Delmac.......The McIntosh C2600 comes from the factoru with McIntosh branded 12AX7 tubes manufactured by JJ Tubes. These tubes are not bad sounding at all, although JJ Tubes are not known for long service life. That is the primary reason I avoid JJ tubes in my equipment. Gold Lion 12AX7 gold pin tubes (ECC83/B759/12AX7) and 12AT7 gold pin tubes (ECC81/B739/12AT7) are considerably more reliable. Best of all
the Gold Lion tubes have a detailed yet liquid smooth organic sound with extremely low noise level. In other words, Gold Lion tubes are an excellent choice for replacement of the McIntosh factory branded tubes. Put the factory tubes in storage as spares and load your C2600 with Gold Lion tubes. Once they have about 60 ours on them you will be very pleased you made the change.
Note, you only need to swap the tubes in the line stage (one 12AX7 and one 12AT7) and the phono stage (two 12AX7) you are using. If you are not using the moving magnet phono stage, leave the factory tubes in place there. It will save you the cost of two extra tubes you won't be using. If you're not using either of the two phono stages in the C2600 then only replace the two line stage tubes.
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Dan
STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113
VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A
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