I have found McIntosh amps always sound better with a McIntosh preamp. II had a Rogue RP5 preamp that I paired with a McIntosh MC152 and the sound seemed off. It was nothing I could put my finger on but I didn’t like it. I sold the Rogue and added a McIntosh C2500 preamp and the sound totally opened up and the system had no problems playing complicated musical pieces. I have Kept the Mac C2500 tube preamp and replaced the Mac Mc152 with a Mac Mc302amp. I am very happy.