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Mcintosh C-2300 first impressions

I bought an C2300 from an authorized mac dealer with return rights minus shipping. I have 11 days to listen to it. My current preamp is the Counterpoint SA-5.1 that has had the line and phono stage upgraded by Mike Elliott (the original designer/engineer of Counterpoint gear). Since I use a low output cartridge, I also use the Counterpoint SA-2 in conjuction with the SA-5.1. My amp is the Jadis Defy 7 MKII. What I was hoping to achieve was to retain all of the sound quality of the SA-2/SA-5.1 combo while lowering the noise floor compared to my current phono section (the line section of the SA-5.1 is very quiet).
My initial impression from my first night of listening is that the C2300 has a refined, polite presentation in a button-upped British sort of way with a sweet top end. However, it sounds thin much like a SS preamp sounds and it doesn't have much in the way of a bottom end which can even be heard on acoustic bass. Forget any type of wowie-zowie bass punch with this preamp. Voices also don't sound as real as my current preamp. And these listening impressions come from listening to LPs, CDs, and 15 ips 2 track tape. I guess if I didn't know any better I could be happy with this preamp, but unless things improve soon it will be going back.
For those of you who own and love the C-2300, I would love to know what preamp it replaced in your system. I love all of the creature comforts this preamp has to offer with 8 inputs, 4 sets of balanced inputs, a cool remote, etc. I do think it is a bit garish looking in person with different shades of green lights as well as blue. If this preamp doesn't start fleshing out more of the music, it will be going back. And please don't tell me that it takes magic Telefunken 12AX7s to make this preamp come alive. I have heard mixed reviews with some owners not liking the Telefunkens at all and actually preferring the Mcintosh selected 12AX7s while others who are hooked on Telefunkens of course swear by the improvement they expected to hear.

Mark
mepearson
mepearson OP
100 posts
 
When I re-read my initial post, I don't feel so bad. The C2300 has done something that no other preamp in my experience has ever done, and that is a wholesale change in sound quality over a period of 24 hours. All of things that I was complaining about disappeared in such a short period of time that I was and am astonished. And the good news is that I didn't need NOS tubes to change the sound of this preamp-I just needed break-in time. At some point I will still experiment with NOS tubes due to the very strong feelings that other posters have on the further positive impact it will have to the sonics of the 2300. If true, that would be really great.

As for the stock tubes, they are very quiet, the top end is sweet and extended, the bass is really good as is the midrange. The C2300 is a very quiet preamp. You can clearly hear the difference between the absolute noise floor of your LP playback system vice the noise floor of the actual LP you are playing. Before a song starts, you are hearing your absolute noise floor. Once the song starts, you are now hearing any noise associated with the actual recording. For instance, on LPs that are sourced from tape, you can hear the very gentle tape hiss as the song begins. On good quality LPs, this very low level hiss stands in sharp contrast to the almost sound of silence of the actual LP. Pretty cool.
davvie's avatar
davvie
81 posts
 
I am really happy for you...It was just a matter of time then. I actually had similar misgivings too..but stuck it out because its such a wonderful pre. You have much to look forward to as it will continue to improve. Like a fine wine..it gets better with age!

If your happy with the stock tubes...then I would let it ride for now..You can always roll others in later. In the mean time enjoy yourself and the beautiful sounds you C2300 is making. Congrats!
phillyb's avatar
phillyb
402 posts
 
I own the C2300 for several months and over that time I can tell you the tube used will make a big difference. Also the preamp is natural, if your room has issues it will show it, I took down a few wall panels and I was shocked at how much quality I lost in the weight and presentation.

Tubes that I found that work great are: Mullards, Siemens 12ax7WA, GE 5751 black plates, RCA 12ax7 black plates and ECC83 Telefunkens.

Each will have a sound of their own and depending on the rest of your gear it will be hard to tell which set you might like more.

It is a learning experience. All beat current made tubes.
talk2me's avatar
talk2me
325 posts
 
I took home a demo C2300 for 24 hours. It looks nice, but it did not envolve me emotionally.I am getting a Burmester unit.
opus111
58 posts
 
What you need is all NOS Telefunken ECC803s (only NIB and NOS will do). You also need around 10,000 (or better yet 20,000) hours of break-in time and $10,000 power cord to make the C-2300 to sing. Until then, you haven't heard its true potential.
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