Anyone have, or heard a McIntosh C41?

I own the C42 and the C2200. The 2200 is by far the better of the two. The 41 I have heard and it can compete with the 42 without as much control for recordings with glare. If there is a large difference in price I think you will be happy with the 41 but if you can swing a 2200 do not hesitate.

I also heard the 2200, and I like it a lot, but it is out of my price range.

My other gear is a pair of Scott Nixon monoblock amps. They are 40 watts each, and are op-amp designs based on the LM3875. I also have a Nixon TubeDac with a Sony 7700 transport. Audience AU24 interconnects, digital, power cords, jumpers, and speaker cables. Piega C-3 Limited speakers.

Thanks for the advice. .

B

I too will highly recommend the C-2200. I have owned ARC, Levinson, and VAC preamps, and the 2200 outperforms them all. However, I wonder why so few "golden-ears" seem not to like any of the Mac preamps. They favor Hovland, Lamm, Bat and ARC, but regard MacIntosh preamps as "stogy, old-fashioned,and basically dull. Have any of them ever listened to a C-2200? However, many of them will grudgingly admit to highly regarding the so-called classic Mac gear from the '60's as "OK". This seems to be the attitude of "The Absolute Sound", and all the sheep who follow the great god Harry!

If I could afford the 2200, I'd be all over it!

The C41 is a fine solid state preamp. For the money, you won't go wrong. I have heard one with a Mc202 amp several times and the sound is very impressive and the value is fantastic if you find a used or demo one. I do have to add however that if I could afford a C2200, I would be all over it too! Arthur