Is McIntosh The Best Deal In Vintage Hi-Fi Right Now?

Summary

The video discusses Macintosh audio equipment, noting their reputation for high build quality and production of their own parts. Despite this reputation, vintage Macintosh gear seems undervalued compared to similar vintage Japanese brands. Reasons discussed are Macintosh's focus on separates over receivers, some cost cutting on certain models, and lesser demand currently driving prices down. Their legacy of serviceability gives confidence in long-term value. Iconic models like the MC2105 amplifier are highlighted along with discussion of the laidback, smooth sound signature.

Takeaways

• 😊 Macintosh audio equipment is known for exceptional build quality and materials
• 👍 Macintosh amplifiers and receivers can be a bargain compared to vintage Japanese brands nowadays
• 🔧 Macintosh still manufactures replacement parts for vintage equipment
• 🎸 Macintosh gear sounds laidback and non-fatiguing across genres
• 🤔 Macintosh receivers were not always a priority and some models cut corners
• 😎 Macintosh separates like the MC2105 and C28 preamp are iconic pieces of hi-fi history
• 🎨 Macintosh equipment is like functional art - aesthetically gorgeous
• 😕 The Macintosh brand has elicited some internet backlash over perceived elitism
• 🎧 An AB sound test is recommended over relying just on Macintosh allure
• 👍 Macintosh legacy gear retains excellent resell and repair value

Q & A

Why doesn't the narrator usually talk about JVC products?

The narrator doesn't usually talk about JVC because this channel doesn't cover VCRs, which is what JVC is primarily known for. The narrator jokes that 'if you don't have anything nice to say, you probably shouldn't say anything' regarding JVC.

What makes Macintosh equipment stand out from other vintage brands?

Macintosh equipment stands out due to the exceptional build quality, materials used, attention to detail, and the fact that Macintosh manufactured almost every part in-house rather than relying on other companies.

Why does the narrator consider Macintosh equipment a bargain right now?

The narrator discovered that prices for vintage Pioneer, Marantz, and Sansui equipment have been increasing faster than Macintosh pieces from the same era with similar specs. So comparatively, Macintosh seems to offer good value.

What are some iconic vintage Macintosh models that the narrator highlights?

The narrator highlights the MC2105 amplifier and C28 preamp as the most iconic and sought-after Macintosh pieces from the 1970s.

How does the narrator describe the sound character of his MC2105 and C28?

The narrator describes the sound as laidback and not overly detailed, but still very enjoyable with any music genre. He says the sound is non-fatiguing.

Why does the narrator warn against only evaluating Macintosh equipment on sound quality?

The narrator warns that the visual appeal of Macintosh can be deceptive. He recommends blind A/B testing Macintosh gear against other brands judged solely on sound, not appearance.

What indicates that Macintosh cares about maintaining their legacy equipment?

Macintosh still manufactures replacement parts for vintage models and provides service documentation to keep old units going. This supports the legacy and helps sell new Macintosh models.

Who does the narrator say is the typical Macintosh customer demographic?

The narrator implies wealthy elites who believe owning Macintosh elevates their status in life. But he considers himself an unlikely member of the Macintosh owner's club.

What resource is the narrator launching for the vintage audio community?

The narrator is launching a Discord channel for fans of vintage equipment to interact, get advice, and discuss their gear.

What does the narrator recommend for upgrading headphones?

The narrator strongly recommends Grado headphones as a modern upgrade from vintage headphones, citing their great value and sound quality.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 A Candid Look at Macintosh, Still a Bargain in Vintage Audio

The narrator will give an honest, yet controversial take on the Macintosh brand - known for excellent build quality and sound, but often criticized as overpriced. Surprisingly, Macintosh gear has not increased much in value compared to vintage Pioneer and Sansui equipment. The narrator explains why Macintosh may still be an excellent bargain for vintage audio.

05:01

❤️ Macintosh's Legacy of Quality and Serviceability

The narrator elaborates on what sets Macintosh apart - making their own parts in-house for unparalleled quality control. Moreover, they still manufacture replacement parts for vintage gear today. This commitment to serviceability contributes to their legacy and reputation.

