Upgrade Mcintosh C39 Preamp to tube suggestions?

Talk to Audio Classics in Binghamton NY. They will back your purchase and give you a fair trade for your MC39

If you want to break away from McIntosh and want to spend 4000 or less. I should preface this with I ahd a C39 for years and have since gone through MX130,132,134 and now a MX135. I wanted to add a tube pre amp to my system and maintain a 5.1 surround and have a 2 channels system as well. So I decided to add a pre amp with unity gain(ht pass thru) between my MX135 and my MC402 for the fronts.
I looked at the C2300 as it was the same price as the Audio Research LS26 new. I went with the LS26 and have been very happy and am actually looking at upgrading it to a REF3. SO to answer your question add the Audio Research LS26 to your lis of options. And by going with the Unity gain feature if you are using the C39 as a six channel pre amp, you can keep it in your system and add the LS26 between it and your amp. Unless you have the 2 channel version of the C39 (McIntosh made 2 one 2 and one 6 channel) then sell the C39. If you can wait a few weeks I will be listing my LS26 which is less than a year old.

Take the Rogue equipment home and try it.You might be pleasantly suprised.

I 2nd Audio Classics. I've bought lots of my McIntosh gear from there.