2. amps-preamps
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Help putting together a little system with McIntosh MC 30s

So, it’s been over 10 years since I lived in a house where I could listen to music with no neighbors to bug or had lots of cash to splash around on big systems. I went to Brazil on a one month vacation and never came home. I’m back in the US selling all my big speakers and heavy Pass Lab amps.

While clearing out my storage unit I came across an old pair of amps and thought I could get a few hundred bucks on Craigslist for so I blindly listed them for $1,500……big mistake - within minutes I was inundated with offers and I knew I had Fked up on my pricing.

I did some research and found these little McIntosh MC 30s are very desirable and are great amps. I know live in an apartment in São Paulo with thick walls and only one neighbor to bug and am now thinking about bringing these with me in my case.

Somewhere in storage in Brazil I have a great tiny pair of speakers I bought years ago off Audiogon, really great and I think they were Scandinavian - can’t remember the brand but I think the model are called “The One” (any ideas anybody as my brain is to rusty now)?

Anyway, I neither have the money or the passion I once had and I don’t want to go down that (very fun) rabbit hole of gear again but If anybody can think of the name of those little monitors I have over in Brazil that would be the first part of this puzzle.

Do I need preamps? and would these MC30s pair well with “The One”.

Sorry to be brain dead trying to remember the name of my monitors but they were highly regarded maybe 12-15 years ago and are probably in better condition than my brain these days and I’m optimistic some old-schooler on here will remember what brand they are .

Thanks in anticipation

thomastrouble
thomastrouble OP
239 posts
 

Thanks guys - since posting the MC30s I’m seeing only glowing reviews about these and to be honest there is something nice about owning something that might be about 60 years old. I’m not particularly stuck on them being tube amps and these days I’m striving for something sounding good, not necessarily great as I know myself too well and will end up down that rabbit hole again. Apparently the MX 100 would be a good addition to these amps from what I am reading.

Another thing - that preamp might cost me $3000, both that and the MC30s will probably require constant work…..if I sold the MC 30s for say $3000 and saved spending another $3000 on the pre could I do better for $6000 in todays market sound quality wise in a small package that I could bring on the plane with me?

kota1
2,706 posts
 

@thomastrouble , it would be different but who knows if you would like it more.

Why not get a Paradigm PW Link preamp/streamer on sale and try it out. The ARC room correction is fantastic and you could run the streamer from an app on your phone. Super simple, inexpensive and you could start using your equipment right away.

kota1
2,706 posts
 

FYI- maybe recap them too:

 

thomastrouble OP
239 posts
 

Thanks Kota, but excuse my ignorance- I’m not familiar about these - is this a system people have moved onto since CDs where something like a Tidal subscription is used - is this higher sound quality than CDs?

Cant bring more speakers with me and intend using the Totems I already have in Brazil

kota1
2,706 posts
 

Yes, that is correct, the Paradigm PW Link is both a preamp and a streamer. You can connect a CD player via a digital input or analog. You can stream music from spotify, tidal or many other services with an app. I use it in my desktop system and my speakers sound fantastic:

 

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