was a DUD---looked up about in on line, and yeah many drawer/belt failures. Should have done my homework. Yes buyer beware on used gear but their can be some good value that provides long term ownership at low cost.
@@petekutheis3822 Thank you for contributing to the video with your comment. If you get someone to stand behind their work, well, you have a reasonable shot. As you have seen, most pieces for sale are flippers who buy something at an estate sale and away it goes. Please tell others about my channel and perhaps they will subscribe.
Excellent video. New McIntosh sounds and looks great, but as a (now former) owner of a handful of vintage Mac products, it seems the newer gear is not built to the same reliability standard as when Gordon Gow was alive. I owned a C35 for YEARS and never put a dime into it then sold it for more than I paid. Comparatively, modern Bryston gear appears to have not missed a step. Kudos to them.
Well, there are many people who aspire as such, a sort of recapturing your youth, so to speak. I don't begrudge that as that's why there are so many antique stores. Recapturing memories. But, be careful. You can not experience for the first time, again, the moment you smelled perfume on a girl. I am sure the same happens to women and their first scent of a boy. There are times you look beyond.
Good vid, thanks! I just bought my first piece of McIntosh gear, MA5300. It has a meter that is lazy. Sometimes it just doesn't feel like working. At all.
Well, if I had good information on fixing that, I'd gladly share. Thank you for taking the time to comment. There's a good shop up in New York, Audio Classics I think is the name, that might be of help.
Thank you. I am trying to be honest about what I see happening. I do have copies of the customer's receipts. Sadly, it's not the full extent of what continued to happen to him.
One good reason to go for separates, instead of a complicated, overstressed, probably overheating monolith that has one small failure and all the entertainment is affected, cannot be easily repaired or upgraded, and the manufacturer has long forgotten about, especially if it was a poor design to begin with.
In both cases, these were separates. It's hard to point a finger at "poor design." when the track record has yet to be revealed over time, as in the case of the processor. Once again, I am pointing out for everyone things to consider when making a purchase. It's their choice. However, we consider the repair of the amplifier to be particularly brutal.
Thank you for taking the time to make your comment. I try hard to present my observations in a fair and honest way. Sometimes, the facts speak for themselves. As for my second thoughts, many companies have applied the sort of "you have arrived" syndrome which has been quite common in the automotive industry for years. Now, it has spread far and wide across a broad range of consumer products. I have an upcoming video with further observations about this and some of it does apply to video but I think you will see that other industries have used to similar ends.
This makes me think of the owner of the company I worked for who had a gorgeous Lexus that I admired, and I thought he was pretty smart. Then one day he drives in a new Mercedes. It may seem silly but I kinda lost some respect for him after that. Anyway, upon retiring last year I put together a new system with the cash I ended up with, and at first I considered Marantz. Then I was strongly looking into McIntosh. But after more research I went for Yamaha, a brand I hadn't even thought of initially. I'm pretty happy with my A-S3200 integrated amp and CD-S2100 player. I have no idea how long this stuff will last, hopefully until I kick the bucket. But now I feel a little better about not buying McIntosh.
Yamaha can make some pretty interesting goods. We have used Yamaha in jobs. I think what a lot of people don't realize is that specialty manufacturers often rely on subassemblies that come from major electronics manufacturers. That's why they often don't have the latest and greatest features because they trail behind one year in their use. This is not necessarily a bad thing as they often build more robust power supplies and things. However, it also means they suffer the same issues with those boards that affects the original manufacturer.