10:04

🎧 The Iconic, Laidback Macintosh Sound

The narrator highlights the most iconic Macintosh components from the 1970s - the MC2105 amp and C28 preamp. He describes the legendary Macintosh sound as laidback, non-fatiguing and versatile across genres - not overly detailed, but musical. The visual appeal is also a strong factor in their allure.

Keywords

💡Macintosh

Macintosh is an American high-end audio equipment brand known for its quality construction and aesthetic design. It is one of the main topics of the video, which discusses Macintosh's reputation, pricing, build quality, history, and sound signature. The narrator suggests Macintosh may currently be undervalued compared to vintage Japanese brands like Pioneer and Sansui.

💡vintage

Vintage in this context refers to older audio gear from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The video compares vintage Macintosh components like the MC2105 amplifier to vintage receivers and amps from Japanese brands. It talks about the rising prices and demand for vintage Japanese hi-fi equipment.

💡separate components

Separate audio components like power amps and preamps, rather than integrated receivers. The video says Macintosh was focused more on separates than receivers, and some of their 70s receivers were lower quality.

💡build quality

The sturdiness and quality of construction of audio gear. The video praises Macintosh's excellent build quality, materials, and attention to detail compared to Japanese brands which cut more corners.

💡in-house production

Macintosh manufactured almost all their own parts in-house rather than outsourcing. This gave them better quality control compared to other brands.

💡vu meters

The video says Macintosh amplifiers have distinctive VU meters which many hi-fi enthusiasts find very aesthetically and psychologically appealing.

💡sound signature

The overall sonic characteristic and listening experience produced by audio equipment. The video describes the Macintosh sound as laidback, smooth, and non-fatiguing.

💡resale value

The ability to resell used audio gear for a good price. Macintosh gear tends to hold its value well compared to Japanese vintage equipment.

💡repair/service

Macintosh still services and repairs vintage equipment and even makes new replacement parts. This increases the appeal and lifespan of their vintage products.

💡MC2105

The Macintosh MC2105 is a classic 1970s Macintosh power amplifier known for its exceptional build and sound quality. The video calls it one of the most iconic, sought-after Macintosh models from the 1970s.

Highlights

We don't talk about Macintosh often because it's an unfair fight comparing it to consumer audio gear.

I recently realized Macintosh vintage audio may not be gaining value like 70s Japanese stereo brands are.

Some 70s Pioneer and Sansui gear is more expensive than comparable Macintosh equipment.

Macintosh focused more on separates while some of their 70s receivers cut corners.

Considering build quality and that Macintosh made almost every part in-house, their prices may be justified.

Macintosh is one of the only 70s audio brands that still manufactures some parts to service vintage gear.

Buying Macintosh also gets you repairability, resellability, sound quality and an experience.

I have a love-hate relationship with Macintosh as their demographic and branding aims for high society.

Given serviceability and quality, Macintosh vintage prices may be a bargain compared to rising 70s Japanese gear.

The most iconic 70s Macintosh gear is the MC2105 amp and C28 preamp.

Visually, few pieces of audio gear rival a Macintosh's quality design and VU meters.

The Macintosh sound is laidback, not overly detailed but makes any music genre sound amazing.

If you want a tube-like sound from solid state audio, Macintosh emulates that well.

I'd recommend blind AB testing a Macintosh rather than buying for visual appeal alone.

Consider subscribing for more vintage audio content.

