MAC's MP100 Phono Pre-amp

Ok Greg (got all your sentances). Thank u and I would agree with you ref the phono. I was hesitent to begin with, thus my question, so we'll sit tight. In your earlier your message you seemed to imply that you were using the H-1201 with the C1100 and that surprised me (a mismatch there) but the H-3000 has to be close to a perfect fit with the MAC pre-amp .... and the 275 for that matter. I don't have direct experience with KEF, although I certaily seen them around. Super gear nonetheless ..... am sure it's sonic bliss. As I said in my opening, I just acquired a Cary SLP-05 pre-amp but was also looking for a used MAC 2300 ... but I gotta say, the Cary performs several levels above the C-46 I had. Use any parameter you wish, and it was significanlty improved. Cary uses the 6SN7 tubes and while I am relatively new to tube amplification, my understanding is that these are overall exceptional (assuming you buy a descent mnfr). If this marriage is any indication, I very much like the tube pre/SS power amp connection. With these two, the sound is full, rich and with weight. I don't have invested the money you have, but for what I do have, I'm very pleased. I've got a pair of Gauder Akustik Cassiano speakers (German) with ceramic drivers ... good stuff and they are doing things with the Cary I never heard before ..... but my dream is to own a pair of Magico's one day - S7's would be nice. I digress - anyway, thanks again for the input.

tak1, congratulations on putting together a fine system.  It's not how much you spend on your system, but how much enjoyment you get out of the system you buy. 

Truer words never spoken. Thanks.

You don't say what you have for a table/arm/cartridge but FWIW, I ran a C2300 with the MC302.  It was an absolutely outstanding combination in my application.  In many ways, I wish I still had the 2300 in my system, but I had to compromise somewhere to make it all really usable.  Went to the C50 instead.  That gave me 99.7% of the sound with none of the drawbacks, so I'm satisfied.

However and as theothergreg noted, the jury is still out on the new MP100.  I would expect it to be on par with the C50, but you never know until you audition.  Take your time and have fun either way.

Happy listening!

To answer your question effischer, I have a VPI Classic with thier JMW-10 tone arm holding a Charisma MC2 cartridge. So what were the drawbacks of the 2300 that made you switch to the C50? Curious. For the time being, I'll hold and keep the Allnic. Thanks.