The direction I would head would be toward a C200. Your 501's are completely balanced and so is the 200, so with xlr's you would have a balanced signal from at least the input of the 200 to the output of the 501. Good luck.
McIntosh MC-501s; balanced and unbalanced preamps;
I started an earlier thread on preamps for the Mcintosh MC-402, and then something funny happened on the way to the listening room: I wound up with a set of MC-501s.
So, first of all, I'm just wondering what other MC-501 users have for premaps?
Also, I've read somewhere that the new Mc amps can actually sound or perform better using unbalanced preamp outputs rather than balanced. Looking over the Stereophile review, I suppose one reason for this is gain. Thoughts, comments?
So, first of all, I'm just wondering what other MC-501 users have for premaps?
Also, I've read somewhere that the new Mc amps can actually sound or perform better using unbalanced preamp outputs rather than balanced. Looking over the Stereophile review, I suppose one reason for this is gain. Thoughts, comments?