McIntosh Preamp

Stanwal - LOL!

Thanks for all the input guys. Sounds like all pretty good choices. Man, this is cool equipment.
Guess it might just come down to availability and best deal I can find.

I like the C2300. It gives you output meters so you can see your power output on the MC275. I had the C2200 and MC275 combo and I wish I still had it. I now use C2300 and MC402.

I have a C2300. I like it very much. If you go with a tube pre, then replace the stock tubes with Gold Lions, Psvanes or Mullards. You will be even more happy if you do that.

Joe

Hi Hififile, are you saying that you preferred the sound of your previous McIntosh setup to the current one? I would not be too surprised, sometimes newer is not better.

Alberto

I have an MC275 and was considering a C220 or a C2200. Both are great and I loved the sound they put out with my amp and speakers. Whether that combo is too tubey will probably depend on what speakers you drive.

However I ended up getting a Lamm LL2 Deluxe preamp. To my ears it sounds a lot better than either of the Mc preamps. The downside is poorer ergonomics: no remote, no meters, no electronic input level matching, etc. So I opted for a unit that deployed all the budget on the sound rather than other features. Not everybody's cup of tea.

But the sound is fantastic!

I hope this helps.