- McIntosh Laboratory
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McIntosh Labs 
Type Corporation Industry Electronics Founded 1949 Headquarters Binghamton, New York Key people Frank McIntosh, Founder Products Audio equipment Parent D&M Holdings Website McIntosh McIntosh Laboratory is an American manufacturer of high-end audio equipment based in Binghamton, New York. The company was founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh,.[1] The "classic" vacuum tube components of the 1960s include the MC275 power amplifier, the C22 preamplifier, and the MR67 tuner. Later McIntosh solid state power amps are known for their distinctive blue colored meters.
Contents
Company history
In 1946 Frank McIntosh, a design consultant for broadcast and TV stations, hired Gordon Gow to help him design a high power, low distortion amplifier needed for his clients. This amplifier would become the 50W-1. It included McIntosh’s first patented circuit, the Unity Coupled Circuit, still used by current products.[2]
Year Product 1949 50W-1 power amplifier 1950 AE-1 preamplifier 1953 A116 power amplifier 1953 C108 preamplifier 1954 MC30 power amplifier 1954 C4 preamplifier 1957 MR55 AM-FM tuner In 1956, the company moved to its current location of 2 Chambers Street, Binghamton, NY.[3]
Dave O’Brien joined McIntosh in 1962. He led the McIntosh Amplifier Clinics for the next 30 years.
McIntosh created a Loudspeaker division 1967[4]
MC2505 solid-state stereo power amplifier
Year Product 1960 MC240 stereo power amplifier, 1962 MX110 tuner-preamplifier 1963 MR67 tuners; 1963 MR71 tuners; 1964 C24 preamplifier; 1965 MC250 solid state power amplifier 1967 MC2100 solid state power amplifier 1967 MC2505 solid state power amplifier 1967 MC2105 solid state power amplifier 1968 MX112 solid-state tuner-preamplifier 1965 MAC1500 receiver McIntosh amplifiers were used at the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969.[5]
Year Product ML1 Loudspeaker ML2 Loudspeaker ML4 Loudspeaker 1972 MR78 tuner The Grateful Dead's “Wall of Sound” reputedly utilized forty-eight 300-watt per channel McIntosh model MC 2300 solid state amplifiers for a total of 28,800 watts of continuous power[6]
Frank McIntosh retired in 1977 and Gordon Gow became President of McIntosh.[7]
More notable products
Early 1970s MC 2300 Power Amplifier 300 WPC Early 1980s MC 2500 Power Amplifier 500 WPC Power Guard and similar chassis to MC 2300 Around 1990 MC 2600 Power Amplifier 600 WPC Power Guard final version on MC 2300 Chassis Around 1990 MC 7300 300 WPC and much smaller than MC 2300
Japanese years
McIntosh MA6800 integrated amplifier.The company was purchased by Japanese car audio maker Clarion in 1990. McIntosh components, particularly the early tube models, are highly regarded in Japan. In a speech shortly after the purchase, Clarion president Yutaka Oyamada told McIntosh employees, "...we like McIntosh as it is, and we have no intention of changing what has made it so successful."[1] Since the Clarion purchase, McIntosh has expanded into car audio and home theater.
In May 2003, McIntosh was sold by Clarion to D&M Holdings, also of Japan. McIntosh continues to operate independent engineering, design, and production operations in accordance with the company's tradition.
Car audio
Models currently available include a CD changer, CD changer/AM/FM controller, and an external DAC.
Unique features such as the Fast Responding Wattmeter and the patented Power Guard circuitry set their amplifiers apart from others' products; currently, there are seven models, offering from 75 to 2000 watts, divided amongst one to six channels. High quality power supplies, powerful circuit topologies, and balanced inputs complete each amplifier.
At the end of the chain lie their hand-built drivers, which come in standard 5-1/4″ and 6-1/2″ nominal sizes; all current models are two-way systems, utilizing either an MS10 or MS20 tweeter. All applicable car products are finished with McIntosh's signature glass plate displays.
A few vehicles are available from the factory with McIntosh sound systems, including Subaru Legacy/Outback models (starting from the BH & BE Legacy chassis's and the 2005–2006 Ford GT.
References
- ^ http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/inside/89.asp McIntosh 1900-1940
- ^ http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/inside/89.asp McIntosh 1900-1940
- ^ http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/inside/88.asp McIntosh 1950s
- ^ http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/inside/87.asp McIntosh 1960s
- ^ http://www.robbreport.com/archived-issues/Article.aspx?article=13107 Home Electronics: Power Player
- ^ http://www.wallofsound.ws/ The Story Behind the Image
- ^ http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/inside/86.asp McIntosh 1970s
External links
- McIntosh Laboratory website
- Roger Russell's website
- Press release for 2003 acquisition by D&M
- Berner's McIntosh site
- McIntosh Resource @ The High Fidelity Museum
- McIntosh History - Private german site
Coordinates: 42°06′00″N 75°52′30″W / 42.100129°N 75.875136°W
Categories:- Audio amplifier manufacturers
- Binghamton, New York
- Compact Disc player manufacturers
- High-end audio manufacturers of the United States
- Loudspeaker manufacturers
- Manufacturing companies based in New York
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