The latest Mcintosh equipment I normally keep away and if I do get the latest Mac e.g Mc1.2Kw and MC2301 which I own I had to study the circuit and make sure there are no discreet component e,g surface mount component or IC in the system... Why cause when it comes to servicing some of the components are no more on the shelf for parts. I own also a Mac 275 which the warranty expired after 3 years had a failed output transformer I had to wait between 3 to 4 months for parts. Cause Mac does not keep parts in their inventory. It is common practice now days with most companies not to have a large inventory due to cost. I would get a used Mac manufactured in the 1950's, 60's,70's, and 80's any time not after 90;s onwards. Especially AV system, get a entry or budget price system which can dump it if it fails. In one magazine I read it advise do not spend big money on CD or AV processors because technology changers so rapidly that your system comes obsolete. A Mac fan since 1974 and a DIY Service guy for Mcintosh equipment. Own Mac C33, C29, C22 VII, C22 V III, MC2120, MC1.2Kw, MC2301, MR78. MC275 VII and V IV.
Oh yes, the changes to the AV world have been nothing short of a nightmare. I personally still own a 720P Plasma from Samsung that I chose because I can get into the intricate service levels for calibration. I dont' see the point of a lot of things happening there unless you are in to everything looking like cartoons. As for MacIntosh, well, I don't think many have kept away from ICs, board replacements and many of the common manufacturing processes of the day. I mean, really, look at cars or trucks. It has proceeded along a path where understanding the circuitry and fixing it has been dumbed down to plug and play. Of course, board swaps ignore the possibility that something prior to in resulted in the failure or that something after it will fail because of the part replacement. Whole board swaps, if they have them, are not cheap. The approach is about as anti-green as I can imagine.
The type and quality of hardware you hook up to your device, the environment and frequency of use can affect the longevity of your Macintosh. But even then” the cost to repair it shouldn’t be a quarter or half the purchase price. These people figured out that if you have over 5k to spend on a piece of equipment then you won’t have a problem paying the high cost of repairs. Mercedes Benz does the same thing, the cost of ownership is so high on this brand that even if someone give it to you for free you would need to say no 😢
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Much appreciated. You are certainly right about environmental conditions and so wander over to my video on AV Cabinets: Are you slowly cooking your audio equipment to death? As for the cost of repairs, this is a new phenomenon to see after nearly 40 years in the trade. It is not welcomed.
Thank you for your comment and the time you took to write it. I sincerely try to talk about things that are actual experiences and try to avoid "my opinion" so to speak. These two cases are simply documented facts.
For someone who is working class saving up to get my McIntosh 352, I would expect it to work the right way for the rest of my life. Sorry/NotSorry In Canada, those are 12,000 dollars plus tax. So nope, not buying something that expensive that doesn't have longevity.
I can not speak as to the endurance of new products and all products, regardless of price, can have their issues. It is, however, a question of how any issue that does arise, is handled. For years, several major manufacturers of both premium or otherwise high quality products had major quality problems and it was the distributors that absorbed these problems when the manufacturer failed to do so. So, when Linn had a US distributor, Audiophile Systems, AS took the hit and when they shut down their boneyard of useless Linn Electronics was astounding. AS later delt with Arcam which had their own set of problems and the next distributor and Arcam went so far as to offer tremendous replacement deals provided the original piece was actually physically destroyed. I remember sending in those pictures. I can even remember Bryston having a recall. Audio Research had their fun time with seizing switches in the 90s. No manufacturer, at any level, is immune to problems. So it is a matter of how the manufacturer responds to the issues of both part availability as well as cost. Likewise, it is only fair to point out how things are being handled for those who traverse the used market with, in many cases, terribly inflated prices. It is also essential that one not become blinded by brand prestige when looking at the cost of ownership. There are no sacred cows with that question.
most of Japan, Chinese products can up be repaired at all after 3-5 years... that increases the cost!... the value of certains goods after 3 years are almost none... but Mcintosh still has a value....
Oh, that's true. I am just alerting folks that the cost of repairs is quite high and may take some time. That should be considered with any purchase just like you look at a car or truck.
