McIntosh C52 Preamplifier Review

[jdandy]

Vintage Pete is such a huge fan of EQ he was able to get McIntosh to build a Vintage Pete Edition MA8000 integrated amplifier.

[JBT]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Vintage Pete is such a huge fan of EQ he was able to get McIntosh to build a Vintage Pete Edition MA8000 integrated amplifier.

[Pampero]

Originally Posted by MORTIS

Pampero: Here it is straight from the C52 owners manual:

.......I may get flamed for parts of this post but I'm willing to risk that.

Thank you. That's what I thought I remembered. Somewhere (on a video here?) I recall seeing a spokesman say they used to have even more gain available .
By the way, if they flame you, I'll be there alongside you

I don't argue that EQ can hurt sound quality if some rules aren't observed.
With most good recordings there's no call for program eq. But I like having it handy for when it can help.

[Higgens]

Pete's got clout

[Pampero]

Another thing I really like about having a C52 (this is certainly true of any modern Mc preamp driving a companion/compatible MC amp) is how nicely the gain structures are managed. I've been watching meters for a few days now and the preamps drive to the amp seems to be at unity gain.
You know the gain structures are set up right with these combinations....no incompatibility. Plug and play!

That hasn't always been a given in my world. Loving this thing!

[Pampero]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Vintage Pete is such a huge fan of EQ he was able to get McIntosh to build a Vintage Pete Edition MA8000 integrated amplifier.

I want one!

[GreenMtnGringo]

Hi, I am currently demoing a McIntosh C52 with a Bryston 4B3 (Cubed) power amp and Magnepan MG .7 speakers. A few questions have arisen and I am hoping the McIntosh crew here on Audio Aficionado might be able to help. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. How many hours should I anticipate for break-in (and do the internal DAC and phono stage need independent break-in to reach their potential)?

2. What is the latest C52 firmware version? (My unit has v1.03.)

3. Is the C52 firmware user-upgradeable? (I could not see a way to do it, but on the other hand I would be surprised if McIntosh would want everyone to deliver their units to the factory or a dealer each time there is a firmware upgrade.)

4. How many volume steps are there supposed to be? My C52 appears to have 100 steps, from 1% to 100%. However, the manual states at page five that: "There are 214 individual 0.5dB volume level steps with no noise as the volume level is changed."

5. If the C52 is capable of 214 volume steps of 0.5dB each instead of the 100 individual percentage steps that I am seeing, how does one change the settings to access the additional steps?

6. Speaking of volume steps, has anyone else experienced the volume jumping ahead more than one step (> 1%) when using the supplied remote control? Frequently, despite a very light and quick tap on the remote's volume buttons, the volume increases (or decreases) 2% or sometimes even 3% instead of the desired 1%. I am hoping this is merely an issue with the particular HR085 remote control that came with my C52.

Thanks in advance for any info!

[Eisener Bart]

Can anybody advise me MSRP in USA for C-52 and C2500?

Thank you in advance!

[prepress]

Originally Posted by Eisener Bart

Can anybody advise me MSRP in USA for C-52 and C2500?

Thank you in advance!

The C52 MSRP is, I believe, $7,000. Don't know about the C2500.

[crwilli]

Originally Posted by prepress

The C52 MSRP is, I believe, $7,000. Don't know about the C2500.

I THINK I saw a reference of $7500 for the MSRP for the C2500 but don't remember where.