С2200 vs С2300

[autosky]

Friends. I select to myself a preamplifier for the MC501.
What preamplifier is better 2200 or 2300?
Or there can be any another?
At present MC501 works with Classe cp60
Thanks.

[TWiiii]

If you are not interested in digital or believe in separate DACS, I would seriously look at the new C-22 just released. The C-2300 is supposed to better than C2200 in all respects, with a very up to date Phono section the C2200 doesn't have. But if want a warmer sound in a later piece of equipment, the C-2200 is not to be dismissed. Frank Gow and I were close friends, and if I were going to have a tube pre-amp I would have the commemorative C-2200 with his name on the face plate. They are available at Audio Classics.

[jdandy]

autosky.......I have owned both the C2200 and the C2300 at the same time so I was able to do a head to head comparison. No question in my mind that the C2300 is they way to go. I am not belittling the C2200 in any way. It is a fine tube preamp. What I am saying is the C2300 has a higher level of performance, better built quality using premium parts not found in the C2200, and additional features not available in the C2200.

You may find my http://www.audioaficionado.org/mcint...tml#post188530 interesting, as well as my http://www.audioaficionado.org/mcint...ew-update.html

[autosky]

Thanks a lot)
What adequate price for the used c2200 and c2300?

[JBT]

Depends on your amp IMO. I have two MC2102s running in bridged mono and the C2200 is spectacular. The C2200 was built to go with the MC2102 and MC2000 as part of Mcintosh's 50 year Heritage products. The C2200 was designed by Sidney Corderman Mcintosh's main tube guy for 50 years. I took the c2300 home for an audition and played with it for a weekend and I didn't see any reason to get the 2300. In fairness I doubt the c2300 was fully broken in and I'm sure it's a great amp. But the synergy between the MC2102 and c2200 is magical!!

I switch out speakers like some members here switch out CD players and amps.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by autosky

Thanks a lot)
What adequate price for the used c2200 and c2300?

autosky.......The last McIntosh C2200 I saw listed on Audiogon had an asking price of $3600.00. That would be a fair and attractive price should you wish to list one. Most of the previously owned C2300 preamplifiers I have seen are listing between $4000 to $4400.

Here are some of the advantages the McIntosh C2300 has to offer that the McIntosh C2200 does not provide.

> The case of the C2300 has cast aluminum side panels like the C1000 series preamplifiers use and a glass window in the top panel that allows you to view the six 12AX7 tubes. It is silk screen with the C2300 Block Diagram. The six 12AX7 tubes are illuminated with green LED lighting. The LED lighting can be turned on or off from the setup menu. The C2200 uses a single piece sheet metal cover for top and side panels and does not provide a tube window or LED tube lighting.

> All input and output connectors on the C2300, both unbalance and balanced, are the same premium level connectors used on the C500 and C1000 series preamplifiers and are superior to the connectors used on the C2200.

> The C2300 has both moving magnet and moving coil phono stages. The C2200 only provides a single moving magnet phono stage. In addition, the C2300 allows remote control adjustment of the moving magnet capacitance settings and remote control adjustment of the moving coil resistance settings. There are no user adjustments for capacitance on the C2200 moving magnet phono stage. It is factory set at a single point.

> The C2300 allows remote control of the channel balance, bass, treble and meter lighting on/off settings. These functions are only available on the C2200 from manually controlled knobs on the preamp face.

> The C2300 uses all 12AX7 tubes. The C2200 uses 12AX7 and 12AT7 tubes. The 12AT7 tubes in the C2200 are used as impedance matching output buffers for the line and phono stages. The design of the C2300 makes the use of 12AT7 tubes unnecessary.

> The C2300 has a full sized 1/4" headphone jack. The C2200 provides a 1/8" mini jack like those found on an iPod or mobile phone. In addition, the Mute function on the C2300 is dual purpose and allows for the preamp's outputs to be muted while the headphone jack remains active. The C2200 Mute function mutes all outputs including the headphone jack except Tape Out. It does not allow for the main outputs to be muted for headphone listening.

> The C2300 remembers each input's Bass and Treble Tone settings or Tone Bypass setting. The C2200 Bass and Treble Tone settings are manually controlled and remain set for all inputs unless manually readjusted. The C2200 will remember each inputs Tone Bypass setting. when that function is turned on in the Setup Menu.

> The C2300 allows the display brightness to be adjusted via the remote control. The C2200 display brightness can only be adjusted via the Setup button and a control knob on the face of the preamp.

Again, there is no doubt the C2200 is a superb McIntosh tube preamplifier. Sidney Corderman's legendary tube preamplifier and amplifier designs are held in high esteem. None the less, there are advancements available in the C2300 that offer excellent performance advantages and ease of use that are simply unavailable in the C2200. I like both preamplifiers very much but prefer the C2300 preamplifier. I stand by my conviction that the C2300 is the best single box all analog tube preamplifier McIntosh has yet to manufacture. Both preamplifiers are worthy of controlling the best McIntosh systems we can build but my preference centers on the C2300.

[autosky]

jdandy
Thanks a lot for so full answer)
I with pleasure would buy one of these preamplifiers.
Once again thanks.

[jbaudio68]

Originally Posted by TWiiii

If you are not interested in digital or believe in separate DACS, I would seriously look at the new C-22 just released. The C-2300 is supposed to better than C2200 in all respects, with a very up to date Phono section the C2200 doesn't have. But if want a warmer sound in a later piece of equipment, the C-2200 is not to be dismissed. Frank Gow and I were close friends, and if I were going to have a tube pre-amp I would have the commemorative C-2200 with his name on the face plate. They are available at Audio Classics.

I agree fully with your comments regarding Frank. He was very pro 2200 when I was doing my search. He did not think the 2300 wS as warm-- which seems to be the general consensus. I believe it isa personal preference-- based on your other equipment.

2019-12-23 23:50:00 +0000

[rnrmf1971]

I have a C2200, which I replaced with a C500T.
There is an increase in resolution and refinement with the 500T, no question.
BUT... there was a sense of depth and warmth... that the C2200 did, with the stock tubes. I never had the notion to change them the sound was so great. The C2200 with MC202 amp sounded great, to me.
I've never hooked up the C2200 to my MC501's... I'm a bit concerned I might like it better than my C500T.
I don't plan on selling the C2200 until I do an experiment like that and find out if I still like it as much as I initially did.

[Roni]

Christian


Please tell us about Mcintosh C2200 vs C500T with MC501.
I have the C2200/MC352 tube/solid sound so good.