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Bose buys McIntosh, storied maker of high-end luxury audio equipment
- itunpredictable 2y agoMcIntosh has my favorite logo of all time
- jsheard 2y agoBut are you McIntosh-pilled enough to pay $1500 for an empty box with their logo on it? https://shop.mcintoshlabs.com/products/lb200-light-box https://shop.mcintoshlabs.com/products/lb200-light-box Fools and their money, etc etc
- 0xdeadbeefbabe 2y agoWow only $1500? Black Friday is starting earlier and earlier.
- elzbardico 2y agoIt is an audiophile-grade empty box, designed to resonate only on even ordered harmonics with a state of the art damping curve.
- Brian_K_White 2y agohttp://tandy.wiki/Audiophile_Pricetag http://tandy.wiki/Audiophile_Pricetag
- snakeyjake 2y agoEvery single day I go to sleep with my head buried in my hands because I am not immoral enough to figure out some way of ripping off audiophiles. You can sell them 3¢ hunks of plastic that do nothing for $150. It's not even hurting anyone. They're all rich old dudes with dozens of guitars they never play hanging from their walls in a room filled with records they never listen to. If I could figure out how to sell them 3¢ hunks of plastic that do nothing for $150 I would be very happy, but my conscience won't allow it.
- 0xdeadbeefbabe 2y agoIt sounds like even your conscience is fed up with you.
- elzbardico 2y agoYou gotta act fast. Once all boomers are gone, the audiophile market will disappear.
- Brian_K_White 2y agoMaybe a CD deionizer? Kinda like homeopathy for electronics. That way it doesn't even need to contain any elctronics. In your workshop on a mountain in Japan you let some electronics imbue it with their spirit. It doesn't even promise to add or remove anything but just "align" the ions! I got a bottle of Three Chord bourbon last year. Holy cow the blurb on that bottle... something like "One day during a show I noticed how my drink sitting on my amp was vibrating..." and they freaking claim to play music at the casks.
- geodel 2y agoThis looks great. I guess it can also be used by McIntosh connoisseurs to leave their brains safe at home while traveling light.
- readingnews 2y agoWhile I agree with: >> Fools and their money, etc etc And certainly Mc is not what it used to be (the MC-1700 receiver for example, was great)... you are slamming an "empty box" unfairly. It has: - A light, well, ok, pretty empty. - Removable back wall. Eh, ok. - A IR to turn on and off devices. Hrmm. - It can control other DinkyLink devices (I did not make that up) - Trigger control to control other audio devices. Hrmm. - It is a sturdy metal box (go online and purchase a nice one, I bet they are hundreds of bucks) Not that it is worth $1500, maybe $300, and at the same quality as that box looks with the glass front, probably $500, but again, saying $1500 for empty box is kind of unfair. To be honest, I have paid $300 for nice rackmount enclosures with handles that were custom made.
- quickthrowman 2y ago> It is a sturdy metal box (go online and purchase a nice one, I bet they are hundreds of bucks) You can get a UL listed 16”x12”x4” electrical enclosure made of sheet steel for around $50 : https://www.mcmaster.com/product/75065K61 https://www.mcmaster.com/product/75065K61
- NovemberWhiskey 2y agoIn fairness, that's a cheap, powder coated, folded-metal box so we're not really comparing like-with-like. If one of your goals is to have a nicely-coordinated system that's on display in your home, aesthetics do matter - you're paying for what you're getting, not some unscientific claim of "performance".
- quickthrowman 2y agoYou never specified anything beyond “a sturdy metal box” ;) I agree that a powder coated electrical enclosure would look out of place in a home A/V rack.
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- jahnu 2y agoI’ll see your box and raise you a €1599 small foldable table https://teenage.engineering/store/field-desk https://teenage.engineering/store/field-desk
- acomjean 2y agoThat’s pretty funny. I’m all for a little fun at ridiculous audio stuff (monster cables etc) Are we sure that’s not a misprint? There other “accessories” are high but more reasonable. https://shop.mcintoshlabs.com/collections/accessories https://shop.mcintoshlabs.com/collections/accessories And the empty box is at the same price as the actually does something “Grateful Dead” limited edition mono Speaker. https://shop.mcintoshlabs.com/collections/speakers/products/grateful-dead-limited-edition-rs150-wireless-loudspeaker https://shop.mcintoshlabs.com/collections/speakers/products/...
- spogbiper 2y agoThe cleaning cloth seems reasonable https://shop.mcintoshlabs.com/products/mcintosh-cloth?pr_prod_strat=jac https://shop.mcintoshlabs.com/products/mcintosh-cloth?pr_pro...
- jsheard 2y agoWhat a bargain! That's only $10 per cloth, I'll save a fortune compared to buying these all the time: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MW693AM/A/polishing-cloth https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MW693AM/A/polishing-cloth
- yumraj 2y agoThat seems somewhat reasonably priced when you consider: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MWUG2LL/A/pro-stand https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MWUG2LL/A/pro-stand
- cmiller1 2y agoSo now they get to sell way lower end products with their newly purchased McIntosh logo slapped on with a huge markup! Everybody wins except the consumer!
