McIntosh Preamp

A C15 if you can get a good deal.    Or C712.

Look at Audio Classics site, they have McIntosh in every price range.

i agree with stereo5. i would buy a pre-amp from the same era as the mc7300.

Thanks Gus do far. Stereo5, great suggestion. I didn't know about Audio Classics and they have some decent prices or at least units in my price range. I'm not looking for a tuner or surround but it seems like three pretty decent deals on some of those units. How about the C-31? It's roughly a grand, right where I'd like to be price wise. Is it decent sounding? Thoughts?

  I've done business with Audio Classics and have always been happy. And yes, a C-31 would be a good choice. I am still using a c-32 that I bought new in 1981. One service problem in 37 years with it. 

I spoke with Audio Classics this morning. I’m impressed, although closed on Saturday, Steve called me in regards to my email inquiry. I am leaning towards a MX-130 or C-39. I know they both do the video thing which I wouldn’t use at all and a tuner on the 130, but I believe they have pass through 2 channel audio. The C-31 they have has an issue which I really don’t want to deal with. Thoughts?

The MX-130 represents an excellent value for a McIntosh pre-amp.
Their HT pre-amps are essentially stereo pres when run in analog mode. I use an MX-120 with great success. I do not think you would be disappointed by the MX-130, and if you were, the depreciation is already out of this unit, so you could sell it for what you paid.

I've had a couple of other pieces repaired at AudioClassics and they are great to deal with, plus they're likely to throw in actual Mc packaging which you'll want for secure shipping.

Let us know how it goes!

Thank you for the input and I sure will.

Not that I would use it because I haven’t listened to FM radio in 15 years. Does the tuners of yesterday MX-130 receive radio signal transmitted today?

Yes, as long as it is a standard (over the air) FM signal. You will not be able to pull in "HD" or digital channels without a separate HD decoder. Some of these decoders are coming packaged with networked audio players, which could provide more flexibility for you. Something like the Denon DN-350UI.

Generally speaking compared to other manufacturers McIntosh preamps come with tons of knobs (tone controls) giving the end user ability to shape the audio signal the way they want, this feature happens to be the the big seller among Mac fanatics, over the years Mac made two preamps with minimal features and I have both of them, one is C29 and more recently C15. I typically listen with preamp in flat mode with nothing in the signal path, both preamps have done a good job, the C15 which is my current preamp in use is very quiet and just what I expect from Mac minus all the bells and whistles which offer nothing for me.

@Vahes, totally agree, iwould prefer not having them but to each his own. My other systems preamp doesn't have tone controls either and that's what I'm use to. 
@the group- I've taken the plunge. I an MX-130 from Audio Classics. I believe it arrives Thursday. I feel the price was fair and I dealt with a guy named Steve Rowell who was super. If all is well after receiving it, I'll definitely be back to Audio Classics. 

Congrats luvrockin.
Audio Classics is a top notch operation. Their shop filled with so much sweet new and vintage gear, it makes one feel like a kid in a candy store...provided you've got wads of cash to spend. :-). Definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in NY.

I'm interested to hear what you think of the MX-130 once you get it integrated in your system. Personally, I think many overestimate the effect tone controls have on the final output. They zero out for a reason...but mostly because the American audience demands it. We prefer to swap thousand dollar cables in and out of the system to achieve the same effect.

So i received my MX-130 Wednesday and I have to say, I am impressed. I love it with the MC-7300. I owned an MX-130 when they first came out many years ago and had it paired with a MC-7270. I didn’t really care for it back then so I traded them both in for a Proceed AVP-2+6 and Levinson 23.5 which I still have. Those pieces are still on a different playing field than the Mc equipment but I am loving this MX-130 with the MC-7300 for my second system. I know my taste in music has changed through the years and I believe I have grown to appreciate the warmer sound of McIntosh. Thank you for all the input. Very happy!!

i have a 2 chanell system. i bought a mx132 unit from audio classics back in 2013. only reason i bought that unit is because it matches my mc602 amp and it was the cheapest of the mx series.

The McIntosh C36, C38 and C40 have identical specifications and excellent sound. They use the modern switching of today's McIntosh preamplifiers. The C36 is non remote and accordingly sells well below its quality.