2. amps-preamps
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McIntosh C220 tube pre-amp Thoughts or advise vs.?

Hello,

I am looking for a tube pre-amp that sounds great, has excellent quality and will last without going to the shop and has a reasonable number of features including a tape monitor loop. For now, I will mate to a solid state amp. I have heard some excellent things about the new Mac. How does it compare to the CJ, Hovland, First Sound or other candidates? Thanks for your help. Other equipment includes:

JM lab Mini Utopia Speakers
Cary 303 CD player
McIntosh solid state amp (for now)
Harmonic Technology cable and interconnects
goose
nuguy
195 posts
 
Just bought the c220 a few days ago as well. Warm with great imaging, lush mids, easy to use, good remote functions and pretty darn handsome. Until recently I haven't had chills up my spine and been covered in goosebumps in a while. I can't see selling it anytime soon.

I see you may replace your Mc amp. You'll want to consider a replacement before buying a pre.

Good luck
knollbrent's avatar
knollbrent
314 posts
 
goose- i had the levinson 320s pre for awhile and i felt i was missing something...music through the levinson was nice, always nice, but never great...decided to give the c2200 a try and haven't looked back...the sound field really opened up and the music became sooooo much more enjoyable....thanks to the 2200, i'm real close to being set...it is by far the best that i have heard yet....
trask
1 posts
 
I have the C220 with two MC 2155 SS amps (BIAMP) and the sound stage is wonderful, I did replace the CD, turntable tubes with smooth plate Telefunken’s and that made it better with mid range. The best upgrade to my system making sound “smooth tube like” was upgrading my DAC with Burson Op Amps and the digital clock in my Theta CD player; I found out that it takes a village to raise a HIFI, not just one component.
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