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mcintosh preamp for 5.1

apologies in advance for not thoroughly searching this topic but here’s my question. i’m in the market for a mac preamp that i will be using strictly for 5.1 (i have a dedicated two channel stereo that consists of either a c28 or a ma6200 paired with two 2100s in mono powering my klipsch klf 10s with crites crossovers) so now that’s out of the way back to my original question...i’ve recently been looking at mcintosh preamps for my ht setup and i’m not into all the latest and greatest surround formats as i know that’s an ever changing thing as time goes on. just interested in a good quality sounding 5.1 setup through a mac. as for speakers i’m running all old klipsch kg series that are more then likely inadequate for my venture as well but that can be remedied later on down the road. looking for input from you all what would be a good direction to go. i’m considering the following; mx119, mx132, and possibly both the 134 and 135. please correct me if i’m wrong in the idea of using any of them for a dedicated ht preamp. i am unsure of what amp i would be running along with the preamp as well. any help and recommendations will be greatly appreciated. 

sorry for for a complete and unorganized ramble
bradleyh21
g_nakamoto's avatar
g_nakamoto
348 posts
 
i don't know too much about high end equipment. but i have a McIntosh mc602 power amp my son gave me. i was looking for a mcintosh pre-amp tuner to match the amp. i only listen to 2 chanell stereo. all of their pre-amp tuners are their older style units. only reason i bought the mx132 was because it had the lowest price of the other a/v units.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,388 posts
 
@caphill...……………………………………….

You must be in the minority.  I upgraded to a McIntosh C2500 tube preamp and it bests all the other preamps, both tube and solid state I have had over the last 48 years.  All the pre-pros that you list which sound better than Mac are merely an opinion (yours).  Which Mac did you put these against?
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

As to caphill's point, the McIntosh HT multi-channel processors are not in the same league as their dedicated 2-channel tube preamp equipment.  All the Mac processors are very nice in keeping that "Mac style" of sonic signature, but they are compromised due to the fact that the audio stages are all op-amp based.  McIntosh attempts to keep their "laid back" type of sound, but have to use op amps due to size, cost and multi-channel requirements.  While the McIntosh HT processors are very nice, there are definitely many options that have better resolution, attack and detail.

I'm not sure that all of the processors that caphill suggested are better.  Maybe they are different, depending on what you're looking for.  The Classe SSP-800 is incredibly detailed and transparent.  Bryston SP3 is actually laid back in the mids/highs, but has massive bass response.  The Krell 707/S1200 are awesome because of their discrete Class A analog stages, but I think they can come across a little thin/bright because it's my opinion the power supply capacitance is undersized.  Datasat has massive amounts of DSP and computing power, but not sure that their analog stages are any better.  Etc. Etc.

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,388 posts
 
I have a friend with an all McIntosh 7.1 channel Home Theater, and personally I haven't heard anything better
caphill
674 posts
 
@stereo5

As per your claim above in regards to your friend’s all Mac 7.1 HT setup that’s simply your opinion or perhaps you haven’t heard true high end HT setup of system. The same applies to your earlier claim that your Mac C2500 tube preamp bested all other preamps you’ve heard in the last 48 yrs. I think you’ve never or haven’t heard all other ultra high end preamps both solid state and tube.
I’ve heard multiple Mac tube stereo preamps and none of them were impressive at all they sounded dull, lifeless too syrupy and lacks of presence, inner details, dynamics, attacks and rhythm and musicality imo. However, Mac power amps are pretty good not great but very decent however within similarly priced amps there are certainly better options out there.

I’ve compared my friend’s Mac C1100 linestage preamp, which is Mac’s flagship stereo linestage preamp, to my Naim Statement NAC S1 linestage preamp in the same setup and system and it was no comparison. They aren’t in the same leagues. My Naim Statement NAC S1 preamp is superior to the Mac C1100 preamp,
I know this wasn’t a fair comparison as my Naim Statement NAC S1 preamp is a cost-no-object design and cost more than 5 times as much as the Mac C1100.

My same friend has a Mac MC 2KW monoblock amps and we had a shootout at my place the other day using my setup and system.
First we paired my Magico M6 speakers with my Naim Statement gears which consists of a Naim NAC S1 linestage stereo preamp and Naim Statement NAP S1 monoblock amps both of which are cost-no-object designs and are statement level gears.
Then, we switched out to my friend’s Mac C1100 preamp and Mac MC 2KW monoblock amps driving my Magico M6 speakers.
There was no comparison. They aren’t in the same leagues. Far from it. It’s expected though as my Naim Statement preamp + monoblock amps cost $270k and his Mac C1100 + MC 2KW cost around $42k altogether, which is only a fraction of the cost of the Naim Statement gears. My digital front end components consist of DCS Vivaldi full four stacks (Vivaldi master clock, Vivaldi upsampler, Vivaldi DAC, Vivaldi CD/SACD transport). My analog front end rigs consist of :
Kronos Pro turntable, 12" Black Beauty tonearm, Air Tight PC-1 Supreme mc cartridge, discrete class A linear PSU, Audio Research Reference 10 phonostage preamp, dedicated Kronos stand specifically designed for the Kronos Pro turntable.

Before recently upgrading to the Naim Statement preamp + monoblock amps I was previously using the Audio Research Reference 10 linestage preamp and 2 pairs of Dan D’Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps.

The Audio Research Reference 10 linestage preamp, which is a flagship linestage preamp from Audio Research, is significantly better than my friend’s Mac C1100 linestage preamp.
I know that this wasn’t really a fair comparison either as the ARC Ref 10 linestage pre costs nearly twice as much as the Mac C1100 pre.
Even the lower end ARC linestage preamps perform way better than any Mac linestage preamps.

Anyways, there are great phenomenal stereo linestage preamps out there. Audio Research, Vitus, Soulution, Mark Levinson, Ayre, Simaudio Evolution series, Boulder, T&A, CH Precision, Tidal, MBL, VTL, VAC, Ypsilon, BAT, Frontier, Lamm, Cary Audio, Rogue Audio P5, Parasound Halo JC make spectacular linestage preamps and amps as well.

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