- Nextgrid 2y agoFor better or worse, the logo and markup is the reason this segment of the market buys these products. Cost-conscious customers always had and will retain the ability to get high-quality audio at a reasonable price.
- cmiller1 2y agoSadly I think the most cost-conscious way to get truly great quality audio these days is to buy/restore used vintage equipment. There isn't really as much of a market for high end but still affordable for mere mortals audio equipment as there was in the past. Prior to the invention and proliferation of home video playback which started in the late 70s and later the proliferation of home video game consoles people used to spend most of their home entertainment budget on audio equipment. The budget you'd set aside for buying a large TV, a few game consoles, etc. instead would be spent on a stereo so there was a much bigger market for audio equipment in what would be the $1-4k in today's dollars range. Personally I use a set of big box speakers made by Bozak in 1958.
- Nextgrid 2y agoWith modern digital electronics and their economies of scale, isn't getting great audio quality trivial nowadays? I would've assumed anything from consumer brands in the upmarket range (without going all the way to "audiophile") would give you more than enough quality where the limiting factor becomes the room and physical environment rather than the playback equipment?
- cmiller1 2y agoAnother thing I forgot to mention about consumer preference is in amplifier design. Consumers prefer overall loudness over absolute fidelity, so Class D stereo amps are what's available.
- criddell 2y ago> “There are places today where the Bose brand probably can’t go. Lamborghini is a great example of that,” Snyder said. “You really want the very best kind of cutting-edge technology to be in those luxury or highest-performing vehicles.” I get why they want to be in cars like Lamborghinis. People who buy a car like that have no problem spending a lot on the sound system. But the cars are so noisy inside when driven, you aren't going to be able to tell a McIntosh system apart from an AC Delco.
- vlan0 2y agoExactly! The sound quality cannot be appreciated in a vehicle like that. The exhaust and engine notes will muddy that easily.
- ashleyn 2y agoElectric vehicles are more in vogue for this segment, and they already simulate the engine sound anyway. Without that it would be relatively quiet at highway speed. Presumably the design of the audio system would take this into account and either not play the simulated engine sounds or adaptively mute them when the radio is playing.
- xnx 2y ago> they already simulate the engine sound anyway. Without that it would be relatively quiet at highway speed. Aren't tires the dominant source of cabin noise at highway speeds, so about the same for electric and ICE vehicles?
- vlan0 2y agoIn your everyday car, yes. But not a Lambo. That V10/V12 is gonna scream.
- snarf21 2y agoIt is more important to claim you have the best and most expensive sound system in a car than to actually get those results while driving. Most people don't drive these cars over 80 and never race 0-60 but knowing it could and bragging about it is the luxury cost.
- burningChrome 2y agoAnother consolidation that won't make audiophiles very happy. It also states Bose bought Sonus Faber as well. Hopefully Bose doesn't kill the brand by changing the label to Bose-McIntosh.
- JohnBooty 2y agoMcIntosh doesn't exactly have a lot of unique engineering these days. Maybe they did once, I don't know. The way I see it, their name is their only real asset and I'm fairly certain Bose feels the same. It still carries a lot of weight. If you buy McIntosh you know you're getting something overbuilt, with a certain aesthetic, great aftermarket care, and probably great resale value. [1] So I'd be pretty shocked if Bose messed with that at all. ---- [1] not that I think their gear is even remotely worth the money from what i've seen
- BoardsOfCanada 2y agoI've owned two Bose headphones and both broke in unnecessary ways, especially the second where the plastic headband connecting the drivers broke and they would not simply repair it but I had to buy a new pair (so I bought Sony instead). I tend to buy somewhat high end products and no other brand breaks like this or at all, so I would hate to think what a low-end Bose would be like.
- unclad5968 2y agoAs an alternative anecdote, Ive used my bose qc 45s every day for two years without issue. I don't have experience with any other over-ear headphones to compare.
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- ProfessorLayton 2y agoIdk, my QC 35 IIs from 2017 have been working just fine, and still sound pretty good. I travel with them all the time, and the only maintenance item for them are the ear pads, which are cheap and plentiful online. The battery still holds up, and there's an analog port for when it no longer holds a charge. I didn't even buy them, work did, so it's not like I'm trying to justify the $349 MSRP (At the time). The only thing that bugs me about them having to keep a micro usb cable around.
- pbnjeh 2y agoTheir ear pads are terrible. I was extremely careful with mine, keeping them in my home office and carefully setting them down with the ear pads uncompressed when not in use. Nonetheless, the ear pad leather came apart in about a year. Same with the pair I gave my father. German friend visited with some 700's. (I think that's the model number; the sleek but uncomfortable redesign of a couple of years ago.) When he visited again the following year, their ear pads where likewise blown out. In contrast, I have multiple models of inexpensive Chinese ANC headphones whose ear pads have survived significantly longer. And, the official Bose ear pad replacements are $40 on Amazon (if they're even real...). I don't buy Bose, anymore.
