C712 back from the Upgrade Company
 

I got my C712 pre-amp back from the Upgrade Company today. For those of you not aware of it, the company, through its principle David Schulte has gotten excellent feed back for upgrading high end components via better parts, wiring, damping, shielding, and who knows what else. Awhile back Victor from AK said that his MC252, after upgrade sounded like MC501's.

The bad news it that UPS broke the front glass on the trip back.

According to David Schulte, it will need about 600 hours of burn in.

Now, with only a few hours, I would say it has more bass thrust and sounds more dynamic than before. The mid range and highs are now tight with the sound stage as before or possibly slightly constricted. I expect it to open up substantially during burn in.

David,

Very sorry to hear of your broken glass...:tears: Leave it to these shipping companies. I've had this happen before too, and believe me I feel your pain. Was the unit shipped in the factory carton? I don't know how you plan to replace the glass, it can be done at home with some patience. I've replaced glass before but not on a 712. I would certainly file a claim wth UPS.

Your initial impressions of the upgrade seem favorable, I hope all the headaches ultimately prove to be worthwhile for you. Good luck!

Pete

David.......What a damn shame about the front glass. Will McIntosh be able to sell you another C712 glass? Was the preamp shipped in the McIntosh factory boxes?


http://alumni.cse.ucsc.edu/~sherman/...ntosh_C712.jpg

Thanks. Very well packed in a double box, but not factory boxes. I have both put in a claim and ordered a replacement glass panel from Mac. How my heart sunk when I saw that. I think some jack ass at UPS booted it because it was stamped "fragile".

David,

If McIntosh doesn't have a C712 Glass in inventory and there will be an extended wait, check with Ryan at Audio Classics. He might just have one.

Pete

Yes in stock at McIntosh, and they're shipping via UPS ground :confused-22:. Well packed I'm sure.

I recall ron-c saying in a post on AK that with relatively efficient speakers and at normal listening levels, most would not be able to hear a difference between a MC252, MC402, and MC501. So Victor is probably correct.

I would have to dig out his post, but I felt it was clear he heard a definite improvement in the 252 to the level of the MC501 on a (his) system where he did some swapping in and out. As I recall the upgraded 252 sounded better, like the 501 on that system. On the other hand you have a point that if the speakers are efficient enough, maybe the amps all sound the same.

The Upgrade Company recommends doing a source first followed by a preamp, then amp. Hopefully, the humble C712 will improve to above its pay grade. It would be fun to compare it to a C46 or even C500 when it is completely broken in.

600 hours? Good grief, I'd give it one hundred or two but isn't that really stretching it out?

Gordon

He uses some Blackgate capacitors which are known to take a long time. I suspect that I will hear improvements well before 600 hours.