#11
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In my experience the preamp makes the biggest difference.
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Main System Basis 2200 Signature/Vector 4/Transfiguration Proteus Ortofon Cadenza Black Allnic H3000/CJ ET5/Mcintosh 501's Thiel CS3.6 Thiel CS6 MIT EVO 2 IC Straightwire Maestro II SC Shunyata Denali SV2 Shunyata Sigma XC Wywires Juice PC’s Kubala Sosna PC’s Dedicated 20 amp lines Porter Ports Arcici Ref Suspense Stand Rives acoustically designed room Shore House Basis 1400 Signature/Hadcock 228/Ortofon Jubilee ARC PH 5/Meridian 200/Meridian 263 DAC CJ Premier 14/Classe CA200/Thiel 3.6 Wywires Silver IC/Stereolab Diablo SC/MIT Z cord II |
#12
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How about starting with #1...... live with it for a while and then upgrade to a pair of MC611's or better yet MC1.25K's?
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#13
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The most important link in the chain is room acoustics. Try adding some sound panels at primary and secondary reflection points and some corner bass traps. Later add some diffusor panels. You will definitely think that you have purchased a whole new system. Spending money without treating the sound space is not a good idea. 🎶🎶🎶
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#14
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Definitely go for the C-1100 preamp. You will never have to buy another preamp. Enjoy the 302 until you can upgrade. It's good to buy a component that you can build the rest of your system around for years to come.
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#15
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Tube preamp with a good set of tubes like Telefunken smooth plate or the Gold Lion Cryogenic treated with gold pins should make quite a difference.
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McIntosh C2300 preamp, MC601 monoblocks (x2), Vandersteen 2CE Signature II Speakers, Marantz AV8802a preamp processor, Marantz MA500 monoblocks amps, Small Audio Manufacture (SAM) Turntable, Polk Audio Center, Rear Left and Rear Right speakers, SVS Front High Left and Front High Right speakers, Chrysalis Bass Matrix-12 Sub woofer. |
#16
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I had the McIntosh MC302 with the Martin Logan Spires in the past , just preamplifiers I have hard time with, also like the C22
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McIntosh MR87 tuner, McIntosh D1100 as dac & preamp , McIntosh MC462 power amp, Apple iPad Pro 11” M2 cpu for media streaming, AudioQuest Carbon USB-C to USB 2.0 interconnect , Magnepan MG 0.7 speakers , JL Audio Dominion d110 subwoofer Last edited by miatadan; 09-22-2018 at 06:37 PM. |
#17
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Quote:
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MCD500,C1100,C45,MC501(2),MC601(1), (MC2301(2) on the way). |
#18
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Miatadan, I think you have the answer to your question.
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#19
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Neither, the quality and design of the mid-range driver.
Last edited by BuffaloBill; 09-24-2018 at 10:14 AM. |
#20
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I have enjoyed an MC452 for about three years now, compared it to the MC302 and the MAC6700 I used to own and there's something about the "quad balanced" design that to me, just sounds more musical.
I'd second the recommendation for snagging a pre-owned MC452. I'd also think about having a tube preamp. I changed out a C50 for a C2500 and found acoustic instruments and voices (to me) sounded more "musical".
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McIntosh C2500 pre amp, MC452 power amp, Autonomic MMS-5A server, PS Audio P15 power plant, DirectStream DAC, DirectStream CD transport, Focal Sopra No2 speakers, JL Audio F113V2 sub woofers (2), Sennheiser HD800 headphones, Dell laptop iTunes/Tidal/Roon, Wireworld cabling |
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