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Mcintosh C 34V

B

barsur

Active Member
I bought in Ebay a Mcintosh C 34V which I let refurbished by Audioclassica. I have to say this is an amazing amp, which all íts possibilities like 5 band equalizer, loudness control and the compander which is great when you listen to vinyl.

Unbelievable that this amp is 20 years old. I couldn´t hear any difference to my C45.
My C50 sounded maybe a little bit more transparant, but the difference was subtle.

Congratultion Mcintosh and Audioclassica for this nice piece of work.:music::music::thmbsp:

Bye

Martin

Here you can read how was the result in our blind test (it is shootout #22):

http://www.amp-shootout.com/2.html
 
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And here some photos:
 

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Nice looking setup. I also have the C34V and love it. The only thing that bugs me are the VCR labled inputs. I know it's nit picking.

I love the shelving you have there. What is the brand?
 
...or the "Ld" (laser disc) setting on the MAC 4300V, DVDs having yet to appear, alas.
 
I just sold my very clean C34V, the thing is a gem. Last of the 'real' classic styled pres, the amplifier monitor in it sounds really nice as well. They don't make them like this anymore, and I believe it is the last of the no-expense spared on the build quality (I think it was the last pre made while Gordon Gow was in charge of things). They weren't cheap back in the day (like $2500, more than a power amp), but they are keepers.
 
Hello 62Caddy,

I have actually more than 10 tuners. I am collecting Mcintosh and stereo equipment. With the two tuner on the picture we are doing right now some blind test as we do it with the amps.

In the picture is the MR 77 and MR 78. The MR 78 is far the better tuner (after some blind test, the difference are by far bigger as with the amps), but the MR 77 is the better looking tuner.

Bye

Martin
 
Hello geturdone,

rack is from Music Tools.
Turntable is Dr. Feickert Woodpecker with Ortofon 2M Black. I forgot to mention that the C34 has a great phono stage.

Bye

Martin
 
barsur said:
In the picture is the MR 77 and MR 78. The MR 78 is far the better tuner (after some blind test, the difference are by far bigger as with the amps), but the MR 77 is the better looking tuner.

Bye

Martin
Click to expand...

I'm pretty new to Mc as far as ownership is concerned but your comments about the MR-78 are very consistant with everything I've read on the subject of Mc tuners. At present, I'm using a 4300 with two 2505s. But when the time comes that I decide to go for all separates, I've decided that a mint MR-78 will be in my system. Thanks for sharing.

Regards, Eric
 
CountD said:
I just sold my very clean C34V, the thing is a gem. Last of the 'real' classic styled pres, the amplifier monitor in it sounds really nice as well. They don't make them like this anymore, and I believe it is the last of the no-expense spared on the build quality (I think it was the last pre made while Gordon Gow was in charge of things). They weren't cheap back in the day (like $2500, more than a power amp), but they are keepers.
Click to expand...
They are keepers but you didn't keep yours? :scratch2:
 
Hello Eric,

that is interesting that you are using a 4300 with two MC 2505. I have also a MC 2505 and I thougt that you couldn´t switch them to Mono?!

Bye

Martin
 
barsur said:
Hello Eric,

that is interesting that you are using a 4300 with two MC 2505. I have also a MC 2505 and I thougt that you couldn´t switch them to Mono?!

Bye

Martin
Click to expand...

Hi Martin. I'm running three pair of speakers- and use a dedicated amp for each. It's probably a little overkill but I did it for mainly two reasons: Flexibility to adjust volume levels independently for location and varying efficiencies of the speakers and have bi-amping capability should the need arise. The 4300 is a great all-round performer and very versitile- it's supposed to be a combination of the MC-754, C-31V and MR-7083. At some point, it'll probably be replaced by a C-33 or C-34 and MR-78 and a MC-2105 or 2255. Although I have a real soft spot for the MX-117 too! Decisions decisions!
 
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jlovda said:
They are keepers but you didn't keep yours? :scratch2:
Click to expand...

Yes, I guess for me it was a non-keeper, as I prefer the Mx110 over everything now. When you have more than 10 Mc power amps and two Mx110s, some things just gotta give...but one thing I was really happy about the C34v was that monitor amp that was built in. The thing sounded amazing, but it was hard to get at the gain knobs when it was stacked or in a cab - it was a bummer they did not link it to the volume pot with a switch or something.

Oh, about the MR78 vs. MR77 - I prefer the sound of the MR77 over the MR78, as it has a more lush sound to me. I will always keep the MR77 as I purchased it the day my son was born.
 
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C34V monitor amp has three input settings, External, Listen or Record. Listen tracks with the main volume control. The input selector is located on top, front of the C34V. The built in monitor amp works great with Stax headphones or a set of Klipschorns.

Thanks again,
Ron-C
 
I believe the C34V was the last preamp with the full function MODE rotary switch. I like that functionality. The only thing I am not crazy about is the working on the front. The C33 used traditional descriptors such as AUX1, AUX2 while the C34V uses TV, CD, LV, etc.
 
C34V switched audio and video sources together when the MVS3 video switcher was added. That is why the high level inputs are purposely labeled. Of course any high level stereo audio source can be connected to any of the inputs on C34V.

thanks,
Ron-C
 
Oh yes, I forgot about the "TV" input, I love that as mush as the VCR one.:D

I haven't had my C34V long and was wondering about the point of the monitor amp other than to drive headphones. I'm out of town now so I can't go look; is there a seperate power switch for the monitor amp?
 
62caddy said:
Nice gear! Just curious, why two tuners?
Click to expand...
Yeah............. really. Only have six (6) and that is not nearly enough, so you obviously need more.

barsur said:
I have actually more than 10 tuners. I am collecting Mcintosh and stereo equipment. With the two tuner on the picture we are doing right now some blind test as we do it with the amps.

In the picture is the MR 77 and MR 78. The MR 78 is far the better tuner (after some blind test, the difference are by far bigger as with the amps), but the MR 77 is the better looking tuner.
Click to expand...
That's more like it. :thmbsp: However, unless both have been recently recapped and aligned, it is not a fair test.
 
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The C34vs video designated inputs (as on the C31v &35v) were what my customers demanded, we were hooking up HiFi VCRs, cable boxes etc to audio systems for the first time and customers needed more defined input names.

I just wish the future A/V preamps would have honored Larry Fish's promise to keep the actual video switching in an external chassis. Oh, multiple analog 6 channel inputs would have kept the C39, MX130, etc. realavent also.
 
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