Yeah, you are right. But, keep in mind we do these live, without rehearsal, and sometimes on the fly as I travel back and forth (1300 miles) on a weekend. So, yeah, like live TV in the 50s and 60s, real mistakes happen. Thank you for catching that but I am not going to go away from the format. I'm sorry, but I am not producing a slick infomercial so folks catching mistakes is perfectly fine with me. But if such things are more important to you than content, then I suggest becoming a speech editor for Biden. Oh, by the way, I don't think Apple is much different than McIntosh which is why I left them years ago. Seems that the Apple really doesn't fall that far from the tree after all.
Well, thank you sir. It was a fair and accurate comment. Now, for the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say. Please go to my website and read the January blog called "Living on the Edge of Science" which is particularly appropriate after having spent all last week at the Cleveland Clinic. Then, add trying to keep a farm with livestock. So, keep being my mischievous guardian angel.
I’m not a fan of McIntosh at all. I think the y are cheap overpriced junk. McIntosh sells you on the name, looks, lights then sound quality. Their build quality is subpar. They one of the last amplifier companies I want to own.
Thank you for taking the time to make your observations. I am leaving such matters in the eyes and ears of the beholder but I do think it is completely fair to observe what has happened to my customers as a sort of heads up for anyone wandering into the used market. As for the other aspects, well, that's why I added my second thoughts with the question as to who you are buying this for and why.
I bought a new McIntosh hybrid MA352 last year and absolutely love it. If it has to go in for repairs, I’ll dig my 30 year old Technics out of the closet and enjoy that for a few months. Crossing my fingers for many years of trouble free ownership.
Brent, I would expect you to have years of enjoyment. We certainly did when we sold their product. I was sharing a couple of situations where things wandered way off course, in my opinion and for those looking at used gear, for example, do so with eyes wide open. The same sort of thing, in a way, as looking at used cars.
@@audibleeleganceinc I would say Audio Classics sold me a C2500, wasnt keen on me cracking the case to do amn internal reset. Swapped it out postage free both directions and fast. Same thing happened maybe 8 months later---sent me a different C2500 that has been acting like a champ for several years now--again no questions, no charge. I will say a few years back I bought a CD player from them that was a DUD---looked up about in on line, and yeah many drawer/belt failures. Should have done my homework. Yes buyer beware on used gear but their can be some good value that provides long term ownership at low cost.
@@petekutheis3822 Thank you for contributing to the video with your comment. If you get someone to stand behind their work, well, you have a reasonable shot. As you have seen, most pieces for sale are flippers who buy something at an estate sale and away it goes.
Please tell others about my channel and perhaps they will subscribe.
Excellent video. New McIntosh sounds and looks great, but as a (now former) owner of a handful of vintage Mac products, it seems the newer gear is not built to the same reliability standard as when Gordon Gow was alive. I owned a C35 for YEARS and never put a dime into it then sold it for more than I paid. Comparatively, modern Bryston gear appears to have not missed a step. Kudos to them.
I can not speak to current reliability, honestly. I can however, point to the situation about equipment that is not even "vintage" per se.
They were what most wanted, back in the day. I couldn't afford them, then, and sure cannot, now. But, one can dream.
Well, there are many people who aspire as such, a sort of recapturing your youth, so to speak. I don't begrudge that as that's why there are so many antique stores. Recapturing memories. But, be careful. You can not experience for the first time, again, the moment you smelled perfume on a girl. I am sure the same happens to women and their first scent of a boy. There are times you look beyond.
Good vid, thanks! I just bought my first piece of McIntosh gear, MA5300. It has a meter that is lazy. Sometimes it just doesn't feel like working. At all.
Well, if I had good information on fixing that, I'd gladly share. Thank you for taking the time to comment. There's a good shop up in New York, Audio Classics I think is the name, that might be of help.
How unfortunate for Mc owners that repairs are that high. Spot on info Lou.
Thank you. I am trying to be honest about what I see happening. I do have copies of the customer's receipts. Sadly, it's not the full extent of what continued to happen to him.
One good reason to go for separates, instead of a complicated, overstressed, probably overheating monolith that has one small failure and all the entertainment is affected, cannot be easily repaired or upgraded, and the manufacturer has long forgotten about, especially if it was a poor design to begin with.
