McIntosh C2300 vs C2500/C2600 A/B Comparison

To me it is the ease in which the music flows. The built in MC preamp sounds very good.  I feel there is a little more frequency extension on both ends with the C2500.  I think of it as a tweaked C2300.  If there is a big difference in price, go with the C2300, if it is around the same price, I would go for the C2500.  The dac chip in the C2500 is the Burr Brown pcm 1792 chip set. It’s decent but not as good as the dac in my Esoteric SACD player.   

Thanks again!
I'm going to roll some tubes as well before pulling the trigger on trying the 2500.

On the C2500, verify that the Firmware has been updated the latest version.  If it has not, don't let that be a deal breaker.  An authorized Mcintosh Dealer can do it or Mc. Tech Support over the phone. Good Luck.
 

Thanks again for all the help. I did not pull the trigger on the C2500. I rolled some smooth plate Telefunken tubes in the MM and Line Stage of my C2300 and the sound is very lush and sweet. I own McIntosh XRT-28's and the highs can get a little too sharp sometimes. The C2300 and the Telefunkens really softened in a good way. I think that's the best my system has ever sounded. 
On to the next tweak... Rebuild McIntosh MC40's on the way :-)

Congratulations!  I feel that was a very good call on your part.  No fuss, no muss and minimum bucks.  I never got to tube roll my C2300; turned it in on a C50 for reasons not relevant to this thread.  I'd always wanted to try the Telefunkens; it was superb with the stock tubes and I suspect it would have been perfect with matched Telefunkens.  Perhaps sometime in the future. Have fun!