BINGHAMTON, NY (PTA) — Our own Marc Phillips shot me an email yesterday morning with a heads up on the new ‘behemoth sized‘ integrated amplifier launching from McIntosh Labs. Along with the forwarded technical info and photos, a simple message from Marc that read, “I wanna review this so hard.” Having not even opened the first document or cracked the seal on any of the photos, I knew this was something serious. I immediately reached out to fellow staffer and columnist Nan Pincus for her reaction to the new 350-Watt MA12000 Hybrid Integrated from McIntosh Labs, as she had recently published a fantastic interview (found here) with McIntosh Labs President & CEO Charlie Randall, where she sought his perspective on the turntable side of hi-fi, and how McIntosh connects with consumers. Nan’s initial unbridled reaction to the sheer size of the MA12000: “A mad scientist made a microwave that forgot it was a microwave and self-actualized its way into being an integrated amplifier.” Upon seeing just a picture along with some brief details of the new MA12000 Integrated, reviewer and columnist Dave McNair had this to say: “Wow! I wanna get one, and I’ve never lusted over McIntosh before.” Given […]
Tag Archives: charlie randall
The RIAA has released their midyear report, and for the first time since the 1980s, vinyl sales have surpassed CD sales. This news comes with no surprise as vinyl sales outpaced download sales back in 2017. In honor of the occasion, our own Nan Pincus connected with McIntosh Labs President and CEO Charlie Randall to get his perspective on the turntable side of hifi, how McIntosh connects with consumers, and how the Dead can inspire us all. Interview by Nan Pincus Nan Pincus: Vinyl sales have outpaced the sales of CDs for the first time in over thirty years, largely driven by millennial consumers. A lot of people ask why millennials and gen Z buy records, but that’s not something I wonder, because I’ve been combing through vinyl at thrift stores since I was in high school, and everyone I know in their 20s owns a turntable. So I’m going to ask a different question: why do you think older generations are surprised that young people buy records? Charlie Randall: I think it’s natural for any generation to think that the technology of their time will be replaced by future technology and go extinct. In large part I think that’s […]
