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McIntosh C2300 Now In The Main System

J

jdandy

Super Member
Banned
Well, the C42 I bought for the studio system turned into a 38% profit yesterday. I used it in the McIntosh trade-up program, and brought home a brand new C2300 preamp. I moved the C2200 down into the studio system where the C42 had been, and now the C2300 is sitting on the top of my main system rack.

Yesterday I left the stock McIntosh tubes in place, and listened all day, and late into the night. Very smooth, articulate, open sound. This morning I pulled out the line stage 12AX7 tubes, and installed two smooth plate Telefunken 12AX7 tubes in their place. I have been listening to the C2300 since 9:00 AM, and there is no doubt to my ears, the Telefunken tubes are an improvement over the McIntosh issue. The bottom definition is tighter, the mid range is smooth as velvet, and the top end is without comparison, so clean, clear, airy, and life like. A triangle sound hung in the air so crystal clear I felt I could mute it by touching it. Beautiful music comes from this preamp, with a three dimensional sound stage that is solid, wide, and deep. The entire audio spectrum is almost organic. It is so life like, with warmth and breath. It speaks not only to your ears, but also to your soul. I have always loved this about McIntosh equipment. It seems to have a heart beat, and a pulse. It seems to have a life of its own. This is what endears McIntosh to the hearts and minds of owners, and listeners. It is griping and tender at the same time.

I'll have to spend some serious time with the C2300 after it has fully broken in before I can do the proverbial C2200 verses C2300 comparison. At this time, the C2300 seems a tiny bit more open. If this trend continues, it will be the top dog in this house. Time will tell. The build quality is improved over the C2200, with a much better cabinet, solid aluminum side panels, locking connectors for the male ends of balanced XLR cables, and beautiful solid RCA input connectors that are very impressive. The remote control offers some cool functions, too. Not only can you adjust bass, treble and balance with the remote, you can also adjust cartridge loading by remote control for both MM and MC cartridges. You can also adjust audio taper for each input, and turn the LED lighting on or off for the meters from the remote. That is a great feature. If McIntosh would add a data port to future power amps, the remote LED on/off function could be extended to power amps, as well. That would be a very attractive feature.

So, the C2300 looks like it will turn out to be a sterling performer in every way, with features to spoil you rotten, and make you lazy. Despite its many functions, the C2300 is very user friendly, and simple to operate. I am impressed with this preamp. What's not to love. It's all there, including that glass window that lets you look at the tubes, with LED tube lighting to make them glow green. The tube lighting can be turned off, but I like the effect when it is on. You can see the two Telefunken tubes I installed on the right, glowing slightly different than the McIntosh tubes due to grid plate differences. This is one spectacular preamp. I think I made the correct move purchasing the C2300.
 

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Great looking system !! Congratulations and enjoy. I would be interested in your comparison to the c2000 particularly on the phono stage. I agree with the difference the tele's make, it transformed the sound of my phono section in my c220.:thmbsp:
 
Looking good down there in Florida.:thmbsp:

Without a doubt a very presentable preamp in every facet. After a burn in period, I believe you'll be as impressed with it as you were with the MCD500.
 
Dan, your system has changed quite a bit this year. :D

It looks fantastic, I bet it sounds better than it looks. :yes:
 
Dan the Man......I'm going to need a score card to keep track of all your recent purchases.....:yes:

anyways....it's always great to hear your feedback and views....keep it up buddy....:thmbsp:
 
Nice choice Dan. The C2300 is an extremley good pre amp and the on the fly bass, treble etc adjustments is just cream on a very nice pie.

I am sure after the C2300 has settled you will find it is better balanced and just plain better than the C2200. The MC phono stage is a peach as well.
 
Victor said:
Dan, your system has changed quite a bit this year. :D

It looks fantastic, I bet it sounds better than it looks. :yes:
Click to expand...

My main system has changed a great deal this year. I have upgraded everything including speakers, with the exception of my Micro Seiki turntable, and the MCD205 five disc changer. Everything else is new, and even the MCD205 has a new life by routing the digital output through the MCD500 DAC's.

Other than purchasing the MCD205 in 2004, it had been 13 years since I last put together a new McIntosh system. In 1995 I bought the C40, MCD7009 and MC300 power amp, plus a pair of Definitive Technologies BP2000 Super Tower speakers all at one time. All of that system has been with me until May of this year, when the bug bit me again. It was time to embrace some new and improved gear. I still have my McIntosh 4300V receiver. I bought it new in Miami in 1988, and I am attached to it. It powers my speakers on the deck.

I traded my C40, MCD7009 and MC300 when I bought the new PMC EB1i speakers, so that was how it started. The Def Tech BP2000's were sold to a friend. McIntosh gear purchased since June includes: MC275 MkV, C2200, MR85 (2), MC352, C42, MCD301, MCD500, MC501 (2), C2300. I did sell the MC275 MkV to a fellow AKer, and the C42 was traded for the new C2300 preamp, but the remaining gear is now all part of my two McIntosh systems. Also, I have a new McIntosh XLS112 subwoofer that will be delivered tomorrow, along with two more WireWorld Silver Electra two meter power cables, that will make a total of four of those (yes they really improve the sound).

