McIntosh’s Flagship C1100 Tube Preamplifier....

[djwhog]

Was your impressions J3 similar to what I wrote from reading the review?

How do you feel in total about the mode from the 500 stack?

[j3brow]

Entire system overhaul. Different room, speakers, amps, sources. So I can't give an accurate comparison. Too many variables. As you know, the specs are improved. I think Tone Audio's review is very helpful with the head-to-head C1000 comparison. He claims all 3 C1000 owners preferred the sound of new C1100. Contrary to many beliefs here, I am in the camp that says C1000 and C500 are identical sonically.

[djwhog]

OK , I hear where you are coming from, thank you very honest!

[leftside]

I love the C1100. It made a bunch of people sell C500's, and one finally came across my path for a price that didn't break my overdraft facility

[o0OBillO0o]

The C1100 is no doubt a flagship offering. I just feel so partial to the C500/C1000 casework/deign. The old vs new price give that away too me.

As a McIntosh Fan, it's awesome.

[j3brow]

Fellow C1100 owners, does your C1100 run hot? Like significantly hotter than your previous Mcintosh tube preamp?

Mine sure does.

I know it's supposed to be hot, it's a tube preamp, but compared to the C2300 and C500T I have owned, it's a real heater!! I don't remember either the 2300 or 500 being anything more than warm on the top plate.

My C1100 top casework is hot to the touch, not so much I pull hand back but hot nonetheless.

I wonder if this is typical of most tube preamps using 12ax7s and 12AT7s?

This preamp does contain more tubes, 4 more IIRC, compared with C500. I also remember reading when McIntosh first announced the C1100 commentary regarding the tube circuit is a different design compared with the C500/C1000 preamps with the implementation of more/different tubes more akin to a "truer" tube design whatever that means.

Is the C1100 the first Mcintosh preamp to use 12AT7 tubes?


Maybe this is why it runs hotter as now more is demanded of the tubes in this preamp compared with older/other McIntosh tube preamps?

My MC601s being solid state and no more than loafing 95% of the time are as cool as the other side of the pillow.

I do have my C1100T/C boxes stacked with the tube component on top and slotted shelving to help with air flow although the rack sits inside a wall cabinet.

So, fellow C1100 owners .... is the top of your casework pretty darn hot too????

[Blueoak]

Originally Posted by j3brow

Fellow C1100 owners, does your C1100 run hot? Like significantly hotter than your previous Mcintosh tube preamp?

Mine sure does.

I know it's supposed to be hot, it's a tube preamp, but compared to the C2300 and C500T I have owned, it's a real heater!! I don't remember either the 2300 or 500 being anything more than warm on the top plate.

My C1100 top casework is hot to the touch, not so much I pull hand back but hot nonetheless.

I wonder if this is typical of most tube preamps using 12ax7s and 12AU7s?

This preamp does contain more tubes, 4 more IIRC, compared with C500. I also remember reading when McIntosh first announced the C1100 commentary regarding the tube circuit is a different design compared with the C500/C1000 preamps with the implementation of more/different tubes more akin to a "truer" tube design whatever that means.

Is the C1100 the first Mcintosh preamp to use 12AU7 tubes?


Maybe this is why it runs hotter as now more is demanded of the tubes in this preamp compared with older/other McIntosh tube preamps?

My MC601s being solid state and no more than loafing 95% of the time are as cool as the other side of the pillow.

I do have my C1100T/C boxes stacked with the tube component on top and slotted shelving to help with air flow although the rack sits inside a wall cabinet.

So, fellow C1100 owners .... is the top of your casework pretty darn hot too????

I'm not quite the baller like you, Jason, but my C2600 runs hot.

[j3brow]

Good to know. Maybe the newer generation tube preamps run hotter than their recent counterparts....

[jdandy]

Jason.......You are operating a total of 12 tubes under the top cover, six 12AX7's and six 12AT7's. There is a heater coil in each of those glass bottles radiating BTU's that must be dissipated. Since the only vent holes in the top cover of the preamplifier section are at the rear, I would expect the remainder of the top cover and side panels to be absorbing a portion of those BTU's. Since the top cover is not too hot to force you to remove your hand, it is likely that the preamplifier is working within its design perimeters. Make sure you are providing adequate ventilation. If you still have concerns, you can always mount a small cooling fan on the vent holes to pull additional air through the chassis.

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by j3brow

Fellow C1100 owners, does your C1100 run hot? Like significantly hotter than your previous Mcintosh tube preamp?

So, fellow C1100 owners .... is the top of your casework pretty darn hot too????

No.

My two box is sitting on the middle shelf of an open 3 shelf rack. The shelf it's sitting on, to the bottom of the shelf above is 14.25 inches. Therefore, there is plenty of breathing room considering & is cool to the touch (both boxes, front, sides, rear).

When I received the unit, naturally I read the manual. What struck me odd, and got my attention after having a C500T combo at a time prior, was page 7 in which it states "....do not stack the C1100T on top of the C1100C."

I called Chuck Hinton after reading that -- and so, placed HRS100's under the C1100T to give it an additional inch clearance from the C1100C.

You should look at ventilation fans if yours is running hot to the touch -- like you stated, my C500T combo was cool as well.

According to the manual, at least the impression it portrays; of the two boxes, the C1100C would be the warmer -- not the C1100T. I've never measured with an infrared.

Best Sir,

Bob