In both cases, these were separates. It's hard to point a finger at "poor design." when the track record has yet to be revealed over time, as in the case of the processor. Once again, I am pointing out for everyone things to consider when making a purchase. It's their choice. However, we consider the repair of the amplifier to be particularly brutal.
I thought this was a very nicely-done presentation.
Thank you for taking the time to make your comment. I try hard to present my observations in a fair and honest way. Sometimes, the facts speak for themselves. As for my second thoughts, many companies have applied the sort of "you have arrived" syndrome which has been quite common in the automotive industry for years. Now, it has spread far and wide across a broad range of consumer products. I have an upcoming video with further observations about this and some of it does apply to video but I think you will see that other industries have used to similar ends.
This makes me think of the owner of the company I worked for who had a gorgeous Lexus that I admired, and I thought he was pretty smart. Then one day he drives in a new Mercedes. It may seem silly but I kinda lost some respect for him after that.
Anyway, upon retiring last year I put together a new system with the cash I ended up with, and at first I considered Marantz. Then I was strongly looking into McIntosh. But after more research I went for Yamaha, a brand I hadn't even thought of initially. I'm pretty happy with my A-S3200 integrated amp and CD-S2100 player. I have no idea how long this stuff will last, hopefully until I kick the bucket. But now I feel a little better about not buying McIntosh.
Yamaha can make some pretty interesting goods. We have used Yamaha in jobs. I think what a lot of people don't realize is that specialty manufacturers often rely on subassemblies that come from major electronics manufacturers. That's why they often don't have the latest and greatest features because they trail behind one year in their use. This is not necessarily a bad thing as they often build more robust power supplies and things. However, it also means they suffer the same issues with those boards that affects the original manufacturer.
The latest Mcintosh equipment I normally keep away and if I do get the latest Mac e.g Mc1.2Kw and MC2301 which I own I had to study the circuit and make sure there are no discreet component e,g surface mount component or IC in the system...
Why cause when it comes to servicing some of the components are no more on the shelf for parts.
I own also a Mac 275 which the warranty expired after 3 years had a failed output transformer I had to wait between 3 to 4 months for parts. Cause Mac does not keep parts in their inventory.
It is common practice now days with most companies not to have a large inventory due to cost.
I would get a used Mac manufactured in the 1950's, 60's,70's, and 80's any time not after 90;s onwards.
Especially AV system, get a entry or budget price system which can dump it if it fails.
In one magazine I read it advise do not spend big money on CD or AV processors because technology changers so rapidly
that your system comes obsolete.
A Mac fan since 1974 and a DIY Service guy for Mcintosh equipment.
Own Mac C33, C29, C22 VII, C22 V III, MC2120, MC1.2Kw, MC2301, MR78. MC275 VII and V IV.
Oh yes, the changes to the AV world have been nothing short of a nightmare. I personally still own a 720P Plasma from Samsung that I chose because I can get into the intricate service levels for calibration. I dont' see the point of a lot of things happening there unless you are in to everything looking like cartoons.
As for MacIntosh, well, I don't think many have kept away from ICs, board replacements and many of the common manufacturing processes of the day. I mean, really, look at cars or trucks. It has proceeded along a path where understanding the circuitry and fixing it has been dumbed down to plug and play. Of course, board swaps ignore the possibility that something prior to in resulted in the failure or that something after it will fail because of the part replacement. Whole board swaps, if they have them, are not cheap. The approach is about as anti-green as I can imagine.
The type and quality of hardware you hook up to your device, the environment and frequency of use can affect the longevity of your Macintosh. But even then” the cost to repair it shouldn’t be a quarter or half the purchase price. These people figured out that if you have over 5k to spend on a piece of equipment then you won’t have a problem paying the high cost of repairs. Mercedes Benz does the same thing, the cost of ownership is so high on this brand that even if someone give it to you for free you would need to say no 😢
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Much appreciated. You are certainly right about environmental conditions and so wander over to my video on AV Cabinets: Are you slowly cooking your audio equipment to death?