My McIntosh sound systems are now complete, both in the studio, and my main system. Hopefully, they will provide me with at least another 13 years of faithful, flawless, glorious service. And, thank you for the compliment on my system. It does look really nice, and you are correct again, it sounds FAR better than it looks. It has been a serious investment, but worth every penny.

Speaking of pennies.......that's about how much is left in my savings account, but like someone told me in another thread, you can't take it with you. The bright side is, it's paid for, so no bills in the mail to deal with later. It's all good.
 
You are sure on a roll...

It is great, that in times like these we have folks like you out there stimulating the economy...

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!

And, let us know how it all sounds.
 
ok Dan.....your score card is officially filled up.......:yes:

btw...nice rack with all that Mac......:drool:

mmmmm ...... should I put a couple of ducks on my PMC's too? :scratch2:
 
'cisco said:
ok Dan.....your score card is officially filled up.......:yes:

mmmmm ...... should I put a couple of ducks on my PMC's too? :scratch2:
Click to expand...

'cisco.......I'll have you know, those ducks, both the large one and the small one, are very special esoteric audio tweaks. I have two more on the other PMC speaker, as well. They are called Shanuma Null Ducks. The little ones remove fowl from the mid and upper audio range, while the large ones eliminate low frequecy quack. They work really well. I don't hear any of those audio anomalies with my Shanuma Null Ducks in place. I definately think you need some. For what they do, they are reasonably priced, too, just under a grand a pair. Let me know how many pair you need. They are made by special order. :D
 
Dan, congrats on your new preamp ! Never heard PMC speakers but I'v been told by Mike at AC they are wonderful. I have an appointment to listen to the only PMC on demo in Paris, the FB1i. But Mike told me the really good ones are yours and EB1i.
Your review gave me the will to listen to the C2300. Some people did not like it so I was a bit scary.
Problem in France is that Mc dealers don't have much stock and it's difficult to find one where I could make comparaisons between C2300 and let's say C500 or C1000... So we have to rely on reviews like yours.
I have 12AX7 Telefunken tubes waiting to be installed in my 220 for near 6 months !
I never found the time and courage to do it ! ( I bought 4 of them and 2 were installed in my 275 with big improvement )
Now that I read your post and many others, I will change them tommorrow.

Thanks again for your great review and enjoy !!

Jerome
 
jdandy said:
'cisco.......I'll have you know, those ducks, both the large one and the small one, are very special esoteric audio tweeks. I have two more on the other PMC speaker, as well. They are called Shanuma Null Ducks. The little ones remove fowl from the mid and upper audio range, while the large ones eliminate low frequecy quack. They work really well. I don't hear any of those audio anomalies with my Shanuma Null Ducks in place. I definately think you need some. For what they do, they are reasonably priced, too, just under a grand a pair. Let me know how many pair you need. They are made by special order. :D
Click to expand...

:lmao::lmao::lmao:

as far as placement is concerned....I assume you line all your ducks in a row? :D

only a grand for a few quackers? :D

I'll take a pair please......do you have a free 30-day home trial? :D

sorry I couldn't resist....:D
 
Jerome,

The tele's will make your c220 sound better as well. I was going to trade in my c220 until I changed out some tubes, now I am not so sure I will get rid of the c220. I have read that the c220 and c2300 have simillar circuitry with the c2300 having more bells and whistles ie more balanced inputs and outputs (presently I am using RCA interconnects), the pretty blue meters, moving coil phono input, on the fly adjustable cartridge levels, remote control base/treble adjustments but overall these 2 pre amps are supposed sound very similar for moving magnet phono as well as other inputs.
 
jdandy said:
'cisco.......I'll have you know, those ducks, both the large one and the small one, are very special esoteric audio tweeks. I have two more on the other PMC speaker, as well. They are called Shanuma Null Ducks. The little ones remove fowl from the mid and upper audio range, while the large ones eliminate low frequecy quack. They work really well. I don't hear any of those audio anomalies with my Shanuma Null Ducks in place. I definately think you need some. For what they do, they are reasonably priced, too, just under a grand a pair. Let me know how many pair you need. They are made by special order. :D
Click to expand...


This is REALLY funny... thanks for being able to make us laugh at little bit!!!

Your system is really beautiful and I am sure that the sound is heavenly.

I am sure that I am not the only one that would like to see a wider shot, so that we can see the whole system.

Thanks for sharing the review with us.
 
Wow Dan you are like a kid in a candy store!

Congrats on getting the 2300. That was wise use of the upgrade program.

It will be interesting to see what you think as time goes on and you get more listening hours in, now that you have both the 2200 and the 2300 to compare.

I see that you mentioned that you traded your MS300 in at one point. I was curious why?
 
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