Pass Labs vs. McIntosh Preamps

I am using a North American Products P12R H-Cat Preamp with a McIntosh MC 402 poweramp and it is a marriage made in heaven. I use this combo driving the Duntech Sovereign speakers (the Sovereigns are essentially the same as the Dunlavy SC-5's, but were made in Australia when John Dunlavy was headquartered in Australia). As a matter of fact, I think the speakers made in Austalia are actually better than the ones made is the USA because they used the Dynaudio drivers which were no longer available to other manufacturers as Dynaudio is now manufacturing their own speakers. Look at www.H-Cat.com for details on the H-Cat preamp and list of dealers. I just wish that more people could hear the H-Cat to see what I am talking about. It is a "KILLER" preamp. Honest folks.

Have you considered a tube preamp? I'm using a Audible Illusions m3a w/ my MC402 and it sounds great. Sorry I can't comment on the SS preamps.

The C2200, which is tubed, is the McIntosh pre I'm primarily interested in - I included the C46 for comparison (as their sound is similar from what I've read).

Anyone with Pass Labs and McIntosh preamp comparison experience?

I demoed the C46 and C2200 at home for a couple of weeks.

The C46 has better bass and bass drive and has better top to bottom coherence.

I thought the C2200 was somewhat lean in the upper mids/lower treble but it did do have that tube treble which was nice. With the weak bass and leaness in the upper upper mids it gave a presentation that I did not like

Overall I preferred the c46. amps were MC2102's and MC501's.