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McIntosh MCLK12 wall clock sports fancy face, massive price tag
Ever wonder why you can't find a clock that looks more like a 1970s amplifier? If you answered yes to that question, and don't mind throwing down wads of cash for novelty timepieces, then McIntosh's MCLK12 is right up your alley. The makers of high-end audio gear have produced a clock that's in keeping with their classic look and price point -- it costs $2000 and uses blue-lit amp meters to tell the time (hours on the left, minutes on the right). We have to admit, the MCLK12 looks pretty sweet, but really, whatever happened to promotional t-shirts?
McIntosh sneaks MVP881BR universal BD player into its lineup
You didn't really think that McIntosh would let its sister company, Denon, court all the well-heeled Blu-ray shoppers, did you? The company that has long stuck by blue lighting has added the MVP881BR universal Blu-ray player (Blu-ray, SACD, DVD-A, DVD and CD) to its lineup; a perfect match for the company's Blu-ray ready MX150AV controller. As you'd expect from McIntosh, the specs are top-notch without being tech-laden, with Profile 2.0, onboard lossless decoding, analog outputs and 32-bit DACs making the cut. No word on bitstreaming support, but we'd be shocked if the McIntosh unit went missing a checkmark that the Denon flagship deck hits -- in fact, given the engineering that was poured into the Denon, we'd be surprised if the McIntosh wasn't a variation (including chiclet buttons) on the DVD-A1UDCI. No pricing info, but if you make it past the McIntosh velvet rope, money's not a problem.
Tough economy sidelines D&M Holdings, Planar at CEDIA Expo 2009
If you thought the well-to-do crowd wasn't feeling the pinch from the rotten economy, consider this -- D&M is not going to be at CEDIA Expo 2009 in a couple of months. You know, the show that features pricey, high-end custom install toys. Not being able to get our paws on the latest toys from Denon, Marantz, McIntosh, Boston Acoustics, Snell and Escient breaks our hearts, but D&M has decided to commit its resources to dealer training (and promotions, we hope); all the better to drive new customer sales. To be clear, D&M will have a presence at CEDIA, it just won't be on the Expo floor -- meetings will be by appointment only. We're just keeping our fingers crossed that similar measures won't have to be taken at CES in January. Planar (and by association, Runco) may take a similar CEDIA approach, not entirely surprising given its recent performance.
McIntosh celebrates 60 years, reissues classic stereo gear from its 1960s golden years
If your idea of a perfect evening involves taking in some classic two-channel stereo recordings while basking in the glow of tubes, get ready for a blast from the past courtesy McIntosh. In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the company is releasing limited edition bundle of its classic C22 preamp and a pair of MC75 monoblock amps. The reissues feature updated circuitry -- in the case of the MC75, reliability is improved while the sonics remain faithful to the original, and the new C22 has been brought up to modern performance standards and an IR remote has been added (because getting up out of your chair is so 1960s). To top it all off, each of the 120 bundles will include a signed copy of McIntosh's For the Love of Music, and in case you were wondering, "McIntosh limited" means pricey -- $15,000. Lucky owners are encouraged to supply their own scotch and smoking jacket.[Via Switched]
Snell and McIntosh to share resources without becoming McSnell or SnellIntosh
Not that we could ever afford either brand, but we would have cried if either Snell or McIntosh had been given the axe by D&M Holdings. Instead, the parent company is restructuring things so that the two companies will share resources while still maintaining separate commercial identities -- at least for now. Snell will be getting a brand new facility on McIntosh's campus, and frankly given the ultra-high end markets both brands appeal to, this could be a good union. We've never seen McIntosh speakers in the field, even alongside McIntosh electronics, but we've got a feeling that some Snell models would be right at home in certain posh systems.
McIntosh intros Blu-ray ready MX150 AV Controller
Don't let the analog meters and Olde English lettering fool you, McIntosh gear is keeping up with the times while staying upscale. While not always the first out of the gate with the latest features, the ultra-high end brand of D&M Holdings has shown a commitment to keeping its customers' equipment racks glowing that familiar blue and green. Unveiled at CES this year was the MX 150 A/V Control Center, with five HDMI 1.3 inputs, support for the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA codecs (naturally), RoomPerfect auto-equalization, support for multiple subwoofers and video upscaling (unspecified, but the D&M line has some good choices to borrow from). Set for release in March for a price around $12000, we won't blame you if you decide to wait for a McIntosh Blu-ray deck before jumping in.[Read - press release] [Read - pricing info]
Cash in on old McIntosh gear with the Trade-UP program
Okay, it's not like we expect the typical McIntosh customer to exactly be clipping coupons, but the company is offering up some incentive to get owners to upgrade their gear. The new Trade-UP program credits owners 75-percent of the original MSRP as a trade-in on any working McIntosh amp, preamp, integrated amp or receiver, good towards the purchase of some of the company's newfangled gear. This is a limited time offer, so get to it. And if you're worried that any new McIntosh gear will look out of place, don't -- the same chrome, blue backlighting, analog meters and Olde English logos are still in use today. So yeah, this moves McIntosh ahead of our college textbooks, cars, most of our stocks and even our homes in terms of maintained value. Don't let anyone tell you you're wasting money on gear again. [Image courtesy The High Fidelity Museum]
McIntosh powers up its MPC1500 conditioner
You know you're a completest when your power conditioner has to match the rest of your gear. If your tastes run along the lines of analog meters, blue backlighting and chrome-edged knobs, then McIntosh is waiting to lighten your wallet. The company has released its MPC1500 power conditioner that promises AC isolation, reduced noise and maximum power transfer (whatever that means) across its 12 outlets. For convenience, the operation of the outlets is configurable between always on, grouped, or individually switched. Nice, but this unit is no UPS (we're guessing there's a transformer and surge suppressor behind the Old English faceplate), which we'd expect for our $4,500. If you're thinking of dropping that kind of cash on power, we'd recommend a dedicated mains line and a UPS -- not as pretty, but your power will be clean.
