Known Factory wiring fault in SOME McIntosh MC611 monobloc amps

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I own a pair of McIntosh MC611 monobloc amplifiers that I purchased new over a year ago.
Since that time I have sensed that something was wrong and I have been continually trying to track-down an imbalance in my system. I wasted many hours, labour and equipment-switching to diagnose the problem.
Only recently, with the help of the dealer and a technician did I find out what the problem was. In fact it is two problems:
1)
There was a mistake made at the factory, in which plugs from the input board (J8 & J9) were reversed, resulting in one channel being out-of-phase! (improper imaging/no centre image)
2)
The Single-ended/Balanced switch on the back panel does not function properly. Corrosion from the circuit board coating chemical on that switch causes intermittent problems with the signal and a lack of proper power output of the amp, resulting in a volume imbalance. (which also ruins imaging)

I wasted a lot of time and trouble getting this problem diagnosed, but the McIntosh factory is not interested in making this in a general recall.

So, let's call this a 'Public Service Announcement'. I would not wish for anyone else to go through this trouble, expense and aggravation. I have been told that there is a (secret) Service Advisory regarding this problem, so there must be more of you out there with the same trouble.

However, you will not see any information about it on the McIntosh website! Let it also be known that it will not get detected on a test bench. See test meter readout. Also switching polarity at the speaker will bring out the problem but will also introduce harmonics – due to the nature of the circuitry.

If there are more of you out there, be advised….and I think we should be entitled to some compensation from the manufacturer.
 

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Welcome to the forum. I am so sorry for your frustrations. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
 
Sorry to hear of the problem but in all honesty what is your dealer going to do about ? After all they ARE the liaison between you and the manufacturer ........
 
Mikado463 said:
Sorry to hear of the problem but in all honesty what is your dealer going to do about ? After all they ARE the liaison between you and the manufacturer ........
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My dealer loaned me a brand new MC611 to isolate the problem. The service guy even made a house call to fix it. No complains from that side at all.
 
Sorry about the issue you experienced. I know it is very frustrating when anything has a problem. It sounds like the issue has been located and resolved, correct? If so, although it was a pain in your behind it was backed and taken care of. What else are you asking for from the manufacture? This does not sound like the type of problem that would happen regularly. It sounds more like someone in manufacturing had a bad day :(.
 
Yes, the issue has been resolved. My dealer and the repair guy get the top marks for support. My post is just for public information. There must be some out there with similar issue, hence the service advisory.
 
It does not appear to be "public information", but instead manufacture bashing (or venting about an issue you encountered). I totally understand frustration when you encounter an issue.

Every manufacture, no matter what they make, will have an issue at some point in time. Because you had an issue does not mean the manufacture should issue a recall. It honestly sounds like a person on the assemble had a bad day. If they had the same issue over and over, or determined there was a manufacturing process issue I guarantee you McIntosh would take care of it. You do not keep the reputation they have for as long as they have had it without doing things right.

With the amount of McIntosh you have in your rack I assume you already realize this. I do not agree with everything McIntosh does; I don't believe any company does everything perfect. However I do claim to be a fan and being that I grew up in the shadow of the factory in Binghamton I do admit that they hold a spot in my heart.

If I encounter a problem it is fair to expect the manufacture to assist (through their dealer, service techs, etc.) and resolve the issue. I do not believe the manufacture owes me compensation, and I do not believe they should put a special notice on their website because of my problem (or that one of their manufacturing employees made a mistake). In my view that is being unreasonable.
 
" ... There must be some out there with a similar issue, hence the service advisory."

Rather than concluding this, are you aware of anyone else with this particular combination of problems?
 
sonata said:
" ... There must be some out there with a similar issue, hence the service advisory."

Rather than concluding this, are you aware of anyone else with this particular combination of problems?
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My exact point. I have never seen anyone else mention any issue similar to this, in fact I honestly don't know if I have ever seen anyone else complain about any issue with the MC611's. Honestly it is rare to see any complaints about any McIntosh amplifier.
 
