If there’s one manufacturer we really associate with HEAVY hi-fi, it’s McIntosh. The long-established American manufacturer is known for its muscular high-end amplifiers that can drive even the heaviest-driven speakers, and the amps with the classic blue VU meters on the front and beefy power supplies inside evoke big feelings from hi-fi enthusiasts.
The latest product from McIntosh, on the other hand, is rather … well, light!
McIntosh LB200 Light Box
The McIntosh LB200 Light Box is simply an empty box with the McIntosh logo on it. It is the size of a standard 43 cm wide CD player, and the idea is that it will fit into a larger setup with other McIntosh components. The box is designed to be decorative, and the green McIntosh logo lights up when the rest of the system is switched on.
The LB200 Light Box can easily be mistaken for a fully grown hi-fi amplifier from the same manufacturer. However, it is completely empty inside, and the void can be filled with smaller devices such as an Apple TV or a TV receiver, or power supplies, cables and the like to keep the “hi-fi altar” neat and tidy.
The LB200 is equipped with an IR transmitter/receiver that amplifies signals from remote controls. However, Wi-Fi routers are not recommended to be placed inside the box.
And the price?
Despite the lean interior, the McIntosh box isn’t exactly cheap. The LB200 costs $1,500 in the US. You can get a pretty good stereo amp for that.
Alternatively, if you can’t afford a bulky McIntosh rig, you can buy this box and put another amp inside, disguised as a veritable “Big Mack”. We’ve checked the dimensions, and a nifty little Sonos Amp might just fit through the crack …
PS: For those who can’t get enough of VU meters, there’s also an iconic McIntosh clock for the bedside table …
It would sound better if it had blue VU meters.