McIntosh, Magnolia reaching out to California customers
In addition to its announcement of new shipping products, McIntosh is getting out in front of customers in the flesh. Teaming up with Magnolia stores, the company has announced two "Evening with McIntosh" events for June 10th: one in Palo Alto and the other in Santa Monica. These seminars will run from 6 - 9 PM, and will give attendees a chance to talk with McIntosh reps. They won't be trying to sell you a timeshare, but you'll be treated to a historical overview of how "McIntosh has helped define the ultimate in Hi-Fi luxury." Also, McIntosh is putting up a MC275 amp for a free giveaway -- enter at select California Magnolia stores this week. C'mon McIntosh, show the rest of the US some love, ok?
McIntosh ships new products to dealers
If you and your sizable bankroll have been waiting ever so patiently for McIntosh's new gear to arrive at your local dealer, we envy you. Not just because you've got the scratch, but more importantly because your wait is over. McIntosh announced that its fully-balanced, 300-Watt MC2301 mono vacuum tube amp ($11,000) is at your dealer now. Expect a call from your sales rep, lucky dog! While you're at the store, maybe pick up a XCS1K center channel speaker ($17,500). The compliment of two 10-inch woofers, 32 2-inch mids and 20 0.75-inch tweets should be a great way to break in that new amp, right? Finally, McIntosh hasn't forgotten the two-channel enthusiasts out there (whom we suspect make up a sizable chunk of their clientele) -- also "on the shelves" are its 250-Watt MA7000 ($8,000) and 200-Watt MA6600 ($6,000) stereo integrated amplifiers, and the MCD301 SACD player. Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA it's not, but we'd wager a McIntosh setup built around these pieces sounds mighty fine!
$1 million home theater install is heavy on the McIntosh
Though not nearly as extravagant as the $6 million Kipnis Studio Standard, Ivan Messer's AV lair is quite impressive -- particularly for fans of McIntosh. This installation tallied up to a cool million when all was said and done, and a staggering 100 McIntosh components were used in the build. Aside from that, you'll also find a heavy reliance on wooden cabinetry and a real touch of class overall, but we won't spoil it for you. Head on down to the read link to take a look at what seven figures can net you.
D&M Holdings up for sale
While the roster of storied high end names is pretty long, don't think for a minute that the blue-blood part of the market has not experienced consolidation. D&M Holdings is a prime example of this: D&M's owner, RJH International, has managed to fit Denon, Marantz, McIntosh, Boston Acoustics, Snell and Escient under one umbrella over the years. And now RJH is looking to cash in on the concentrated dollop of high end, offering up 49-percent of its shares in D&M. Philips has agreed to offer its12-percent stake to a winning bidder as well. Our math tells us that's more than a controlling percentage. Harman International, apparently satisfied with its own high end roster (including Harman Kardon, Infinity, Revel and Mark Levinson), has bowed out of bidding. That leaves Bain Capital (Kenwood) and Best Buy as the most prominent bidders, both of which scare us a little. One of the things we really enjoy about the D&M brands is the individual "personalities" behind them, and that's a credit to the management overlords. There's no guarantee that this variety of flavor will survive an en masse transition to new ownership.
McIntosh unveils the high-end MS750 digital music server
High-end audio manufacturer McIntosh Laboratory (they were around long before a couple kids named Steve started fooling around in their garage) is looking to take back some space on the audiophile shelf from all those wannabe-pro upstarts like the Slim Transporter with its new MS750 music server. The unit features a 750GB drive, CD burner, and a FLAC encoder that can be run in real time from the unit's inputs, so purists can rip their precious vinyl at least without lossy encoding. In addition, the MS750 supports WMA, MP3, and AAC -- perfect for those newly DRM-free "high-quality" iTunes Plus tracks. Music can be streamed to and from the rig via the built-in Ethernet and McIntosh's Music Guide software, and the server can be network controlled or integrated into a home automation rig through the multiple RS-232 serial ports. All those connections don't come cheap, though -- McIntosh says the MS750 will set you back six large when it drops in June.
McIntosh hits projector-land with 1080p DLP unit
To the audiophile set, McIntosh should need no introduction, since they've been raiding pocket books and delighting listeners for about 55 years now. Today it seems they're bringing both their attention to quality and hefty pricetags over to the home theater space, since they just busted out a 1080p DLP projector at CEDIA, along with a whole lotta HD processing power. While the new MDLP1 projector does its 1080p thing, it's accompanied by the VP1000 processor that includes dual scalers, 4 HDMI ports, 6 component plugs, and other lovable ports and specs. Of course, all this McIntosh action comes at a cost: the projector is in the $30k+ range, while the processor squeezes by for a cool 16 grand. We suppose they didn't get the "1080p is cheap now" memo that's being passed around CEDIA. Quite unfortunate.
