MC275 club

[Formerly YB-2]

Dropped by Jimmy64's place to pick up an MCD301 Jimmy was selling. Got a chance to listen to his C2300/MC275MkVI as monoblocks driving his B&W 802D3s. Very nice. Going to have to give a listen to the 804D3s for my system.

[Lockheed Martin]

I have two MC275 50th Anniversary as mono blocks with KT-88z tubes driving the JBL K2 S9900. The sound is fantastic.

Thanks.

[JWJW]

Originally Posted by MainAnalog

Loving my MC275 . Has anyone tried the C22 pre-amp and bought it?

thanks

I had a C22....LOVED it!!!!!!! At the time, I upgraded to the C2600. I wish I would have kept it....regret selling it big time.

[MainAnalog]

Finally bit the bullet and took home a C22 to audition. Was mainly concerned over how good the MC would be vs current Phono Pre (PS audio GCPH) would sound

Short story - it's not going back. Simplified my system to boot. Really like the sound (day 6). I know it's not the C2500/2600 which gets all the talk here... but frankly I think my Benchmark DAC2 HGC DAC is superb so didn't want to buy another one ...

If I could figure out how to post a picture I would ;-)

[GeAllan70]

[Stahle]

Originally Posted by MainAnalog

Finally bit the bullet and took home a C22 to audition. Was mainly concerned over how good the MC would be vs current Phono Pre (PS audio GCPH) would sound

Short story - it's not going back. Simplified my system to boot. Really like the sound (day 6). I know it's not the C2500/2600 which gets all the talk here... but frankly I think my Benchmark DAC2 HGC DAC is superb so didn't want to buy another one ...

If I could figure out how to post a picture I would ;-)

From what I have been told, the C22 is every bit as good of preamp as the C2500 or C2600, it's just not as popular because it doesn't have meters, it doesn't have a DAC, and it doesn't exactly match other current McIntosh components. It's still on my short list to go with my MC275.

[MainAnalog]

For my needs ...

1) I don't need meters (maybe I'm not a true McIntosh customer? :-)
2) I believe the Benchmark DAC is still a generation ahead of McIntosh and if someone makes an amazing breakthrough I can just swap the DAC ...
3) plus all the digital is across the room far from the analog delivered via balanced cables
4) I actually use the loudness setting at low volume while working in my office
I know it's circa 19XX but I like it at low volumes for it's simplicity
5) matching the new McIntosh look was less important than sound ...

C22 was a a bit of a risk so it's not considered the one to get. I recommend others just close their eyes and listen ;-)

[Stahle]

Originally Posted by MainAnalog

For my needs ...

1) I don't need meters (maybe I'm not a true McIntosh customer? :-)
2) I believe the Benchmark DAC is still a generation ahead of McIntosh and if someone makes an amazing breakthrough I can just swap the DAC ...
3) plus all the digital is across the room far from the analog delivered via balanced cables
4) I actually use the loudness setting at low volume while working in my office
I know it's circa 19XX but I like it at low volumes for it's simplicity
5) matching the new McIntosh look was less important than sound ...

C22 was a a bit of a risk so it's not considered the one to get. I recommend others just close their eyes and listen ;-)

Did you have the opportunity to compare the C22 side by side with a C2600 or C2500? I recently borrowed a C2300 and swapped it out for my C15. The differences were not subtle. The C2300 was on an entirely different level, it was like going from AM to FM. If you did compare the two preamps, I would like to know your thoughts because I have yet to find anyone that has actually made that side by side comparison. The local dealers have never displayed a C22 so everything for me with that preamp is based on others interpretations. People say that it should sound like a C2300, but the local dealer asked the McIntosh design engineer as to whether or not it was basically a rebadged C2300 and the engineer told him that the C22 has its own unique design. This tells me that it will likely sound different.

I know that many here like the C2300 and so do I, but I prefer the design of the C22 because of it's old school functionality and look. I might just have to bite the bullet and buy one to go with my MC275.

[joshnich]

I have the new c22 and am using it with a pair of MC75's. I absolutely love it. I have not compared it to other MAC pre-amps so I cannot comment in that regard. Love the phono stage as well!

Josh

[jamont]

New member here, after years of contemplation I just ordered the MC275 from my local dealer, to use with B&W 805 D3's. Looking forward to its arrival in the near future!

I have two questions. First, wondering about tube life of the KT88's, what other users have found. Also wondering if it's worthwhile to use balanced interconnects?