Do you Think the McIntosh Brand Is Cheapened By Getting Into Car Stereo?

[Logan Nolag]

Originally Posted by Charles

I don't ever remember seeing it in Best Buy either, come to think about it. Now folks will post 50 pics of Mac at Best Buys, I suppose. But this sort of thing doesn't concern me nor would any foray into China. I have always admired Asian manufacturing and technology. If it weren't for Japan, think where cars would be today. Japan excellence forced American car manufacturers to produce the safe defect free vehicles they should have produced all along. I remember when the Lexus first came out the Germans could not figure out how Toyota could create such a luxury car. The Lexus brand forced Mercedes to a new level of excellence.

Mac has been around a long time.

It isn't technically in Best Buy they sell it in Magnolia Design Centers which are inside some Best Buys.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Charles

I don't ever remember seeing it in Best Buy either, come to think about it. Now folks will post 50 pics of Mac at Best Buys, I suppose. But this sort of thing doesn't concern me nor would any foray into China. I have always admired Asian manufacturing and technology. If it weren't for Japan, think where cars would be today. Japan excellence forced American car manufacturers to produce the safe defect free vehicles they should have produced all along. I remember when the Lexus first came out the Germans could not figure out how Toyota could create such a luxury car. The Lexus brand forced Mercedes to a new level of excellence.

Mac has been around a long time.

Not that I am protectionist and do not welcome competition but to be fair...

It was the one two punch of the Arab oil embargo and the clean air act that took the wind out of the sails of the American automotive giants for decades to come. GM was at its zenith both as a manufacturer and as a cultural icon.

Honda got its foot in the door a few decades earlier as they sold their scooters in the US with the catchy slogan of "You meet the nicest people on a Honda." It was an alternative to domestic and foreign motorcycles and the growing Harley bad boy image and trend.

One however would hardly wish for a Honda two cylinder, chain driven econo-crap box automobile. It was a death trap on the American highways and barely drivable outside the Japanese market which was still reeling from WW2 in manufacturing and innovation.

Toyota offerings were a joke compared to the American land yachts of the time. One can not compare a 1957 Toyota Toyopet to a 1957 Ford Fairlane a Cadillac, a Plymouth or any other car of the era without laughing out loud... By 1965, the Toyota Corona was no competition either... Underpowered, uncomfortable, lacking style and class... No competition but to the few buyers that kept them barely alive.

People had a weird obsession with the VW Beetle and VW marched on with their share of crap boxes for decades. At least the competition gave us cars such as the Corvette and Mustang as a response and a sportier and more compact alternative to nearly 20 foot long Lincoln Continental.

Come 1974 it was game over... the smaller, more economical, less polluting and cheaper imports were here to stay. Times change.

Yes, McIntosh was sold in Radio Shack along with Heath kits, yes, McIntosh is or was sold in Magnolia/Best Buy, hey at least Crazy Eddie didn't get his hands on it!

McIntosh knows it better than anyone that should manufacturing of their top tier components for the high end enthusiast pack up and go East, it would be game over for the home market and I am not sure they would find enough demand in other markets either.

[damacman]

Branding, plain and simple. Expose the brand to a wider base. Good strategy I say.

It's not like they shifted R&D dollars or focus to develop another line of aftermarket car audio equipment. McIntosh's original aftermarket car audio efforts weren't exactly a success - one of the main reasons for its collectibility today.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Logan Nolag

It isn't technically in Best Buy they sell it in Magnolia Design Centers which are inside some Best Buys.

I've just never seen it. But what is the "it" that is sold? What gear? If you know this, you should be able to at least name several pieces that are sold. I have no issue with Mac making a profit. I think Mac makes a clock and some very minor gear, trinkets if you will. Look under Lifestyle to see what I mean. I think it's very smart marketing because it makes for a wider audience.

[malba2366]

It’s good for them because it will put their brand on the map with a wider audience, just like it did for Mark Levinson.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by Charles

But what is the "it" that is sold? What gear?

It’s pretty common knowledge. Here’s the Best Buy Magnolia website with McIntosh: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/magnoli...t1529512604947

[Logan Nolag]

Originally Posted by Charles

I've just never seen it. But what is the "it" that is sold? What gear? If you know this, you should be able to at least name several pieces that are sold. I have no issue with Mac making a profit. I think Mac makes a clock and some very minor gear, trinkets if you will. Look under Lifestyle to see what I mean. I think it's very smart marketing because it makes for a wider audience.

I'm pretty sure they have access to the full catalog. The last time I went in before Corona they had a bunch of stuff on display including a MC275 paired with a C2600, A pair of MC601s paired with a C52, and a MC8207 paired with a McIntosh home theater processor I don't remember which one. They also had an MA5300 and a few of the lifestyle things on display.

[W9TR]

I’d say McIntosh is riding in style with the likes of Burmester, Focal, JBL, Infinity, B&W, Dynadio, Mark Levinson, Meridian, Naim, and Sonus Faber.

McIntosh has to expand its brand influence wherever and whenever possible.

[audioguy3107]

I still have my McIntosh MC440 6 channel car amplifier driving my Focals in my car. It still sounds awesome. I’ve always loved their car stereo stuff.....I guess you could almost call it vintage now. The components were built like a tank.

[Stahle]

In the 90’s, I had a full Mcintosh car system before I had any of their home audio gear. It consisted of an MC440M (same amp audioguy3107 shows but the M units had meters) and their MX4000 head unit and MDA4000 DAC. I didn’t use their speakers though because there were much better made by others. Their car audio is what got me into their home audio.

I don’t know if any of you remember, but Mcintosh and Subaru partnered for a time and offered the Subaru Outback with a Mcintosh stereo. The 2003 Subaru Outback that I purchased new came with that factory supplied system. It says Mcintosh right on it and looks like a Mcintosh. We still have the Subaru and the system still works. The speakers had to be reformed though and It is nothing like their aftermarket stuff that I owned previously but for a factory supplied Mcintosh system, it sounded ok.