Brands that we first acquire are contingent on our upbringing and the circles in which we hung out. Influences from parents, brothers, uncles, grandfathers etc. Actually at 13 years old my dad got me my very first pair of used speakers, they were Goodman's TwinAxiette's 8" coaxial. You see, In my family I grew up blue collar, so very expensive McIntosh or anything close to it never even heard of one. My dad had Normende tube console and then bought our first seperates in 1976. Altec 9's, Akai, and a Japanese brand called NEC MCS 3275. Actually out of our small family we were the most musical sound savvy of the bunch.
As I am now older and back into audio gear, my first choice was to acquire some of the items my father and I dreamt of when I was a kid, pioneer, Sansui, etc. As my taste is now evolving, I am searching for better and more fulfilling sound. As close as I can get to the real thing as possible and that I can afford.
whats funny is, its 2013 and you would think that audio gear would be so life like that you wouldnt be able to tell live from recorded... TV and video have evolved but Audio is still catching up...imho of course
I grew up in a similar situation, my best friends father had a pretty nice Akai system, this is what sparked my interest in HiFi, I even bought the very same Akai amplifier they had about 5 years ago, and immediately sold it, yeah, it really didn't "cut the mustard"....
My parents had a very average locally made system with a Garrard 35SB Turntable, but it did have a Shure cartridge... that was my gateway into music and sound, so there are special memories around that, but I have no desire to find and buy that system....yeah, it would not be very satisfying to listen to I am sure....
I used to have pictures of Sansui's and Pioneers pinned on my wall in my bedroom when I was about 14 yrs, and one day I knew I would have some of these units....
And the day came when I did......but it was out of nostalgia and the current popularity Vintage has rather than the pure sound....Some of it was quite good, but compared to my current system, not quite good enough...
Then I repaired a McIntosh amp for a friend, and when I heard it during testing, I was like "eureka", thats more like it!! This is what I want!!
So I soon realized the McIntosh road was for me...I didn't want to give it back.
whats funny is, its 2013 and you would think that audio gear would be so life like that you wouldnt be able to tell live from recorded... TV and video have evolved but Audio is still catching up
You would be surprised at how life like it can be, my system is very much like that, it does exist but sadly, not in mid level receivers or integrated's of any brand....
I feel audio technology is always evolving, and it is way further down the track than I think you may be aware of.
Like digital playback for example, when I finally introduced a high end DAC into my system, I now listen to digital format much much more than before, digital in my system has a very "analogue" presentation with an insane amount of "reality" and "detail" while remaining creamy and seductive...
So, its out there, but in my opinion, it does indeed cost more than a few hundred bucks.....
To form an opinion on the "classic" McIntosh sound, you need a minimum, C32/33/34 pre-amp and a MC2205/ MC2255/ MC7270.....Or for tube MX110Z,and a MC240.....
If you can't afford to get into this level of McIntosh, then you may be better off going for a Rice Blower like a Pioneer or Sansui, at that mid level, I think they will always be better "bang for buck" than a McIntosh....
But by all means go for a low or mid level McIntosh, but just don't expect it to have the TOTL sound....it will be in the similar realm to what you have now...
And I think this is where these "Ive heard McIntosh and wasn't impressed" type comments come from...
I actually put my mouth where my money is, I took a punt and bought some great TOTL McIntosh gear, and I don't see myself needing to add or upgrade any time soon........
Yes it cost a fortune, but now I have it, and its the greatest sounding system I have ever owned and heard......Put a fork in me I am done....
I have actually stopped buying things now!! I no longer have the desire to look for the next greatest thing to add to my system....and that is a great thing indeed....