McIntosh

According to the developers, the C12000 McIntosh preamp is suitable for any speaker system. The main difference from other models of the manufacturer is the double chassis, divided into control and sound sections.

The C2800 tube preamp is a masterpiece of audio sophistication and engineering precision. Designed for discerning audiophiles and music lovers, performance is woven into the very fabric of this audio treasure. The C2800 has proudly earned the name McIntosh. The C2800 is based on a methodically designed circuit based on electronic lamps. Using the latest technology to eliminate noise and distortion, the C2800 reduces them to negligible levels. Its four electronic lights, or lamps, provide a listening experience that exceeds expectations.

There is no built-in DAC and wireless modules, but there is traditionally an excellent phono corrector for heads with a movable magnet and a movable coil (MM/MS), which allows you to adjust the capacitance and resistance values for different pickups. The device is built on one 12AT7 lamp and five 12AX7A lamps, which can be observed by looking at the device from above – all the vacuum elements are placed on the top panel.

It has a built-in universal phono corrector for pickup heads with a movable magnet and a movable coil, a headphone amplifier, and also provides the ability to install an optional DA2 digital module. The circuit is traditionally based on four 12AX7 triple triodes hidden in branded protective cages.

The McIntosh C55 preamp takes the best out of the C53 model, while taking the sound quality to a whole new level. The device is equipped with an 8-band analog equalizer to fine tune the music and create a personalized sound.

The device has 2 XLR, 3 RCA inputs, a phono corrector module (MM/MS), a pair of coaxial, a pair of optical connectors and a USB interface. There is also an on-board MCT connector for communication with McIntosh transports. The digital-to-analog converter of the model uses chips in Quad Balanced mode and accepts signals up to PCM 32/384 and DSD256.

In addition to the digital-to-analog converter (and the McIntosh C2700 has a very good one - proprietary Quad Balanced technology, ready to work with signals up to DSD512 and DXD 384 kHz), there is also a Dolby and DTS spatial sound decoder with stereo conversion. Thus, the device will work perfectly with movie sound, easily integrate into a home cinema (there is a Home Theater Pass-Through mode), and also interface with TV via HDMI ARC.

The device has a new removable DA2 module, where all digital inputs and associated signal processing circuits are assembled in a single place. The idea is for the user to easily replace the board as digital audio formats evolve, without having to replace the entire preamp.