C2600 recommendations

@gmercer 

You should have a listen to the ARC Reference 10 or Reference 6 linestage preamps. These aren't in the same league as the McIntosh C2600 or any McIntosh preamps. Especially the ARC Ref 10 which is a true reference quality linestage preamp and is cost-no-object design. The ARC Ref 10 is a two-stacked preamp with PSU encased in a separate compartment and retails for $30k, which costs more than 4 times as much as the C2600, which retails for only $7k. And the ARC Ref 10 or even the Ref 6 will be a huge step up sonically from the C2600 or any McIntosh preamps including McIntosh's flagship C1100, which is also a two-stacked preamp. 

However, the ARC Ref 10 or all ARC preamps don't have built-in DAC or EQ like the C2600, so that makes C2600 huge bargain in comparison to any ARC linestage preamps. FYI, all true high end and ultra high end reference quality linestage preamps are pure analog and don't have built-in DAC or EQ. DAC or any digital circuitry is noisy and introduces noise to the preamp's analog circuitry and compromises sonic purity & sound quality. DAC and other digital circuitry need to be external and in a separate compartment. 

The ARC Ref 10 ($30k), D'Agostino Momentum linestage pre ($35k), Naim Statement NAC S1 linestage preamp ($90k), Boulder linestage preamps which are also cost-no-object design and cost up to $70k, Ayre Reference linestage pre ($27k), Naim NAC 522 preamp with its external 555 PS DR power supply unit ($32k) and any other cost-no-object or price-no-object design preamps from CH Precision, Tidal, MBL, Soulution, Burmeister, Chord Electronics, VAC, VTL, T&A, Lamm are pure analog and have no built-in DAC or EQ. At this level or those who can afford these ultra high end or cost-no-object design preamps would also want cost-no-object design external digital front end source components eg standalone DAC, streamer/DAC, CD/SACD player that will sound way way better than the built-in DAC in the C2600. 

Some entry to mid-level affordable preamps such as the C2600 and some other McIntosh preamps could often times have built-in DAC and even EQ but the sound quality can never compare with those high end or ultra high end cost-no-object design pure analog preamps such as the ARC Ref 10, Ref 6, D'Agostino Momentum, Naim Statement NAC S1, Naim NAC 552 with its 555 PS DR external psu, Ayre Reference, Boulder, Burmeister, Tidal, MBL, CH Precision, Soulution, etc, etc. 

@caphill...………………..

You are comparing a 7K preamp to others which cost double or even triple more money.  Of course they will sound better.  Why not compare other 7K preamps?  For the record, I am not at all a fan of the ARC house sound.  You also keep talking about it's inferior built in dac.  I didn't buy my preamp for the dac, I care less about that.  I like the full features of the preamp, like tone controls, being able to set the inputs all at the same level, ability to rename the inputs, changing the moving coil impedance on the fly with the remote.  Those things are very important to me.   finally, I am thrilled with the sound, especially with the Gold Lion 12ax7 tubes installed.  The midrange is rich, just the way I like it.

@stereo5

First of all, yes. I am aware in general ARC products cost quite a bit more than McIntosh. But I once did compare the ARC Ref 10 two-stacked linestage analog preamp ($30k) with McIntosh’s flagship C1100 two-stacked analog linestage preamp ($15k) in the same system same room using same speakers and no contest the ARC Ref 10 blew away the Mac C1100.....I know the ARC Ref 10 costs twice as much as the C1100 so it is expected to sound better. I didn’t compare the ARC Ref 10 with the C2600. I think the C1100 will be a bit more fair to compare it against the ARC Ref 10 as both Ref 10 & C1100 are flagship model linestage preamps from both manufacturers and both have their PSU in separate compartments.

Second of all, I wasn’t implying that the DAC in the C2600 is inferior, it is fairly good considering its price point of $7k for a preamp/DAC combo especially for those who are on the budget, but what I was trying to tell the others here was if you want to get great no compromise design and performance or sound quality of your digital audio reproductions you should get an external dedicated digital front end source components such as a very good standalone DAC, streamer/DAC, etc and purchase a great quality pure analog linestage preamp (no DAC), that will be a way to go or most ideal if budget allows.
A preamp/DAC combo such as the C2600 is compromised in both the DAC & digital circuitry itself as well as the analog audio stages of the linestage preamp as they all share same power supply and are placed in the same unit and usually the design and implementation of the DAC, clocking, buffer, digital filtering, analog output stage aren’t optimized, and not to mention electrical & mechanical noise & interferences.

The same is true for a built-in phonostage in the C2600 or any other linestage preamps that have built-in phonostage. It is convenient and cost efficient but its performance is not the same as those great high end standalone phonostage pre(s). Not even close. Especially when you have a great turntable, tonearm & cartridge you will have to get a very good very capable standalone phonostage pre.......there are countless options out there. cause phonostage pre is crucial for your turntable.
I’m myself using a D’Agostino Momentum standalone phonostage pre ($28k) for my Clearaudio Statement v2 turntable w/ a Statement TT-1 tonearm & a Statement Goldfinger cartridge and an external class A linear PSU for the turntable. They work and sound phenomenal together in my own setup & system, which consists of Naim Statement NAC S1 linestage analog preamp, Naim Statement NAP S1 monoblock amps driving a pair of Magico M6.

But as long as you are happy with your current setup, that’s what matters. We all have different expectations and goals.