I wanted to see what Mcintosh was up to before I replaced my C220. While I was thinking of getting a new tube pre amp. I am interested in seeing what if any improvements the C50 and C48 bring to the table other than digital inputs ?

You will be taking that nice Nikon with you correct?

__________________
AMP's: D'Agostino Momentum's
Pre Amp: Mcintosh C-1000 & C-1000P
Sources: McIntosh MCD-1100 & MS-300, Olive 4HD, SonoS, Pro-Ject 6 PerspeX
Speakers: MBL 111F
Cables: Transparent Ultra MM2 & Reference MM2 & Powerlink MM2x

Am I to understand that this new generation of Mc pre amps will have built in DAC's???

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Shindo/DeVore Super 8's

One good thing about music: When it hits you, you feel no pain.

Bob Marley

We are a dealer and I would take the Italian site with a grain of salt. Also some of the sage, in the know posters are often wrong. I wouldn't be surprised if the product they showed was for getting feedback from dealers before they put the final product into production. That means I doubt if you will see any of the product available for delivery until way after the first of the year.

Stephen.......I see where David made the comment. "I am interested in seeing what if any improvements the C50 and C48 bring to the table other than digital inputs." I'm not sure where his information came from about digital inputs on the two new preamp models, but I am skeptical about the inclusion of DACs in any preamp. The reason for my skepticism is the rapid aging of DACs in this very fast paced area of advancing digital technology. A preamp with outdated built in DAC's would be a dinosaur in short order. This would not only impact its future desirability, but also negatively impact resale value. Personally, I would not purchase a preamplifier with a built in DAC. I would be extremely surprised if McIntosh were to take that step with any preamplifier model.

__________________
Dan


Living Room System: McIntosh C2300, MC601 (2), MCD1100, MS750, MR85, Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD-40, Ortofon 2M Black, Sonos ZP90, Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray, PMC EB1i, Fathom f113 w/ Sound Anchor stand, Power Plant Premier (2), PS Audio Soloist Premier SE (3), Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Kimber 8TC with WBT Solid Silver Angled Locking Banana Connectors.
Studio System: McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MCD1100, MR88, Michell Gyro SE w/SME 309/Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonos ZP90, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario, Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireword Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Wireworld Silver Eclipse speaker cable.
Studio Home Theater System: McIntosh MX120, MC452, Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, JBL LSR-6332 (2), JBL LSR-6328P (3), McIntosh XLS112 (2), Sony 52XBR9, Tributaries Silver IC's, Wireworld PC's.
Vintage: McIntosh MA5100, MR74 tuner, JVC XL-Z1050 K2 CD player, Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Tandberg 3008A and 3026A, JBL4312A , McIntosh 4300V for deck speakers.

Dan
I could see where DAC's might be added to pre-amps in the future. The days where one requires analog inputs seem to be numbered. Other than vinyl what sources really require analog inputs. Not newer tuners, not computers, not CD players/transports, or SonoS type products. How long will manufacturers keep providing numerous inputs for legacy products.

Your point is very valid that DAC's have been going thru rapid improvements recently. If that continues that could be an issue. I am not sure McIntosh can survive by just by offering the same products and not providing connections for the next generation of music lovers.
Jim

__________________
AMP's: D'Agostino Momentum's
Pre Amp: Mcintosh C-1000 & C-1000P
Sources: McIntosh MCD-1100 & MS-300, Olive 4HD, SonoS, Pro-Ject 6 PerspeX
Speakers: MBL 111F
Cables: Transparent Ultra MM2 & Reference MM2 & Powerlink MM2x

Any pics on the C48 & C50?

