surrounded by sound
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Anyone know ?
What has Bose done to McIntosh ?
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Specifically related to what?
How long until they dump them is the more likely question.
I’m a fan, always have been, mostly for nostalgic reasons, but they are in dire need of a new direction. They’ve been tossed around like a hot potato for years now.
From a dealer perspective, they are stuck in 1985 with a complete denial on how consumers buy in 2026. The Amazon generation does not take kindly to 1985 buying strategies.
Today, they seem to focus on dealers focused on cheap home theater and CI. They have completely lost their focus on two channel audio focused dealers. They want dealers who are selling CI services out of a van, not dedicated B&M high end two channel audio.
That’s a market, I’m afraid, they can’t win. That market is completely dominated by Sonance, Origin, Wisdom, Kaleidoscope, Control4, Lutron, Trinnov and dozens of others.
IMO, their push for CI-fi is not catching on despite their recent relationship cultivation with ProSource.
Two channel was slow to innovate and that worked well for Mcintosh. CI has rapid innovation, slick, inexpensive products adopting the latest connected, streaming and wireless technologies and I’m afraid Mc is just not positioned culturally to keep up.
They’re on what, owner 7 now? 6 since 1990. I predict owner 8 is around the corner.
Their best owner IMO, was Clarion and D&M. At least they understood audio and who the Mcintosh customer was.
Just think how many players they allowed to enter a market they once completely dominated, as they lost focus, tinkering in everything from car audio to home theater, clock radios, empty boxes, and class D amps. There is an important distinction between expanding the brand and successfully building a profitable new business.
How long until they dump them is the more likely question.
I’m a fan, always have been, mostly for nostalgic reasons, but they are in dire need of a new direction. They’ve been tossed around like a hot potato for years now.
From a dealer perspective, they are stuck in 1985 with a complete denial on how consumers buy in 2026. The Amazon generation does not take kindly to 1985 buying strategies.
Today, they seem to focus on dealers focused on cheap home theater and CI. They have completely lost their focus on two channel audio focused dealers. They want dealers who are selling CI services out of a van, not dedicated B&M high end two channel audio.
That’s a market, I’m afraid, they can’t win. That market is completely dominated by Sonance, Origin, Wisdom, Kaleidoscope, Control4, Lutron, Trinnov and dozens of others.
IMO, their push for CI-fi is not catching on despite their recent relationship cultivation with ProSource.
Two channel was slow to innovate and that worked well for Mcintosh. CI has rapid innovation, slick, inexpensive products adopting the latest connected, streaming and wireless technologies and I’m afraid Mc is just not positioned culturally to keep up.
They’re on what, owner 7 now? 6 since 1990. I predict owner 8 is around the corner.
Their best owner IMO, was Clarion and D&M. At least they understood audio and who the Mcintosh customer was.
Just think how many players they allowed to enter a market they once completely dominated, as they lost focus, tinkering in everything from car audio to home theater, clock radios, empty boxes, and class D amps. There is an important distinction between expanding the brand and successfully building a profitable new business.
surrounded by sound
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Thank you for the reply.
W9TR
Well-known member
What Bose has done so far is to pull them from Best Buy/ Magnolia and trim their bloated product offerings by eliminating a lot of niche and duplicative products.
In the process they have eliminated all their high power tube amplification products, specifically the MC 2301 and MC 3500. They are trying to get into the custom integration (CI) business but none of those products are remotely competitive and many are laughable. Their streaming products are all designed by third parties..
Apart from their misguided entry into CI there is no evidence of a change in direction that bodes well for the brand. But they’re like the Eveready Bunny - they seem to keep marching along despite constant changes of ownership and focus.
As one of the iconic American HiFI brands still standing, I wish them the best. I own a lot of their stuff and have found it a pleasure to own.
In the process they have eliminated all their high power tube amplification products, specifically the MC 2301 and MC 3500. They are trying to get into the custom integration (CI) business but none of those products are remotely competitive and many are laughable. Their streaming products are all designed by third parties..
Apart from their misguided entry into CI there is no evidence of a change in direction that bodes well for the brand. But they’re like the Eveready Bunny - they seem to keep marching along despite constant changes of ownership and focus.
As one of the iconic American HiFI brands still standing, I wish them the best. I own a lot of their stuff and have found it a pleasure to own.
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Mr Peabody
Well-known member
McIntosh is the wrong brand to buy for CI, IMO. They would have been better off buying one of the receiver brands that used to be up for sale. I hate to see the Mac legacy destroyed.
FWIW, there is an extensive thread here somewhere that started after the acquisition took place. It might be interesting to go back and see whose predictions are close.
FWIW, there is an extensive thread here somewhere that started after the acquisition took place. It might be interesting to go back and see whose predictions are close.
still-one
Well-known member
Local dealer here gave up the brand.