I have owned a C220 for about 12 years and I love it. I did roll the tubes to some Millard reissues. Sounds great. I think the 2600 is similar to the C220, plus meters and a better phono section.
McIntosh C22 (old & new) vs C2600
I'm trying to decide between buying an old school C20/C22 preamp versus a modern C22 or C2600. I've never owned McIntosh before, but just bought a mint condition MC225 power amp and I'm looking for a nice preamp to use with it. I've heard it's best to stick with point to point wiring (though I don't know why sonically) it just seems like perhaps the best signal path? I think the new models incorporate printed circuit boards so I'm not sure what that does (if anything) to the sound produced. Can anyone who's actually owned or owns these models give me some advice on why I should choose one or the other and what the benefits might be to use an older model versus updated technology. My primary use will be vinyl and CD. Or maybe offer up other preamps as well, though 6k price range is about the limit.
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I love my C2600. It has more inputs than I can ever use and sounds great with everything. Besides, it’s beautiful just sitting on the shelf. I’m a sucker for those green lit tubes too! What I find really cool is the 2600’s built-in DAC with modern circuitry. So I was able to buy an old Macintosh MVP-851 CD player (design matching the 2600, btw) outputting through the player’s coax digital out into one of the C2600’s digital inputs. This avoids the player’s dated DAC and essentially uses it as a transport. Anyhow, the audio quality is superb. |
The C2200 and C2300 would offer better value than the C2600, and both aren’t burdened with the McIntosh DAC modules, which are easily bettered by external units of modest cost. A C2300 would come in under budget and allow for other system upgrades. Newer is not always better. If you’re eager to spend your whole budget, than the C22 Mk V would get my vote. That will likely become collectors item in the future. |
@jpizzit , this thread might help with your research: https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/differences-between-new-mac-preamps.986070/
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