__________________
Mike
~Your pet is your best investment~

Preamps/tuners:McIntosh C50, C46, MR88, MR73, C2200, C22ce, Cary SPL-98L
Integrate amps:McIntosh MA6100, Denon PMA2000ivr
Amps: McIntosh Mc602, Mc2000, Mc275 MK-V, Cary 805ae mono blocks.
Speakers: JMLab Mezzo Utopia, Focal Twin6 BE, Tannoy Mini Autograph
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800, Beyer T1, Denon D7000, Grado RS1i, Sony MDR-SA5000, MDR-Z1000, AKG K701, and many many more
Digital Sources:Sony SCD-1 & SCD777es, CDP-XA7es, 2010 Mac Mini Music Server, Amarra Mini player, Musical Fidelity V-Link & M1 DAC, Apogee Mini-DAC & Duet 2

Dam and Jim,

Good points both of you. Thanks.

__________________
Shindo/DeVore Super 8's

One good thing about music: When it hits you, you feel no pain.

Bob Marley

Word on the street.
C50 has USB and 8 knobs for eq. 2 meters, same size as C2300
$6k

Imagine a C2300 with EQ knobs.

__________________
Mike
~Your pet is your best investment~

Preamps/tuners:McIntosh C50, C46, MR88, MR73, C2200, C22ce, Cary SPL-98L
Integrate amps:McIntosh MA6100, Denon PMA2000ivr
Amps: McIntosh Mc602, Mc2000, Mc275 MK-V, Cary 805ae mono blocks.
Speakers: JMLab Mezzo Utopia, Focal Twin6 BE, Tannoy Mini Autograph
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800, Beyer T1, Denon D7000, Grado RS1i, Sony MDR-SA5000, MDR-Z1000, AKG K701, and many many more
Digital Sources:Sony SCD-1 & SCD777es, CDP-XA7es, 2010 Mac Mini Music Server, Amarra Mini player, Musical Fidelity V-Link & M1 DAC, Apogee Mini-DAC & Duet 2

Jim.......I see your point of view, but analog inputs will be necessary for years to come to support what you refer to as legacy products. Is McIntosh just suppose to ignore tuners (yes the MR88 has digital out, but it is a rare feature), tape decks, external DACs, turntables (MM and MC), phono stage preamps, external processors, etc?

I support the approach that many manufacturers are taking, like Bryston, Accuphase, and others, where a DAC is offered that can be installed in the preamp as an option. This would allow users who wish to have an internal DAC that ability, plus be able to upgrade to new technology in the future providing the manufacturer supports the upgrade path. This same approach would save other individuals the added expense of investing in a DAC they may not wish or need in a preamplifier.

I like the idea of high-end universal disc players offering additional multiple digital inputs. I think they should include a minimum of two coax, an AES, an optical, a USB, and Ethernet. Well equipped external DAC's are also a great way to go. Your Esoteric D-07 is a fine example of an excellent external DAC, and so is the Bryston BDA-1.

As consumers, we have a long wish list, and rarely find all the features and performance we want in a single product. We dream, and then select the products that are the closet fit with our desires. That's a large part of what makes this hobby fun, and keeps it interesting.

__________________
Dan


Living Room System: McIntosh C2300, MC601 (2), MCD1100, MS750, MR85, Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD-40, Ortofon 2M Black, Sonos ZP90, Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray, PMC EB1i, Fathom f113 w/ Sound Anchor stand, Power Plant Premier (2), PS Audio Soloist Premier SE (3), Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Kimber 8TC with WBT Solid Silver Angled Locking Banana Connectors.
Studio System: McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MCD1100, MR88, Michell Gyro SE w/SME 309/Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonos ZP90, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario, Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireword Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Wireworld Silver Eclipse speaker cable.
Studio Home Theater System: McIntosh MX120, MC452, Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, JBL LSR-6332 (2), JBL LSR-6328P (3), McIntosh XLS112 (2), Sony 52XBR9, Tributaries Silver IC's, Wireworld PC's.
Vintage: McIntosh MA5100, MR74 tuner, JVC XL-Z1050 K2 CD player, Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Tandberg 3008A and 3026A, JBL4312A , McIntosh 4300V for deck speakers.