McIntosh Heritage

McIntosh was founded in 1949 in Silver Spring, MD. The company moved to Binghamton, NY in 1951 to the 2nd floor of an existing building (shown). McIntosh has remained in Binghamton ever since.

The vision of Frank McIntosh (r.) to build a better amplifier challenged what was believed possible. Together with Gordon Gow (l.), they designed the famous "Unity Coupled Circuit."

Sidney Corderman joined McIntosh in 1951 as head of Research, Engineering and Development. His forty year career helped established McIntosh as a leader in high performance audio.

Maurice Painchaud was the original controller of McIntosh. Master of all things financial as well as production planning and procurement, Maurice was a quiet hero at McIntosh.

In 1950, Gordon Gow was named Executive Vice President and the company launched its first preamplifier, the AE2. 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, the MC30 (shown) and MC60 amplifiers established the chrome chassis as a featured McIntosh design element. Today’s contemporary products use polished stainless steel.

All this growth signaled the need for more space. In 1956, the company built a new building at 2 Chambers Street in Binghamton, NY. Construction took 8 months. We've remained at this location ever since, and the building has continued to grow with the company.

In 1957, the first McIntosh AM/FM Tuner, the MR55, was introduced. This marked the first audio source component and established McIntosh as a leader in radio tuner design.

Each signature McIntosh faceplate is a unique, handmade work of art. McIntosh users enjoy the easy to read appearance of this rewarding, long life design.

Dave O’Brien dedicated his life to be on the road as the ambassador of McIntosh. Dave ran the famous McIntosh Performance Clinics, testing components in stores nationwide.

Product highlights of the decade were the introduction of the classic McIntosh stereo vacuum tube amplifiers, the MC225, MC240 and MC275. Shown are MC240s being hand assembled.

In 1969, McIntosh amplifiers powered Woodstock, a pivotal moment in music history. The festival featured three days of peace, love and music for the hundreds of thousands who attended.

First released in 1972, the MR78 Tuner redefined the FM tuner performance. The rest of the industry rethought and refined their tuner designs in response.

The Grateful Dead unveiled the “Wall of Sound” on March 23, 1974 at the San Francisco Cow Palace. A total of 48 McIntosh MC2300 amplifiers - delivering 28,800 Watts of power - was used in this groundbreaking sound system.

McIntosh loudspeakers continued to gain popularity throughout the decade. The XR5 (shown) and XR7 speaker was the flagship model that was made to be stacked two high for big sound.

Frank McIntosh retired in 1977 and Gordon Gow became President. Gordon is shown with the powerful microscope he encouraged dealers to use to check Phono Stylus.

McIntosh continued to earn patents through the 1980s. The MC2500 power amplifier was released in 1980 and earned patents.

Carl Van Gelder, Senior Speaker Engineer, is shown in the full sized McIntosh anechoic chamber. Thorough engineering creates the best speaker designs possible.

The XRT20 was one of the most innovative speakers of the decade. This was the introduction of our line array design for the home, which overcame many common speaker issues.

The MCD7000 was the first McIntosh CD Player. Great sound quality established McIntosh as a leader in CD Player design and also swayed many to become CD fans.

McIntosh introduces the industry's first complete THX certified system with the release of the C39 A/V Control Center, MC7106 6-Channel Amplifier and HT Series Loudspeakers.

The MC275 made its return to the McIntosh lineup in 1993 as a commemorative edition honoring Gordon Gow (1925-1989). Gow was one of the founders of McIntosh, a long time president and driving force behind McIntosh. The chassis featured a small badge on the front.

A McIntosh powered car hits the road. Consumers are given a choice of amplifiers with or without meters. Amplifiers with meters are the overwhelming choice!

To celebrate McIntosh's 50th Anniversary, the MC2000 Limited Edition vacuum tube power amplifier in was released in 1999. It was designed by Sidney Corderman, who came out of retirement for the project. Enthusiasm for the model was at an all‐time high as a result.

In 2001, Charlie Randall is named President & CEO - positions he holds to this day. Randall joined McIntosh in 1988 after graduating college. An electrical engineer by trade, he worked his way to VP of Engineering before becoming President & CEO.

In 2002, McIntosh developed the Harley Davidson riser mount radio. Sold through Harley dealerships, the radio could be added to many Harley models that lacked mobile audio.

The 100th anniversary Ford GT, introduced in 2003, featured a custom designed McIntosh sound system. This tribute to race winning cars of the 1960s featured a modern McIntosh sound performance.

In 2005, McIntosh launched the Reference System and rocked the industry at the Consumer Electronics Show.

The MT10 Precision Turntable system is introduced in 2007. The first McIntosh turntable, its design matches the styling and performance of classic McIntosh home audio systems.

To commemorate McIntosh's 60th Anniversary in 2009, the MXA60 Integrated Audio System was released. It was our first integrated system that featured sources, preamplifier, amplifier and speakers all in one unit.

AP1 is the first McIntosh application for iPad, iPhone and iPod. Now users may enjoy the traditional McIntosh user interface when they operate their Apple iTunes device.

In 2012, McIntosh sponsored a nearly year long exhibit on The Grateful Dead at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Most band members kept their McIntosh MC2300 amplifiers from the famed "Wall of Sound." Some were loaned by the band members to the Hall of Fame for the exhibit.

The first McIntosh Experience Center opened. Located in various dealer showrooms, they provide a way to see how a McIntosh system would look in a home setting.

We were extremely honored to be inducted into the Made in USA Foundation Hall of Fame.

The McIntosh McAire™ was our first wireless sound system. It featured Apple's AirPlay^® and brought the classic McIntosh look and sound to iTunes users.

A flagship AV Galleria store opened in Shanghai, China - the first standalone McIntosh retail location in the world. Its clean, modern design allows the McIntosh systems to grab all the attention.

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. founders Frank McIntosh (right) and Gordon Gow (left) were posthumously inducted into the Consumer Technology (CT) Hall of Fame in 2017.

In 2019, McIntosh celebrated its 70th Anniversary with 70 special Limited Edition Commemorative Systems. For each, McIntosh donated $1,000 to global humanitarian organization Save the Children.

2019 was also the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock, which was powered by McIntosh amplifiers. To honor this milestone, McIntosh presented the panel discussion “Can You Hear Me at the Back? Bill Hanley and the Woodstock Sound” at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

McIntosh's return to the automotive sector started in the Fall of 2020 with when a McIntosh Audio System was featured in the all-new Jeep^® Grand Wagoneer Concept.