HiFi PiG VISITS THE MCINTOSH GROUP HOUSE OF SOUND IN NYC

In April, Lin and Stu of HiFi PiG took the opportunity to have a snoofle around the rather spectacular McIntosh House of Sound in New York.

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The McIntosh Group Experience Center, House of Sound is a one-of-a-kind showroom concept designed as an immersive space to showcase McIntosh Group brands products: McIntosh Laboratory, Sonus faber, Rotel, Pro-ject Audio Systems, and Sumiko.

HOUSE OF SOUND NYC

Described as a “thoughtfully curated home that offers invited guests a unique, all-encompassing sensory experience”, House of Sound is located in the Chelsea area of Manhattan, NYC. A highly desirable address in one of the most vibrant cities in the world, House of Sound is, from street level, very ordinary looking, the exterior gives no hint to what delights lie within.

We were taken on a tour of the house by the lovely and very knowledgeable Ricky. The McIntosh Group team very much use the House of Sound as their office, and playground, with plenty of events taking place, including what sound like the best movie nights you could possibly have.

The tour takes you through different rooms and systems spread over the building in a very relaxed way, and to be quite honest by the time you get around halfway through, you have already mentally ‘moved in’.

We started on the roof terrace, which had been hosting an eclipse event just the day before …you really are struck by the fact that you are in the heart of the city, though once you descend into the house you are wrapped in a wonderful sense of calm, which just so happens to have a great soundtrack.

The high end location might make you think that only the highest-end gear would make it into the listening rooms, but it is done in a very clever way showing systems that take into account the room sizes and different budgets, that you could also imagine in your own home. But of course, there is the true McIntosh and Sonus faber flagship system in the main lounge, and, downstairs, a home cinema that would rival many pro ones.

We spent a very pleasant couple of hours in the House of Sound, it is definitely well worth a visit. Huge thanks to Ricky, David and the team for their hospitality.

THE SYSTEMS

First Floor – Home Theatre

McIntosh MC611 x 9 Monoblock Amplifiers  $8,000 each

McIntosh MI502 x 10 Stereo Amplifiers $4,500 each

McIntosh MX180 Home Theatre Processor $17,000

Sonus Faber Arena 30 x 3 Custom Installation Speaker $15,000 each

Sonus Faber Arena 20 x 6 Custom Installation Speaker $10,000 each

Sonus Faber Arena 10 In-ceiling Custom Install Speaker x 4 $7,000 each

Sonus Faber Arena S15 x 16 Custom Installation Subwoofer $7,000 each

Second Floor – Reference System 1

McIntosh MC2.1KW Monoblock Power Amplifiers $50,000 each

McIntosh MC1.25KW Monoblock Power Amplifiers $13,500 each

McIntosh C12000/ST Analogue Preamplifier $16,000

McIntosh MCD12000 SACD/CD Player $12,000

McIntosh MT10 Turntable $12,000

McIntosh MEN220 Room Correction $6,000

Sonus Faber Suprema Speaker $750,000

Third Floor – Listening Room 1

Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 $6,500 Speakers

Rotel Michi P5 Series 2 $4,599.99 Preamplifier

Rotel Michi S5 $7,999.99 Stereo Power Amplifier

Rotel RA 6000 $4,699.99 Integrated Amplifier

Rotel DT 6000 $2,299.99 DAC Transport

Rotel RAS 5000 $2,999.99 Integrated Network Streamer

Pro-Ject RPM 9 Carbon $3,799.99 Balanced Turntable

Audioquest cables

Listening Room 2

Sonus Faber Electa Amator III $10,000

McIntosh C53 $8,500 Preamplifier

McIntosh MC275 $6,500 Stereo Power Amplifier

McIntosh MCT500 $5,500 SACD/CD Transport

McIntosh MA12000 $15,000 Integrated Amplifier

McIntosh MT2 $5,000 Turntable

McIntosh MPC500 $3,000 Power Controller

McIntosh cables

Vinyl Library

Pro-Ject Turntables, Pro-Ject headphone amps and Audioquest cables

Fifth Floor – Reference System 2

McIntosh XRT2.1K $140,000 speakers

McIntosh C2700 $8,500 Preamplifer

McIntosh MCD600 $8,000 SACD/CD Player

McIntosh MT5 $7,500 Turntable

McIntosh MEN220 $6,000 Room Correction

McIntosh MC2KW (replaced by MC2.1KW $50,000 ea) Monoblock Amplifier

Audioquest cables

Kitchen and Terrace

McIntosh RS250 $3,000 Wireless Speaker

Sonus Faber Aster $450 Indoor/Outdoor Speaker

Linette Smith