Thoughts on adding a McIntosh C12000 preamp to my AVM90 Home Theater Processor....

Thanks @oddiofyl - did you and your dad hear a noticeable upgrade between the 2 channel audio of the AVM and the C12000??

@uberk I have almost the exact same set up as you.  Amati G5's biamped with MC451 monoblocks.  My difference is only that I have an AVM90 vs a MX123.

So now that I've actually added the C12000 I can comment on how it works/how its set up.

The L/R output from your MX123 would be plugged into the "passthrough" input, the L/R output goes to your amps on the C12000.   

If you turn on the C12000 your amps turn on, you have an awesome two channel system.  If you turn on your MX123, the C12000 turns on, the amps turn on and the system immediately goes to "passthrough" mode.  Everything works as your existing home theater set up does - the controls on the C12000 are not functional even though its is on.

Works perfectly!

Hope that helps.
PB

I have all input devices also connected to my AVM90 for mutli speaker output and also for my wife and family to use.  The 2 Channel is only for me ;)

You know in this game you hear what you want to hear, I believe it clearly sounds better - would more intelligent people without the love of gear?  Not sure, but its only my ears that matter!

Interesting you have "hum" - we virtually have the same system and mine is dead quiet. I use a Niagara 5000, but to be honest I don’t think I’d have a problem if I removed it. Whether I’m using the 2 Channel system with the C12000 or the home theater system with the AVM90 w/"passthrough" of the C12000 - same, quiet! Same amps, same speakers. I am using AQ Pegasus interconnects and AQ Thunderbird Zero/Bass cables - but that would have nothing to do with hum being introduced to your system...

Good luck figuring that out.... maybe a PS Audio regenerator??

The C12000 is an Analog Tube/Solid State balanced Preamp, I would connect my Turntable (Technics 1200G), my CD Player (McIntosh MCD12000) to it and connect that directly to my Power Amp MC462 using XLR's.... My Home theater would all connect to the AMV90, and my other digital inputs would connect to that as well, (game system, Roon Nucleus), and the L/R XLR output of the AVM90 would connect to the bypass inputs of the C12000

I use the MC462 for the Front L/R, which are Sonus Faber Olymica Nova III's.  The other 3 and the two subs are all powered.  3 x Paradigm Active Reference, and two powered sub's, a Paradigm Servo 15 and a JL audio (can't recall the model)

Thanks for the input everyone - I pulled the trigger on the C12000 and am upgrading the Nova III to Serafino G2's...  Should know the outcome of the upgrade this weekend!