2. amps-preamps
  3. 194302-198276

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

Showing 2 responses by chippieboy

chippieboy OP
11 posts
 

I'm sure the C49 is broken in. Don't get me wrong I do like the sound. Hence the "Conflicting" title.I was just curious if this forum might think that I should not open the Quad when it arrives and list it for sale since there seems a slight demand for it, or open it and run it for a few weeks and make the decision to list it or keep it and list the Mac. I am also wondering if the forum thinks the Quad will out perform the Mac or the Mac will out perform the Quad. I'm sure an opened, used item will suffer some depreciation just to satisfy some curiosity. I already tried to cancel the order weeks ago. Below is what the store wrote me back after many un-answered emails.

Hey C, 

Store owner here - we spoke initially, and when we talked, it was my expectation that Vendor XXX would ship this quickly and get it to you in a timely manner. What we did not understand was that there was some internal turmoil over the tariff situation and Vendor XXX paused all activities while they took stock of the situation. Thankfully, that has been resolved and I am expecting to receive the Preamp Monday or Tuesday, at which point we'll be overnighting it to you. It costs us a bit more, but we have several customers affected by this and ultimately we want everyone to be happy. 

I apologize for the delay, and we'll be getting you tracking as soon as we can.

Thanks, 

Store Owner (names withheld)

Still no Quad Preamp in my possession.

 

 

chippieboy OP
11 posts
 

Thanks "helomech". All of your suggestions are now contenders. China products are great by me. I do like the fact that the Quad has a MC input. I hear a lot of good things about the Topping. 

As for canceling the Quad order. A few emails and phone calls yielded no return correspondence but when I asked to cancel the order, the previous posted answer was returned in minutes. So it's fair to say, no cancel, hence this post. I suppose I should inquire about a return policy. I'm sure there is a high restocking fee, so new unopened box sounds like the best option. But I do want to hear it too.

Conflicted again.

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