McIntosh MC402 - Best tube preamp?

Not even close to the best. You can do much better for the same budget. Are you staying with the Yamaha amp?

Narrod,
I was planning on replacing my MX1000U and CX1000U. Both still sound rather outstanding to me but I have the itch to upgrade. I've had them for quite a lot of years now.

Are you saying that the MC402 is not a worthy investment as compared to other preowned amps in its price range?

A fellow A'Goner had earlier suggested I look into Roger Sanders Magtech amp as a superior investment as compared to the Mac.

A fellow A'Goner had earlier suggested I look into Roger Sanders Magtech amp as a superior investment as compared to the Mac.

Lemme guess.... Soundlock from the 423 area code. This nut is calling, emailing and replying to everyone pushing the Magtech. My bet is that he's on the Sanders payroll.

I consider Hovland, VTL, Conrad-Johnson and Herron to all be superior to the Mac.

agree with Narrod

Atma-Sphere MP-3.

Wpines, Soundlock is not wrong about the Magtech. I is powerful and outstanding. I reviewed it on Dagogo and kept it. It does take forever to breakin not withstanding Roger Sander's opinion and if turned off takes three hours to reach its best. At 800 watt per side into 4 ohms, nobody needs more power but it is also silent. I sells like gangbusters in Europe.

My vote is for the McIntosh C2300 tube preamp. I also have the 402 amp. Some of the reasons I love the C2300...You can use the C2300 remote function to turn the 402 on and off. The phono preamp in the C2300 is wonderful, and it is fully adjustable with the remote control. You can sit in your listening chair and make adjustments by ear! Also the connectivity is amazing to include a home theater pass through. If you like the McIntosh look, combined with the 402 it is gorgeous. Also with this tube amp and the 402 you get full dual differential fully balanced performance, which translates to more music and virtually zero noise. In fact I can turn the gain up full blast with no signal on the C2300 and it is SILENT. Other preamps by some top companies make a wooshing noise or you here some type of noise when you do the same.

I have had many other preamps connected, some much more expensive than the McIntosh. None of them brought me the satisfaction of the McIntosh. But that's what is fun about this hobby. Try, buy, sell..repeat! And enjoy your music and the fun of all this nonsense.

I have the C2300 402 McIntosh with my Maggies it got me off the merry go round.

Thx to all for your responses. I've been reading the details on all of your recommendations.

My budget max. is $3000 and I would like to purchase a preused unit. Most of your suggestions require more cash than what I want to invest at this time.

I'm stretching for the MC402 and want the best tube amp I can get for my budget. Is $3k not going to get me there?

You can get a used McIntosh C2200 pre for $3K which is the predecessor to the C2300, many prefer the sound of the C2200 over the C2300. There is one in 9/10 condition out there right now for $3150obo, it will pair up superbly with the MC402 so take a look before somebody else grabs it!

I have the McIntosh C220 and really like it. It doesn't have all the features as the 2200 or the 2300 but it's a very fine preamp. You can find them used for around $2200-2300.