Transcripts

we're going to talk about Macintosh

today and how I might have just

discovered that Macintosh might be the

biggest bargain brand in vintage audio I

know I'm going to get a lot of backlash

for that but let's talk about MacIntosh

and how I came to that conclusion let's

start right

now we've had a lot of requests down in

the comments from our previous videos

from people that want to hear about two

Brands specifically one is JVC the other

one is

Macintosh and the reason we don't

usually talk about those Brands is two

completely different reasons with

JVC it's kind of like our parents used

to tell us if you don't have anything

nice to say you probably shouldn't say

anything and since we don't talk about

VCRs on this channel that's why we don't

talk about JVC I'll leave it at that

with Macintosh it's completely opposite

and that it's almost an unfair fight to

even put them in the conversation with

consumer gear that we usually talk about

and it's not that Macintosh sounds that

much better than the 70s Japanese gear

at least in my opinion there's

definitely another level of build

quality materials used and a lot of

other factors that go into why it's not

a fair fight and in this video we're

going to talk about those and in doing

the research for this video I kind of

stumbled on something that I hadn't

realized yet and that is it doesn't look

like Macintosh is gaining value like

some of the Japanese 70s stereo

equipment is I had no idea while we do

service several pieces of Macintosh

every year we definitely don't get as

many Macintosh pieces for sale like we

do Mor Sansui and Pioneer so it's just

been a while since I've looked at prices

on some of these pieces of Macintosh and

when I just did that over the weekend I

was kind of shocked because looking at

amplifiers made by pioneer in Sansui in

the same walk class and made around the

same time it almost looks like some

Pioneer and Sansui amplifiers are more

expensive than the Macintosh and that's

definitely interesting if you consider

how much those pieces of equipment cost

new and then looking at receivers it's

blatantly obvious that that some

receivers manufactured by Pioneer

morance Sansui are quite a bit more

expensive than the receivers from

Macintosh if anything I think most

people agree that just wasn't their

focus they were focused on separates

some of the earlier receivers are great

like the 1700 1500 1900 but I do think

Macintosh was actually guilty of

actually cutting corners on some of

their 70s units like the 4100 that's got

a vinyl WRA cabinet on it the first time

I saw one of those in person I was

actually shocked I couldn't believe it I

couldn't imagine Macintosh putting out a

piece of stereo equipment that didn't

have real wood and I

imagine that'll probably never happen

again ever it does go to show you that

maybe in the 70s they did want to

compete a little bit with the the

consumer Brands and maybe that's why

they don't have the value those

receivers don't have that classic

Macintosh look okay so everybody knows

how much I love vintage equipment I

think it's pretty obvious you have to

draw a line somewhere I'm always shocked

at how many times people come in and

they'll say I'm still using my

headphones from the 70s these things are

they are heavy they get hot they sweat

all these volume controls and tone

control pots are dirty and they're

really hard to get in there and clean

these are great for display headphone

technology has really come a long ways

enjoy looking at them and remembering

those times but it's definitely time to

upgrade these headphones and I love Gro

headphones I I love selling Gro

headphones because they stand behind

their products at $99 a pair of Sr 60s

is criminal that is so cheap for how

good those sr60 sound definitely head

over to skylabs audio.com check out the

gro headphones I've never had anybody

buy a set of Gro headphones and not say

anything other than these are amazing

I'm so glad I bought

them and I would definitely consider

Macintosh kind of a Hot Topic on the

internet for forums and Facebook groups

and whatnot you know people get pretty

charged up whether they're for or

against Macintosh a lot of people think

they're overpriced you're just paying

for the brand name and I get that you

know that's the internet and I could see

why people would think that looking

closer into MacIntosh and considering

the build quality the fact that they

made almost every single part inhouse

essentially taking quality control of

stereo equipment to the highest level in

that they weren't relying on another

company to manufacture their parts for

them the amount of service you can still

get for

Macintosh this might be one of the only

stereo manufacturers from that era still

manufactures some parts I even have one

sitting right here this is a brand new

face plate from an

mc2105 it was made last year they want

this equipment to continue to be

serviced so that you know it builds

their legacy it helps them sell new

equipment by the old equipment still

being used that says something about

their product you know if you were to

call Pioneer or morance and ask them for

a face plate or even a schematic uh if

the person that answered the phone

didn't put you on hold you'd probably

hear a room full of people laughing

because they've changed hands so many

times they don't care about Legacy

equipment all those extra parts probably

