McIntosh C53 2-Channel Solid State Preamplifier
 

https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/new-products/C53

Just saw it on Facebook, I'm not a huge fan of the EQ, but I dig it!

C53 price
 

$8,000?!? = ridiculous. JMHO. Sorry.
Is the amp section of a MA9000 only worth a few grand more?

So I bought a MA-5300 the day it came out for the upgradeable function of the DA1 module. So if the DA2 is out: 1) Can I upgrade; 2) what is the cost; 3) what are the DAC specs.

I wonder if its just the C 5200 with the Dac module. Wonder if they're going to do a D-200 and D1200 now?

The only significant difference between McIntosh C52 and C53 is DA2 Digital Audio Module?

What is the price of McIntosh C52?

C52 is $7,000

I don't tend to use the 8 band EQ on my MA8000 that much, but it's sure nice to have when certain music demands adjustments. Especially as some of my older vinyl records often need. When the EQ is not engaged, the signal path does not touch that circuit so its existence is supposed to have zero effect on the sound.

This new C53 looks like a real keeper to me. At least until the next greatest improvement in digital sound hits the street. Yes, they do say it can be upgraded, but you know...

The price of the C52 was just raised from $7,000 to $7,500 and now the C53 is $8,000! Prices are getting out of hand.

Hi gsabath! Welcome to the show. Have no idea if your 5300 can be upgraded to the new DA2 module, but a quick call to Mc will get your answer.

gsabath... Welcome to AA! :wave:

and thanks for your Support becoming a Subscriber. :ok:

You should see the U.K. prices:

C52 £8,200 ($10,600)
C53 £9,995 ($13,000)

Yes the MA5300 is upgradable.

Thanks all for the info that the MA5300 can be upgraded. Hopefully this will be a reasonable cost. I would rather have the upgade then have to go and buy a non-Mc DAC for the addition performance.

I’m interested at to why McIntosh prices are substantially more in the U.K. than the U.S. I guess there’s a fair amount of import tariff applied over here, but us Brits also have to pay a very high level of sales tax (called VAT) which is 20%. If the MC53 is $8,000 is there U.S. sales tax to pay on top of this amount ?

McIntosh C53 2-Channel Solid State Preamplifier
 

Only if the state where you purchase it charges a sales tax which most do. The state I live in doesn’t have sales tax so I wouldn’t have any additional charges over the $8,000 retail.

Mc's are made in America and we don't have a value added taxation system. (At least not yet), I'm sure the UK charges a duty on these products to equalize them to a level playing field for your good UK manufacturers. I could be wrong, but I'd suspect that's the reason for the price discrepancy.

Sales taxes are statewide and vary tremendously from one jurisdiction to the next. Where I live it's 9.875%

No one is going to bring up the Boston Tea Party and taxation without representation? :lmao:

Taxation is often the reason Audio buyers purchase their equipment at places like Overture A/V in Delaware. No sales tax is applied thus saving hundreds (possibly thousands) of dollars if you happen to live in the nearby area.

I do and I have. :yes: My ex 501 monoblocks as well as a few other McIntosh items were purchased there for that reason.

The more hands an item has to pass through, the more is added to the price to you. I have queried the UK prices of US goods many times and the usual response is “we all have to make a living!”

And don’t forget currency fluctuations: a company exporting from the USA to Europe (or the opposite) will also want to protect its revenue from variations in the exchange rates. $8,000 in EUR (or GBP or DKK, etc) today might not be the same three or six months down the road.

AudoStream. on the C53


https://www.audiostream.com/content/...digital-module

Out of curiosity, I recall McIntosh mentioning upgradability path some years back now but have they actually ever offered an upgrade to any modules? :scratch2:

Wondering the same thing Serge

The first thing I thought when I saw the DA2 is are all of the other components that have the DA1 now going to be sold with the DA2 when purchased new? I’m considering purchasing an MA9000 and if I ordered one and it had to come direct from McIntosh rather than dealer stock, I would not be happy if it didn’t have the DA2.

Have useful in reality is the HDMI input on this new DAC2.

The Audiostream review says a flat panel TV can be connected but surely the audio would be out of sync with the TV ? I’ve an MA8000 (with the older built in 2 channel DAC) and I’ve tried pushing my TV audio through it using the TV’s SPDIF (Toslink) connector (there’s no HDMI input on amp) and the audio is behind the picture hence unwatchable. So I have to use the TV analogue audio output via headphone socket and go into the amp via unbalanced RCA input.

I suppose the HDMI input could be used with audio source components but how many have an HDMI output. And what advantage would this give compared to the way I do this via a digital co-axial cable ?

Is this DAC2 a bit overrated then ? :dunno:

I was about to order C2600 and was told that a new tube pre is coming out as well. Hope it gets this DA2 module!

Maybe a good opportunity to purchase an MA9000 from a dealer with old stock at nice discounted price :thumbsup:

I had the same issue on the audio only HDMI of the most recent Oppo Blu-ray player. I had to tinker with the audio synch settings, but I did eventually achieve a good match.

What holds me back on upgrading to one of the new Mc preamps is the lack of a tuner module. I am still using my old C45 with the TM1 tuner module. If I upgrade preamps, I also have to add a tuner.

This is an excellent question. Obviously, ARC HDMI connection points offer two-way communication. One benefit for the apartment dweller (without the space for a full blown home theater system) who desires the audio from his TV to be through his audio system would be waking up the C53 by simply turning on the TV. As for other benefits in comparison to the standard Toslink output from the TV, I have no idea.

Every flat panel TV I have ever owned has had a way to change the delay in the audio to make the TV sync with an external sound device. Not all refer to this using the same terminology, but its usually called "lip sync delay" or something along those lines.

I vaguely remember reading that upgrades were estimated to be in the $2000 price range when they first revealed the switchable DACs on the integrated amps. I don't recall the source or if that was just speculation.

Ouch!! I can buy a new Benchmark or 2 RME for that amount if true.

It’s going to be interesting to see how McIntosh plays this out.

Will they offer a multi-bit module?
Will they stay with their current Delta/Sigma DAC architecture?

There are some excellent DAC’s in the $2k price class. I own a Benchmark DAC3 HGC and a Schiit Yggdrasil and they are both very different sounding.

I’m hoping McIntosh is wildly successful with this strategy so the price of older gear, specifically the MA 8000, will drop as people upgrade. :)

I doubt Mac is looking for the “cost effective “ option.
I think they are trying to allow owners of older amps to maintain compatibility with newer formats and higher Rez.
I also doubt that sound quality is their driving force for the DAC modules.

Mike S.

Good point Mike!