- glimshe 2y agoI bought a Bose home theater system but have been pretty unhappy with the purchase after spending $1500+. Poor visual aids, signal detection and touch controls, requiring frequent use of remote control due to flaky integration with the TV. The sound is very good but not exceptional. I hope they don't ruin this other brand.
- alsetmusic 2y agoBose is a "premium" brand in the same way that people who don't know what high quality is buy expensive clothing with brand names think they're buying high fashion. The reality is that Bose is wildly boosted in certain frequencies to be louder, not better. I haven't listened to a McIntosh system, but I know who they are from a friend who loved them and because they're sold at the home theater shop where I buy my own equipment. They're (as far as I know) an _actual_ premium brand, meant to represent the music faithfully. This is an unfortunate purchase, as Bose will likely delude the value of the brand rather than absorb / import the quality into their own brand.
- scblock 2y agoNot really "actually premium", more "very expensive", which is not the same thing. They do marketing integration with automakers, like Bose, which is a big red flag for an actual premium (in terms of sound) maker.
- wil421 2y agoMost people like bass. Bose sells because normal people like the sound. Most people don’t really care and the choice is some random Amazon and Bose it’s probably going to win. My Bose Bluetooth lasted way longer than anker or other no name brands. I wouldn’t say my Sonos speakers are good quality audio but it’s not bad. Plus, I can play music on 6 different speaker at the some time. Maybe Bose can learn a thing or two and provide better quality across the line up.
- recursive 2y agoCounterpoint: I got a Bose PA (S1) a couple of months ago. The frequency response isn't super flat, but it seems surprisingly well defined, and is better than the small keyboard amp it replaced. I had a similarly dim view of Bose, but was pleasantly surprised.
- bluGill 2y agoBose has never been bad, just that you can get the same quality at a lower price from other well respected brands.
- quickthrowman 2y agoBose is a marketing company that happens to sell audio equipment, similar to how Oracle is a law firm that happens to sell software
- strobe 2y agoone good thing that I heard about McIntosh, is that even after 10-20 years of owning it, you can contact their support to buy some spare parts for fixing, and they will sell and even would be helpful to figure out what exactly needed (even in case if you are not original buyer). Unlikely that Bose would be interesting continue doing that kind of level of support.
- ChrisMarshallNY 2y agoI had several Tumi items. When I got them, I was told they had a "lifetime warranty," and I actually exercised it, a couple of times (broken zipper, one time). Some time ago, they got brought out. I was told the "lifetime" has died.
- kyleblarson 2y agoIsn't the point of buying brands like that that you shouldn't need to fix after only 10-20 years? I have a denon receiver from the late 90's that I upgraded from and has been my garage/shop amp for the last 15 or so years. It is covered in dust and dirt and still cranks like the day I got it.
- JohnBooty 2y agoWell, yeah. I know I have a lot of 20+ year old audio stuff still going strong. Some things like capacitors have a lifespan just due to their nature. A McIntosh owner might also enjoy knowing that accidental "user error" type stuff can be repaired. It's pretty difficult to actually blow out an amplifier unless you're doing some real torture test type stuff; the fuses should blow before you can do any real damage. But still, after having plunked down megabucks on an amp, it's probably nice to know that your $10K or $20K investment can be repaired if you really manage to screw something up. Not that I personally would ever consider owning McIntosh gear. I'm sure it's nice, but at the prices they're asking... I'm good.
- strobe 2y agoI also bought a 10+ year old Denon amplifier and overall it's great, but over time it developed some minor issues with components like Alps potentiometers and switches. Unfortunately, Alps doesn't produce some of those parts anymore (like the ones discussed here: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/source-for-alps-alpine-rotary-band-switch-cables.372091/ https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/source-for-alps-a...), so it's really not easy to source parts for repairs. It would be nice if you could simply ask the manufacturer to sell these components to you directly.
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- MisterKent 2y agoAs an audiophile, I could see why some would see this as a horrible thing. But I'm not really worried. McIntosh has been a higher end Bose for a while now. They live on their brand name and their blue glow, but amplifiers and dacs, really most electronics, have been a solved problem. And that solution has been slowly dropping in price for a while now. McIntosh's gear has barely moved, which is because they're way more fashion over function. Bose, if they're smart, will leave the brand intact and use their connections with car manufacturers etc to make them more prevalent. But, there's already such a huge margin on their products, I think it'll be a while before they try and cannibalize that for profit.
- ricc 2y agoKinda funny that where I came from, Bose is already “high-end”…
- chesong 2y agoAs a former Bose employee, I’ve been curious about how the company would evolve. During my time at Bose, I focused on improving connectivity, a major pain point for consumers. However, as Apple invested heavily in the audio space, it introduced seamless integration within its ecosystem. The AirPods’ effortless connection, with its elegant pop-up when first paired, set a new standard for user experience that Bose struggled to match, given its lack of control over platforms like iOS or Android. I always wondered how Bose would compete, and it’s clear that their strategy remains focused on the premium audio space.