Mcintosh MC352 / 2102

Hagbert: I use Tara Labs Air 1 XLR between my VK51SE and the MC352. Both the Mc352 and VK51SE are true balanced design. I do like the sound better with the balanced connection, the sound was already great using single ended cable (with an adapter) but when I put in the XLR it gave me more of everything, not by much but more and quietier. But like you said cable is so system dependent. It sounds good in one system does not mean it sounds good in the other. When I was auditioning all those preamps I got a hold of a Tara Labs The One XLR cable. It did not like to be in between the Mc352 and VK51SE. All the air, the harmonic went away, the sound stage collapsed. But then I put it in between the ARC Ref2 MKII and the MC352, it did wonders, unbelievable is the word and if I were to buy the ARC I will have to buy that cable too. System matching is the key.

I agree with all the above. I'm running a used Counterpoint 7.1 preamp with my MC352 and the sound staging and resolution are wonderful. Tubed preamps seem to work better 99% of the time with solid state amps. If I could afford it I would own a 2200.

Not to spoil anybody's enthusiasm for tubed preamps, but when I compared the 2200 to the C200, I found the C200 to be the better preamp: as natural as the C2200, but more structured with large symphonic music, more slam and better bass definition with piano, pop music, you name it.