Why do no audio enthusiasts use McIntosh?


With the exception of some of there tube gear, not many really use this stuff(or admit to it anyway), I am mainly referring to there amps. They look pleasant, they look good on paper and have the price of high end gear, but I seldom hear anyone claiming to like or one day dreaming of owning McIntosh. I have never really listened to there stuff, no good word of mouth sort of scares me away from it, the only people who like it are those who sell it, an uncanny coincidence? I don’t know. Sorry it this has been covered many times in the past, I ran a search and could not find anything.
tireguy
Wow

And the saga continues over the years. I was one who came up believing that Mac gear was just a pioneer of its day and that with CJ, Krell, Rolland, Threshold, et al anyone who bought Mac just did not know what "real" high end was. I have had them all and recently picked up an old Threshold S500 that I had Jon Soderber tweek out to the max hoping it would bring me back to when I owened an Sa4e that was probably my favorite amp of all time driving my B&W 801's UNTIL now. I picked up some B&W 802 N and the Threshold just did not let the speakers shine. I read on the blogs that a lot of people seemed to like the Mac power amps with them so I bought on a whim a like new MC 402 stereo amp. Wow, I could not believe how unbelievable it sounded. I was using a CJ Preimier 17 pre-amp and tried a friends SS MF 308CR that believe it or not bettered the CJ so I bought one. Now I had a chance to get a C2200 Mac tube pre for a great deal and it should be coming this week. I do not know what to expect but sure hope it will be as good as or better than my MF as I would love to have the matching set. It really is all about the sound but I do like the looks too especially when the lights are out. SOOOOO I must confess I am no longer a snob and realize this new Mac gear, (at least my amp) is killer. Now I will have to get advice on tube rolling but then again what sounds right for you may not be right for me.
You dont really own McIntosh but just watch it for future generations. It sounds good. Looks good. And holds its value
I am not so sure that is still true, certainly wont be for surround gear, thats no more immune to being worth a paper weight than any other offering.
Is this question even serious? There is a world out there beyond Audiogon, believe or not. Through the years I met dozens of people who had great systems with McIntosh SS gear. Especially the newer generation 252, 352 and many still love their Mc500 stereo amp. They sound great, and I have heard them with many different types of speakers.

There are obviously many people buying the McIntosh gear sold here and elsewhere. McIntosh owners, especially the older ones do hang on for longer periods of time to their gear and dont keep looking for the next wonder gear down the pike.

I am not currently a McIntosh owner besides my trusty MCD-7009 CDP.
My McIntosh MC252 is unquestionably a better sounding unit than the NAD S200 Silverline series it replaced.