Let's Talk About Pre amps

[1KW]

I was hoping when I went to the new Mcintosh dealer near me I would want to run out and replace my C220 with a C500; I wanted to be impressed but instead I am thinking not so fast. I understand when pre amps were first built it was with the need to amplify tunners as well as the phono output from a cartridge. Since most of my listening is digital and many Mcintosh cdp have variable outputs with enough power to drive amplifiers directly a pre amp is optional. I have played my MCD500 direct to the MC501's fully balanced I can attest that the sound is very good. What I missed most was not having tone controls. I put the C220 back in the system and have since added a sub. so now the tone controls are flat except on the rare occasion that I play a little vinyl. I am looking forward to hearing the MEN220 in my system as I am contemplating possibly going MCD500 to MEN220 to MC501's and not having a pre amp. I realize I will lose my TT but my music server is better than 90 % of my listening.

[Supercronopio]

You need to hear a new pre-amp in YOUR system in YOUR house. You can't always trust the sound of a component at a dealer showroom.

[jdandy]

David.......It is my experience with two seperate systems, the sound is better with a balanced preamplifier in the system. I have tried my MCD500 in the main system connected direct to the MC501 amps. I have tried my MCD500 in the studio system connected direct to the MC352, and to the two mono MC275 amps. With all three amplifier setups, I prefered the systems sound, synergy, and overall presentation with the preamps in the systems verses a direct CD player connetion to the amps.

The MCD500 and the MDA1000 connected direct have been discussed any number of times here. It basically boils down to personal preference. Greg loves his MCD500 direct to his MC2102, and others prefer this arrangement. My preference is to have a preamplifier in the system. I believe the line stage output from the MCD500 provides a cleaner output signal than the variable output. Everyone is different, but discounting the advantages of a seperate balanced preamplifer without a real audition does not provide actual results, only deduced logic, which is nothing more than to infer from a general principle that your decision is correct without a proof source.

I would try to get a dealer to allow you a home audition of the C500 or a C1000 over a weekend. Once you have this experience under your belt, you will be able to make a decision based on your experiences, and not based on any assumptions, or other individual's opinions.

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by 1KW

I.........listening.

[jdandy]

Bob.......That quote is hilarious!

[vintage_tube]

I had to walk away, I was laughing so hard.

[PHC1]

David, if you enjoy a flat, 2 dimensional, cardboard like presentation in front of you, you will be happy without a preamp or MEN220 between your MCD500 and 501s. Me? I like a voluminous, billowing soundstage that allows me to peak around the instruments and into every corner of the acoustic space where the recording took place. While I love the Ayre KX-R for 99% of what it does, there is one thing the all tubed including power supply Lamm LL2D does a little better, it's recreating a 3 dimensional soundstage in front of me with very real and palpable images of instruments and vocalists. It's what the Wilson speakers love to do but need a good tube preamp in the system to do it. The SF speakers are capable of doing much of the same.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Bob.......That quote is hilarious!

Who deleted something??

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by Stillone

Who deleted something??

I deleted everything David wrote except for the 1st and last word & put those two as a quote, so to speak.

[JFR0317]

Obviously, an "average listener!"