Conflicted with Preamps


This post is a spinoff of these past two postings.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/preamp-with-variable-loudness-control-remote-control

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/preamp-options-under-3500

(not sure if I posted the links correctly, please advise)

I ordered a New style Quad 33 preamp end of February or beginning of March. As of May 1st. No ship date on the Quad. In the meantime, a good deal came up on a McIntosh C49 Preamp so I purchased it. I always wanted to try the Mac sound. I kind of like this thing. The DAC seems a bit better than the Denafrips and I also eliminated the Schiit DAC from the TV. Now the issue, the Quad will be arriving sometime in the future. Do I open it and audition it, hoping I will like it better that the Mac or do I leave it sealed in the box and post it for sale? I am curious of the soundbut it might bring a bit more $ unopened.

chippieboy

Can you just return the Quad or cancel the order since it hasn't shipped yet?

You also need to consider break-in. I had the same dilemma with the Schitt Yggi+ LIM DAC that I got converted to MIB. Should I sell it immediately in the unopened box or listen. I was going to buy a second used Schitt Yggi+ OG to replace the MB.

I opened the box and found it sounded not too good. That was expected with the Yggi+ DACs which I found need about a month of hard burn-in. The MIB sounds very good now, not as good as the OG though. 

Yesterday, I signed up for the new uber Schitt DAC, called the Byggi for August availability. My MIB will be converted to the Byggi. Keeping the brilliant OG as is.

 

 

@yyzsantabarbara 

+1 I agree. Breakin is critical. 

I used an Ai for this. But, it is likely to be pretty close to what you will experience. The Quad will require at least a hundred hours if you want to know what it will sound like. 

 

McIntosh does not specify an official break-in period for the C49 preamp in its documentation. However, based on user experiences and general high-end audio break-in practices, you can expect the C49 to settle sonically over 50 to 200 hours of playback.

Break-in Characteristics

  • First 50 hours – The sound may initially feel slightly constrained, with transients not fully opening up.

  • 50-100 hours – Improved dynamics, smoother treble, and more coherent bass response.

  • 100-200 hours – The preamp reaches optimal performance, with fully developed tonal balance and micro-detail retrieval.

Since the C49 is a solid-state design, its break-in period is generally shorter than tube-based preamps. Running a variety of music at moderate levels continuously can help accelerate the process.