McIntosh C52 Preamplifier Review

[Alberto]

So that's what a professional review is supposed to be like. Not like this joker

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpJq7hGmcA8[/ame]


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__MAuavKBj4[/ame]

Seriously, nicely done review!

Alberto

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by BWB75

The MM has a 40dB gain and is adjustable plus or minus 6dB from there. The MM stage is load adjustable from 50 to 1000 Pf. Not sure how that translates in ohms.

The MC has a 60dB gain, also adjustable plus or minus 6 dB. The load is adjustable from 50 to 1000 ohms. Not sure why this is in ohms and the other in Pf.

BWB75.......Welcome to Audio Aficionado.

I want to take a moment to help clarify the moving magnet and moving coil settings for you. Nearly all moving magnet phono cartridges require a 47K ohm resistance so manufacturers set the resistance at this value in the phono stage and it is not adjustable. What impacts the performance of moving magnet phono cartridge performance is the capacitance loading. Picofarad (pF) adjustment allows the user to fine tune the capacitance value to be as close as possible to the total picofarads of the moving magnet cartridge and the interconnects. These values can vary quite a bit, hence the wide pF adjustment range.

Moving coil phono cartridges present a different requirement. They are essentially immune to capacitance loading but are very sensitive to resistance loading (ohms). This is why the moving coil phono stage on premium preamplifiers and phono stage preamplifiers allow for adjusting the resistance loading to match the specific requirement of a moving coil cartridge. By changing the ohms value you can dial in the smoothest and widest frequency response a moving coil cartridge has to offer.

[jdandy]

Alberto.......There is only one Alberto. Not to worry, your V-views are true treasures.

[MORTIS]

Originally Posted by Alberto

So that's what a professional review is supposed to be like. Not like this joker

Seriously, nicely done review!

Alberto

Alberto: the C52 is a very desirable preamp and I admit the review did make me want it, and yes the quality of the video and narration did look professional, but the camera-work and the scripting of dialogue seemed very much like a commercial to me.
On the other hand, your reviews may not have the video quality but that's easy for me to ignore because your words, both eloquent and passionate, felt far more genuine. It's that sincerity I feel from you that make your reviews so convincing.

[BWB75]

Jdandy - Your explanation is truly helpful - probably to more than just me. Great example of what makes a great forum. Glad to be here.

Alberto - My wife and I had so much fun watching your reviews! They are awesome! Well done, Sir!

[mgard]

Originally Posted by zele

I think it comes down to what kind of a sound you like and how much you are challanged on the space side. I personally would upgrade to the C52, with that I would get my favorite McIntosh sound and at the same time reduce system complexity by having to have one box less. When I compared the sound of the McIntosh internal DAC of my C2500 to the sound of Auralic Vega, I actually preferred the sound of the interal DAC. But if you like the sound of the Bryston DAC and space is no issue than it would be a different case....

Very good points. It really comes down "ideally" to getting the C52 to do a home demo. Space isn't an issue. That is cool that your DAC comparison favors the C2500.

BWB75, that was a nice review of the C52 and another welcome to AA.

Alberto, I have watched those youtube videos many times in the passed and you do a great job. Your accent gives it a nice added flare. It reminds me of the actor Ricardo Montalban when he would say "Rich Corinthian Leather" in the Chrysler car commercial"

~Mike

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by BWB75

Jdandy - Your explanation is truly helpful - probably to more than just me. Great example of what makes a great forum. Glad to be here.

Alberto - My wife and I had so much fun watching your reviews! They are awesome! Well done, Sir!

You guys are all just too kind, but the real star is anyone who can get their wife to watch audio review videos .

I wonder why there aren't more video reviews of these products. I really enjoy reading the magazines, but the video experience is another thing.

Alberto

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by mgard

...

Alberto, I have watched those youtube videos many times in the passed and you do a great job. Your accent gives it a nice added flare. It reminds me of the actor Ricardo Montalban when he would say "Rich Corinthian Leather" in the Chrysler car commercial"

~Mike

Thank you Mike, I remember those commercials well ... and take it as a nice compliment.

Alberto

[cpreal]

I was looking at the c-50 vs. the c-52, and they removed an important feature to us tape heads. The epl/tape monitor is gone. It seems that McIntosh is continuing to remove features when they add new ones.

[jdandy]

cpreal.......McIntosh also removed the processor loop on the C50 from the C52.