2. amps-preamps
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Where to go from here? upping the tube ante

I have a Macintosh C2200 tube preamp and MC2102 tube amp (KT88). They are fine components and I'm very pleased with them. However, just in the interest of curiosity I'm wondering where one can go from here? In other words, what components would give me more than what I'm getting with the Macintosh pair? (I've upgraded the 12AX7 tubes in the preamp which led to a nice improvement.)

More of what you say! More music! OK, truthly more naturalness and ease. Not more sounding live, because that's not the point here, but having a violin or piano sound more like the real thing. But musicality is key.

I have an Audio Note balanced DAC and adding it to my system was a revelation over my EMC-1. I guess I would say I'd someday like to look forward to the same improvement with the amp/preamp. But, if the Macintosh are hard to beat please state your opinion.

Additional components:
Electrocompaniet EMC-1 UP used as transport
Tannoy D500 speakers
Audience Au24 interconnects and speaker cables
Acoustic Zen MC2 digital cable
Blue Circle Music Ring
BC and Audience power cords

Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks.
budrew

Showing 5 responses by budrew

budrew OP
467 posts
 
Bwhite, Thanks for the info. Are there any concerns about matching different tube brands in the amp at the same time? I found a review of several KT88s and they found the Electro-Harmonix to be the clear winner, though they did not include any GEC tubes, of which I've heard there are many variations.
budrew OP
467 posts
 
I used Mullard 12AX7s from Upscale Audio. The ones I was using previously were the stock tubes.

I had the Macintosh MCD205 for a while and although i can't do an A/B demo I'm pretty sure that my ears prefer the Audio Note DAC. I'd bet money on it.

I'm sure there better speakers out there, but everytime I demo a pair they sound too "hi-fi" to me. The Tannoys just sound so natural with great off-axis response and are great all-rounders. Maybe some Kharmas someday...
budrew OP
467 posts
 
Fatparrot, looks like you're right. They are white-box CV4004 Mullards! Looks like I still have a lot to learn about what is really what in the tube world. However, they are better than what came with the C2200 originally.

For the record, I never said I was unhappy with my set up, just curious about where one can go from here. An idle yet dangerous question.

I knew someone would throw in a turntable somewhere! They always do. I don't have any LPs nor do I want to unnecessarily complicate my software inventory. But, I did just inhert all of my grandfathers LPs : 0 Still not going there just yet though.
budrew OP
467 posts
 
Bid63, No sore spot at all : ) Please, all thoughts welcome. The Mcintosh is great and I doubt that I will do anything new in that department, at least for a long time. They seem to be sleepers; people are quick to shrug off Mcintosh. But, as I learn more about component designs I just get curious about how things compare.

I've actually begun to look into turntables since I'll have so many from my grandfather. Thought I might get a decent Rega as a simple answer for now. Someday anyway. My grandfather also had a Tandberg reel-to-reel with lots of tapes. Could be fun to explore.
budrew OP
467 posts
 
The Svetlanas faired the worst in the review I read, but that was back in 2002. I understand Mcintosh revised the Svetlana KT88 specs for their own needs so perhaps the Mcintosh KT88s are improved. Whatever, I'll try some NOS and see what it does for the music.
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