Man, I know you guys love you some Mac but give the guy a break. He's only sharing his experience and information.

I suspect no recall means the issue is limited or unknown as to how extensive. In addition, keeping an issue like that out of the public is just business, a recall gives quite a negative impact.

I know a brand who has amplifier problems on a couple models and never an actual recall, they just took care of the customers as the issue came up. And, I couldn't find anything on an internet search, not even a disgruntalled user.

I really think most issues like the one here is kept quiet. So I appreciate someone mentioning their experience. I think more users don't say anything because they think about what if I want to sell this some day.

I remember having a Krell kav-500i ad had no issue at all with it, I received a letter one day offering me $150.00 t request and replace the rail fuses. I sure did, $150.00 is $150.00. If memory serves I think that was actually a forced recall via court but not positive. I know people who have had newer models of Krell integrated that where what I'd call a lemon, Krell took care of the issue for them but it was repeated. To my knowledge no recalls on those.

McIntosh today is not McIntosh of old, who would have thought you'd see the brand in Best Buy or Crutchfield. That says nothing to their quality just things change, hopefully they keep a hand on QC.

Sorry this is getting long, another example is NAD, users were miffed and having issues with the 658 preamp, no recall, just rolling out the firmware fixes and taking exchanges. NAD deals wwith several models like that. Oddly, NAD still remains in good favor it seems. I was looking for a preamp for a second system at the time it was the customers posting online that made my decision it wouldn't be a 658.
 
I don't disagree. I have expressed when I have experience issues in the past. It does happen, however I always make a point to give credit when an issue is resolved and my appreciation there of. I certainly do not blame him for talking about the issue. However the method I felt was quite over the top.

First off the huge font was almost like yelling to me... and all the charts and images were a bit like making a much bigger issue out of his problem then it really was. Yes, it was a bit time consuming and a pain in the butt to narrow down where the problem was. If it was a "known" issue it would have been easy for the manufacture/dealer to isolate and repair. Obviously it was not.

Also, calling for the manufacture to issue a recall on an obviously rare issue and almost demanding compensation for his time was over the top.

That is where my replies came from, not that he relayed an issue he encountered. We have all been there, done that. Spent oodles of time isolating where the cause of the issue is, etc. I never once felt that a recall or compensation was warrantied.

A recent example: I never related the issues I had with my new Pro-ject RCM. The first one stopped working in two days. The Music Room allowed me to pay the difference and sent me the higher model. It did not work out of the box and had items banging around inside, right out of the box. Of course they apologized and sent me a replacement out right away (we were now weeks into it). When it arrived it was the lower model even though the paper work said the higher model. Since it worked perfect, I told the customer service manager that I would keep this one and he immediately refunded the difference. I did not come on here screaming about all the time and issues I had. I didn't expect compensation for the time I put in. I was glad they took care of it. They have respect for me and will take care of me if anything arises in the future. All is well that ends well.

Again, this is my point, pure and simple.
 
An issue with $15,000 amp that took a year to resolve vs. <$1000 RCM issue that resolved within a week aren’t exactly the same. Not to mention the emotional distress.
 
Mental distress, is a good point. I think most of us go a bit crazy when something isn't right in our system.

I know when my amp breaks and has to go into service I lose my mind and start buying other amps and stuff, LOL
 
Oh I do understand and appreciate the the price and the time, and totally understand the frustration.

Two points, I do not believe it took a year because it sounds like it took some time to determine there was an issue and report it on his part.

My second point was if this was a known and common issue they would have known about it which means it is not a recall situation since it sounds like something they have not seen and were not on the look out for. It was a frustrating issue and I understand his being upset. But, when the issue was reported and confirmed it was resolved.

Anyway, all is well that ends well.
 
"Because you had an issue does not mean the manufacture should issue a recall."

Yes they should - it is clear this is a production fault - not a "one off" - you denigration of the creditability of the thread originator & "rust(y)ed on" support for McIntosh is noted - as is your sanctimonious attempt at redemption with "Anyway, all is well that ends well" - if you are going to be a "shrill" - please declare it...
 
