McIntosh C42 volume control questions.

The volume control is extremely smooth and effortless. My c45 exhibits no sound (ie hum) from any source including the internal mm phono when turned to high volumes. My owners manual says that volume levels are controlled by a new Multi-Stage Precision Digitally controlled attenuator system with a trackng accuracy of 0.1 db. You should read about the volume control engineering on the mcintosh labs website. All sources on the c45 are gain adustable for seamless volume matching. I can't comment on previous models but the c45/mc352 provides all the volume my 85db/m/w speakers need using 1 to 3 watts on the vu meters to provide a wonderful listening experience.

I realize I should have included the C41 in the previously used volume control idea. I would like to know if you have to crank the new versions up to 3/4 volume before you get much sound out of it, and whether that leaves much room for increased volume outout.

In a word -No- you dont have to crank the new versions up to 3/4 volume before you much sound out of it. More depends on the strength of the input signal. If you run a moving coil pickup through a moving magnet phono stage you won't get much volume because the MM phono stage requires 2.0 mv and most MC pickups put out .05mv so that is not the preamps fault. Another example is if you are using the variable volume out jacks on a cd player and you have the volume set very low you wont get as much volume out of the preamp. I have set the gain for my sources to give me about 85db at volume 50. Since there are 50 more increase units to go (total of 100) I know my speakers would blow apart before 80 was reached. Please tell me what Audio Review is saying. Thanks.