McIntosh Laboratories
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| Corporation | |
| Industry | Electronics |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Headquarters | Binghamton, New York, United States |
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Key people
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Frank McIntosh, Founder |
| Products | Audio equipment |
| Parent | McIntosh Group |
| Website | mcintoshlabs.com |
McIntosh Laboratory is an American manufacturer of handcrafted high-end audio equipment based in Binghamton, New York. The company was founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh. McIntosh is highly recognizable for their black glass front panels, "McIntosh Blue" amplifier power meters and iconic logo.
In 1946 Frank McIntosh, a design consultant for broadcast and TV stations, hired Gordon Gow to help him design a high power, low distortion amplifier needed for his clients. This amplifier would become the 50W-1. It included McIntosh’s first patented circuit, the Unity Coupled Circuit, still used by current products.
In 1956, the company moved to its current location of 2 Chambers Street, Binghamton, New York.
Dave O’Brien joined McIntosh in 1962. He led the McIntosh Amplifier Clinics for the next 30 years.
McIntosh created a Loudspeaker division 1967
McIntosh amplifiers were used at the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969.
The Grateful Dead's “Wall of Sound” reputedly used forty-eight 300-watt per channel McIntosh model MC 2300 solid state amplifiers for a total of 28,800 watts of continuous power
Frank McIntosh retired in 1977 and Gordon Gow became President of McIntosh.
Early 1970s: MC 2300 Power Amplifier, 300 WPC
Early 1980s: MC 2500 Power Amplifier, 500 WPC Power Guard and similar chassis to MC 2300
Around 1990: MC 2600 Power Amplifier, 600 WPC Power Guard final version on MC 2300 Chassis
Around 1990: MC 7300, 300 WPC and much smaller than MC 2300
The company was purchased by Japanese car audio maker Clarion in 1990. McIntosh components, particularly the early tube models, are highly regarded in Japan. In a speech shortly after the purchase, Clarion president Yutaka Oyamada told McIntosh employees, "...we like McIntosh as it is, and we have no intention of changing what has made it so successful." Since the Clarion purchase, McIntosh has expanded into car audio and home theater.
In May 2003, McIntosh was sold by Clarion to D&M Holdings, also of Japan. McIntosh continues to operate independent engineering, design, and production operations in accordance with the company's tradition.
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