McIntosh C42 volume control questions.


I would like to hear from owners of the McIntosh C42-C46 Preamps that have the new volume control. I've read some interesting comments on Audio Review, but would like to hear from actual owners on what their thoughts are on this new control, how does it work in reality and do you have to really crank it up to get any volume? Do you feel it's an inprovement over what Mac previously used, i.e. C40 on down?
Thanks for any input, pro or con.
Alan
sid42
FWIW, my C220, which, I think, has the new volume control, is plenty loud between 40 and 50 on the display. The numbers go up to 99 (100?).
Thanks for the responses. Some of the guys on AudioReview were discussing the fact that with the new volume control, much of the time the control had to be cranked very high to get any response from it; and they were wondering if this was normal. So I thought I'd get some input before I plunged in and bought something I didn't like, i.e.the C42.I currently have a C37, and rarely do I even get it up to 10 on the display, and even then that's loud. My amp is the 7200, and I keep the gain controls at 50%. If I raised the gain controls all the way on, the pre would display 2!
You want your volume control to be at least at 1/2 (50% or at 12:00 o'clock) to have enough adjustment for minute adjustments in volume from the remote control. If you have maximum listening volume at 25% or 9:00 o'clock just one change up or down from the remote control could be more or less of what you wanted and you have to get up to change the volume on the component. I had this situation with a high output tube preamp and corrected the problem with a different set of tubes. The C45 is a great preamp.