Rob181 said:
"Because you had an issue does not mean the manufacture should issue a recall."

Yes they should - it is clear this is a production fault - not a "one off" - you denigration of the creditability of the thread originator & "rust(y)ed on" support for McIntosh is noted - as is your sanctimonious attempt at redemption with "Anyway, all is well that ends well" - if you are going to be a "shrill" - please declare it...
Click to expand...

What the hell are you talking about. So every time anyone experiences an issue with one of their pieces of gear the manufacture should issue a recall? Wow, that is the most confusing post I have read in a very long time. 'if you are going to be a "shrill" ', again, what the hell are you talking about. His amplifier was fixed.... and I agree that I would also be frustrated that if I had an issue... weather I spent X number of hours diagnosing a $1000 unit or a $10,000 unit it was still the same amount of my time.

A manufacture, no matter what they make, be it an amplifier, an automobile, a treadmill, whatever, will only issue a recall if it becomes apparent that the issue was occurring for several customers and was a manufacturing issue. If they did not know about the issue and it took time to determine what was going on then obviously it was a one off occurrence. Why the heck would any manufacture issue a recall for a one off, or rare issue? Obviously, none would.
 
Randy Myers said:
What the hell are you talking about. So every time anyone experiences an issue with one of their pieces of gear the manufacture should issue a recall? Wow, that is the most confusing post I have read in a very long time. 'if you are going to be a "shrill" ', again, what the hell are you talking about. His amplifier was fixed.... and I agree that I would also be frustrated that if I had an issue... weather I spent X number of hours diagnosing a $1000 unit or a $10,000 unit it was still the same amount of my time.

A manufacture, no matter what they make, be it an amplifier, an automobile, a treadmill, whatever, will only issue a recall if it becomes apparent that the issue was occurring for several customers and was a manufacturing issue. If they did not know about the issue and it took time to determine what was going on then obviously it was a one off occurrence. Why the heck would any manufacture issue a recall for a one off, or rare issue? Obviously, none would.
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Oh please - did you not read the the OP's post - "There was a mistake made at the factory, in which plugs from the input board (J8 & J9) were reversed, resulting in one channel being out-of-phase! (improper imaging/no centre image)". These are not bespoke items they are made in batches - if they plugs are reversed on his mono blocks - they will be reversed on all in that batch. Further - "The Single-ended/Balanced switch on the back panel does not function properly. Corrosion from the circuit board coating chemical on that switch causes intermittent problems with the signal and a lack of proper power output of the amp, resulting in a volume imbalance." - again applicable to the whole batch. This is a McIntosh manufacture problem from new - McIntosh should make every effort to contact every owner to have the units inspected & repaired at their cost. Waiting for affected & upset customers to go through the pain & frustration experienced by the OP is completely wrong.

You stated "It does not appear to be "public information", but instead manufacture bashing..." & "However I do claim to be a fan and being that I grew up in the shadow of the factory in Binghamton I do admit that they hold a spot in my heart." You (wrongly) accused the OP of manufacture bashing & then admitted your pro McIntosh bias. It is your dismissive treatment of the OP I object strongly to whilst looking through your McIntosh coloured glasses. I shall refrain from saying more for the sake of civility...
 
Really.... so are we talking Internet civility or real civility? To be honest I have shown both to the OP because I have not been rude, I have not bashed him in any way. In fact I have shown and truly feel his frustration over the situation.

However I made the point that I do not believe any manufacture of any product would issue a recall in this situation. First off, if it was a worker asleep at the wheel, so to speak, it may be simply this one unit (by virtual that it was only one of his amplifiers). And since they obviously have not seen it prior to this (did not know the issue ahead of time), this was probably the case. Even if the employee did it to an entire batch... I think at most an amplifier such as this maybe four sets at one time. I have no idea of how many McIntosh makes at once, but I do know for a fact that they keep very close track of their serial numbers. I am equally sure if they determined an employee was making the same mistake over multiple units they would get in touch with the dealer that the units were sent to.
 
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