went into a landfill a long time ago

and you're on your own and that's just

the way it is so when asking yourself is

it worth the money that you are going to

spend you do have to look at all those

things you know there is resell ability

there's repairability there's the sound

quality I don't think you can look at a

piece of Macintosh equipment and not see

the amount of work and thought that went

into every single detail of the Finish

to the way you engage with it to the way

it looks it is an experience

it's no different than a mercedesbenz or

a Rolex watch you know if if you've got

the money it doesn't matter anyway and

if you have a house full of Fine Art you

want a Macintosh to sit next to it

because in a lot of ways these pieces of

equipment even the Vintage stuff is Art

it looks like art and I get it why some

people dog on

Macintosh in a lot of ways even for me

it's kind of a LoveHate relationship

because I do own a couple couple pieces

of vintage

MacIntosh and I'm not so sure I want to

be in that club even if that puts me in

the club it kind of brings me in as a

guest well I'll guarantee you'll never

be a member here because I am not their

demographic I am not their buyer you

know we are supposed to believe that if

we are able to achieve Macintosh status

that we've elevated Our Lives

I don't buy into that kind of stuffff I

drive a Ford

truck I don't wear fancy clothes or

anything like that and I'm not saying

there's anything wrong with that it's

just not important to me that doesn't

mean I don't appreciate owning something

that's really really nice and Macintosh

is it just so happens that the pieces of

gear I've got I was able to get cheap

because they need it fixed and that's

really all it is but as far as like

going out and buying new Mac minosh gear

or even buying

vintage Macintosh gear at a retail price

I'm not the customer that's just where

I'm at in life and with my priorities

that's all and I've got really good news

out there we are launching our Discord

Channel I think this is going to be so

cool I am new to Discord I know nothing

about it my nephew helped me set this up

thank you Alex I think this is going to

be a really cool Community I think

there's going to be so much good

information on that Discord Channel

whether you're brand new or whether you

feel like helping somebody out or just

talking about vintage stereo equipment

we'll have a link down in the

description so definitely go check it

out it's free you can jump on get in the

conversation with the community hang out

with like-minded people and talk about

vintage stereo equipment and it's kind

of weird to say but looking at the

prices of Macintosh amplifiers and

receivers and compared to the' 7s

Japanese stuff seem seems to be a

bargain right now and maybe we'll see

that change at some point but but right

now the demand for the vintage Japanese

stereo equipment from Pioneer morance

and Sansui just seems to be skyrocketing

and actually

outpacing the legendary Macintosh so if

you have been wanting to get a piece of

Macintosh gear now might be the right

time to get it again if you look at the

parts available the quality the

repairability I don't think they're

going to down in value I just don't see

it we're talking about some of the most

iconic pieces of Hi-Fi gear from the'

60s and' 70s the 275 amplifier is still

in

production they really haven't changed

the design of their amplifiers all that

much over the years you still have two

really big blue meters and if you don't

think that has a strong Allure to a

potential

purchaser I would say you've never sold

stereo equipment before because as

somebody that shows people stereo

equipment on a daily basis people open

their wallet when they see Vu meters

it's that simple and if you are out

looking for a Macintosh you're thinking

about getting into a Macintosh

especially in the Vintage side any one

of the tube amplifiers are amazing you

can't go wrong there I would definitely

say the most sought after pieces from

the70s are the

mc2105 amplifier and the c28 preamp when

I think of classic iconic Macintosh

that's what I think of I remember seeing

these when I was a kid I remember back

then I knew that was something different

it doesn't take a trained eye to see the

quality in those pieces of equipment

there's just something so cool about

that front smoked glass panel with the

green lettering and the big Vu meters

you just want to look at it at least I

do and just for those out there that

will definitely say well how does it

sound my 2105 and my c28 to me are

definitely on the laidback side they are

not super

detailed some people don't like that

about them but even with that said there

isn't a genre of music that doesn't

sound amazing on a piece of Macintosh

equipment you can listen to anything on

a Macintosh and enjoy it it's really non

fatiguing it's not bright it's not Brash

it's not in your face if any solid state

piece of gear out there emulates kind of

a tube like sound in my opinion it's

that 2105 and that c28 preamp but again

that is all in the ear of the beholder

and I would say if you're buying it

strictly for the way a Macintosh sounds

I would highly recommend a being it

blindfolded with another piece of gear

the visual appeal of a Macintosh can be

deceptive and if it is strictly sound

quality I would do an AB test thank you

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