Good Pre-Amps For McIntosh

Budget? I’ve got an Audio Research Reference 6 feeding an MC452 and it sounds great. It was a huge improvement over the C47 it replaced. 

I use a MC352 and I have gone through several pre amps, here I will recommend two tube based because tubes will inject some real palpable sound with texture and awesome color with beauty of tone.

The Manley Labs 300B would be my first choice. Has a very low output impedance so it will drive those 601’s no problem. RCA only. If you like headphones, your really in for a treat as well.

www.manley.com/hifi/neo3br

The other very high on your consideration list should be the Modwright LS300
http://www.modwright.com/products/ls300-balanced-tube-preamplifier.php

Again very low output impedance can drive those 601’s no problem. Plus you can use balanced cables if thats appealing.

I like the Audio Research as well, but these two I like a little more:-)

Matt M

Thanks for the suggestions. I'd be interested in more. I was driving these with a Conrad Johnson 17LS2 (4 tubes) and sometimes with a CJ 18 SS. I liked the 17LS better. For some reason something weird has happened to both so I've sent them to CJ for diagnostics and perhaps repair. I'm tempted by the C53 because it's upgradeable and has an equalizer (miss that from years gone by), but it's not tubes and I wondered about the potential "sameness" of sound. As for price: I don't know as yet. The AR 6 is about $15k list, that might be a bit steep the 53 is $8,000 list. I've looked at the recommendations and will continue to so thanks!

Any other thoughts?

I am a pretty big fan of the Mc C22. A bit below your budget but it is an impressive unit. I like it better than the PS Audio BHK which I have owned and the phono stage in the C22 is far better than it should be. 
The PS Audio BHK is an interesting unit. Some people might prefer it to the C22 Don’t even plug it in with the stock tubes. But a pair of NOS Tunsgrams will bring it to life. I like the C22 better but could see where someone would prefer the BHK as it is probably a hair...cleaner sounding.

If you are considering CJ, I would encourage you to check out the Art Audio Conductor. To be clear, I import this line so I am biased but in the same token, the brand has been around for 30 years and is pretty good sounding. It is single ended, has a great headphone amp. 
I have a couple of customers who have older versions of our preamps paired with Mc amps and it sounds great. 
What is interesting that the gain is adjustable and can be tailored to whatever levels you like. It ships standard with 0dB and 25dB. The 0dB pairs with the amp and the 25dB for the headphone amp. But this could easily be tailored to 6dB or 12dB and 25dB if you like or really any other value. 
I have a demo in the US and will be showing it at Capital Audiofest. That unit will be sold after the show so I can bring in Conductor Simply2 for AXPONA.

If you want an equalizer, have you looked at the Roon Nucleus+? It had a really robust DSP/equalizer built in. You can set what frequencies you want to adjust across the audio spectrum. It is really cool.

I have had McIntosh pre/pro’s with Mc amps MC7205, MC352 and now Mc402, and switched to a Audio Research Ls-26 and now a Ref5se and am much happier with the ARC pre-amp sound. Although I have been considering Ayre but haven’t yet.

You can find the ARC 6 for under 10k used and it really is a huge jump in performance. 

If you don't want a Mac preamp I can suggest two that work well with my MC75 mono's.   I have just purchased a PrimaLuna EVO 100 Tube Preamplifier, it's really brought my system to life.  Also I've had experience with Quicksilver audio line preamp.   Both very high quality. 

I have the 452 Amp with a 2500 preamp. 
Recently added the Audio Research CD 9 and love the sound. 
Been thinking about a Ref 5SE or a Ref 6.
Also have the Revel Salon Ultimate 2.
Soundstage is the best ever.

I appreciate all the suggestions and hope for more. I just wish I could afford buying them all and switching all of them out and picking the best one for my room and setup. Alas. Less children or more audio? I opted for more and less.

I suppose it's a good thing my ears are going, but you know, I think that when you can listen and do listen; the brain keeps that information and brings it back even when the ears don't.

I'm a professor and I often bring students into my office at the University and let them listen on my small system there (still good) and some of them (if they have the ears for it) are "blown away" (because no one listens to good stereo reproduction) or many (perhaps most) don't really *hear* the difference. It's amazing. I often let them choose their own music, but often find that the mix of the music is awful (try Imagine Dragons first album - definitely done on a home computer).

I might have to start a thread on this topic in another forum to see other folks experiences. Right now I have one good friend and my Brother (who has a fine system and who lives 2 hours away) who can really *hear* like I do. It's not just the style of music, it's the engineering, mix, production, and dimensionality, etc. of what is in the music and can be reproduced with the proper equipment. 

One day the studios may disappear, and the budgets dry up, and we'll all be condemned to MP3 quality files. It will be "high-end" stereo's fault. I bought "high-end" as a 20 something - nah not $20,000 equipment, but good enough to really hear good sound. There were good audio stores in relatively small towns. Of course, back in those days a bunch of mushrooms or a few hits of acid made a big difference on a high/low end system ;). Not that I would ever do something like that even though it was legal at the time.

Thanks again!

I was using a C47 with my MC452 and it didn’t sound bad by no means but I felt I was missing something. It seemed a bit lean to my ears. I now have a C2300 and absolutely love it. I like that it has no DAC or anything other then the analog inputs I have a Simaudio 380D DSD that handles the digital side and streaming. I think the Tube pre and SS amp or amps in your case is the ultimate set up. I prefer the matching Pre-amp and amp. Good luck!

I have a C220 McIntosh pre amp in conjunction with a pair of MC501 amps.  The drive a 4 ohm load, 3.6 Maggie’s and the sound is amazing.

It would be my guess that the same reasonably priced pre amp would have great synergy with your 601s.  And if it doesn’t’ work for you, you can always get your money back as the C220 holds its value.    One is worth more now than when I bought it a number of years ago.  A win - win proposition.

Good Luck in your journey!

I’m in love with McIntosh C2600, but I will switch back to C2200 if someone buys the C2600, thou. 😁

The second sentence of my post should read "even though my ears are going" - that: they are getting worse.

I would keep the pureness of Mcintosh going. Whether c50 or c2200 

I have been running 2 MC252 amps for awhile now and always go back to my C52 for the preamp. Rotel, Bryston and even and old Soundcraftsmen SP4002 just can never keep the Mac out of the lineup. I also do love and use the EQ on the Mac as I listen to many types and ages of music and find the EQ very helpful.