McIntosh

USA1949–13 archived pages

Frank H. McIntosh and Gordon Gow founded McIntosh Laboratory in 1949 in Silver Spring, Maryland, and moved it to Binghamton, New York, in 1951. The company's foundation was the patented Unity Coupled output circuit, still used in the MC275 today. Early signature amplifiers included the MC30 of 1954, the MC240 of 1960 (the first McIntosh stereo power amplifier) and the MC275 of 1961.

McIntosh's look became a trademark of its own: black glass front panels from the 1960s and blue meters from around 1974. Gow became president when McIntosh retired in 1977. The company has had many owners since Clarion bought it in 1990, and in November 2024 its parent group was sold to Bose.

The archive spans both eras: the MA230 tube integrated amplifier, solid-state models such as the MA6100, MC2100 and MC2155, the MX120 processor, and the Westrex-McIntosh 26D theatre amplifier.

From the original manufacturer page

McIntosh was originally founded in Silver Springs, Maryland, 1949. The vision of Frank McIntosh to build a better amplifier challenged what was believed possible. Gordon Gow and McIntosh, together designed the famous ‘Unity Coupled Circuit’. In 1950 the company launched the first preamplifier AE1. This was the first of many products beyond power amplifiers. With a polished brass faceplate and lacquered wood cabinet the C8 Preamplifier demonstrated the importance of industrial design. Switches allowed proper playback of LP records. In 1954, MC60 shown and MC30 amplifiers established the chrome chassis as a featured McIntosh design element. Today’s contemporary products use Polished Stainless Steel. In 1969, McIntosh Amplifiers power Woodstock, a pivotal moment in music history. Three days of peace, love and music for the hundreds of thousands who attended.

McIntosh

McIntosh in the archive