I used to talk smack about mac gear, overrated, over priced, but I'd never listened to the products. Now having a chance to listen and own the stuff I'm thrilled. Look at what most of the high end brands are charging for fancy CNC machined cases packed with chinese electronics and in the current market Mac seems under priced.
I feel the same way, although coming from a different perspective. Growing in Binghamton, after learning about high end audio, I always wanted McIntosh. And yes, I went through a phase where I would say/think that I could get better sound for less money. However, those pieces would be hard to move in aftermarket when I wanted to try the new wiz-bang product. McIntosh, on the other hand sells quickly and for fair prices. Never do you get the asshats busting you on pricing, etc.
Talk about value... I take my C49 as an example. Beautiful clean look, with understated glass panel covering a two chassis unit. Including a solid modeler DAC. Currently I am using my T+A, however when a newer version comes out, I will have the option, and will probably make the move to add that to the pre-amp. I owned their external phono stage and felt it was as good as any I have tried including the really nice mid-level SimAudio (not their great value low model). The SimAudio was great, but the Mc was as good if not better but also included both MM and MC capabilities with separate inputs (two turntables!!!). The phono stage built into the C49 is the same!
The display is customizable in that I can label it how I want (T+A DAC 8, Rega MC, Tech/AT MM, Mc MR85 FM, for example), and every input has customizable settings such as tone controls and input trim, etc. The pre-amp turns on and controls both my tuner and amplifier to the point of turning on and off the meter lights, searching for stations, etc., all from the nicely designed remote control.
Functionality to the extreme while being very under stated. If you want more of a statement, then the C53 or one of their higher end tube models might do the trick. My point being, when considering all that the pre-amp does, how well it is built and how good it sounds, one might actually consider the McIntosh to be quite the bargain.
By the way, KEF and McIntosh are a match made in heaven! I wish I could afford and had space for Blades (II), but since neither is true their baby brothers do a spectacular job with the McIntosh gear!
, including having the uncle of the gentleman I work with being one of my classmates. 