To Virgil, McIntosh was more than a product and more than a brand. McIntosh audio products anchored the soundscape of his Louis Vuitton design studio. The system wasn’t just for background sound; it was part of the atmosphere that fueled his creative output. It’s easy to imagine iconic Virgil Abloh pieces taking shape as music flowed through the studio, our blue meters pulsating and vacuum tubes glowing in harmony with the rhythms of his design process, together inspiring ideas that moved across studios, runways, and galleries.
McIntosh x Virgil Abloh – MA8950 Integrated Amplifier Concept
In 2020, Virgil imagined a special series of McIntosh pieces to amplify his mission and share it with the world. The pandemic delayed those conversations, and tragically, Virgil passed away in 2021 after a battle with cancer. But we are now proud to present one of Virgil’s singular pieces: the McIntosh x Virgil Abloh – MA8950 Integrated Amplifier Concept.
It is an unapologetic tribute to Virgil and everyone like him that is bold enough to shape culture and to use music to inspire and create lasting ideas. Finished in vibrant orange, a color Virgil used as a signal of energy, visibility, and disruption, this one-of-one amplifier transforms the classic McIntosh black-and-silver aesthetic into a design statement through Virgil’s lens.
Unveiled on September 30, on what would have been Virgil’s 45th birthday, at “Virgil Abloh: The Codes” at the Grand Palais in Paris, the piece is both homage and evolution. Created with the Virgil Abloh Archive™, it reflects a shared belief: that sound and design are cultural languages.