As for the cost of repairs, this is a new phenomenon to see after nearly 40 years in the trade. It is not welcomed.
Honest report 👍
Thank you for your comment and the time you took to write it. I sincerely try to talk about things that are actual experiences and try to avoid "my opinion" so to speak. These two cases are simply documented facts.
For someone who is working class saving up to get my McIntosh 352, I would expect it to work the right way for the rest of my life. Sorry/NotSorry In Canada, those are 12,000 dollars plus tax. So nope, not buying something that expensive that doesn't have longevity.
I can not speak as to the endurance of new products and all products, regardless of price, can have their issues. It is, however, a question of how any issue that does arise, is handled. For years, several major manufacturers of both premium or otherwise high quality products had major quality problems and it was the distributors that absorbed these problems when the manufacturer failed to do so.
So, when Linn had a US distributor, Audiophile Systems, AS took the hit and when they shut down their boneyard of useless Linn Electronics was astounding. AS later delt with Arcam which had their own set of problems and the next distributor and Arcam went so far as to offer tremendous replacement deals provided the original piece was actually physically destroyed. I remember sending in those pictures. I can even remember Bryston having a recall. Audio Research had their fun time with seizing switches in the 90s. No manufacturer, at any level, is immune to problems.
So it is a matter of how the manufacturer responds to the issues of both part availability as well as cost. Likewise, it is only fair to point out how things are being handled for those who traverse the used market with, in many cases, terribly inflated prices. It is also essential that one not become blinded by brand prestige when looking at the cost of ownership. There are no sacred cows with that question.
Great comments to thing about and advice when you are spending your hard earned money.
Well, I can only inform people about what I see so they accept the possibilities if they chose to take those steps.
Buy Bryston if you work for a living, that's my mantra as far as expensive amps are concerned, especially if you need a loan etc.
We agree. It is a wonderful product and super reliable. @@johnshaw359
most of Japan, Chinese products can up be repaired at all after 3-5 years... that increases the cost!... the value of certains goods after 3 years are almost none... but Mcintosh still has a value....
Oh, that's true. I am just alerting folks that the cost of repairs is quite high and may take some time. That should be considered with any purchase just like you look at a car or truck.
It's McIntosh NOT MAC Intosh....think you would know better being a stereo shop.... SMH
Yeah, you are right. But, keep in mind we do these live, without rehearsal, and sometimes on the fly as I travel back and forth (1300 miles) on a weekend. So, yeah, like live TV in the 50s and 60s, real mistakes happen. Thank you for catching that but I am not going to go away from the format. I'm sorry, but I am not producing a slick infomercial so folks catching mistakes is perfectly fine with me. But if such things are more important to you than content, then I suggest becoming a speech editor for Biden.
Oh, by the way, I don't think Apple is much different than McIntosh which is why I left them years ago. Seems that the Apple really doesn't fall that far from the tree after all.
For sure. Makes sense, but i literally hear everyone make that same mistake, just trying to help. OCD is a curse! haha!@@audibleeleganceinc
Well, thank you sir. It was a fair and accurate comment. Now, for the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say. Please go to my website and read the January blog called "Living on the Edge of Science" which is particularly appropriate after having spent all last week at the Cleveland Clinic. Then, add trying to keep a farm with livestock. So, keep being my mischievous guardian angel.
I’m not a fan of McIntosh at all. I think the y are cheap overpriced junk. McIntosh sells you on the name, looks, lights then sound quality. Their build quality is subpar. They one of the last amplifier companies I want to own.
Thank you for taking the time to make your observations. I am leaving such matters in the eyes and ears of the beholder but I do think it is completely fair to observe what has happened to my customers as a sort of heads up for anyone wandering into the used market. As for the other aspects, well, that's why I added my second thoughts with the question as to who you are buying this for and why.