McIntosh Controller C712

zingo

Just picked up a very minty McIntosh C712 preamp today and excited to get it home and hook it up. I was debating a purchase like this it will give me more flexibility with amplifier choice than an integrated, but the reviews were very favorable, and I have multiple local shops that will service Mc gear if I have problems with bulbs or whatever. A few reasons I chose this unit is because it's one of the few that has the combination of balanced outputs and a full function remote control. It's only half height which I actually like, and has a variety of tone and other adjustments, but they are out of the signal path when zeroed out. The preamp came with original sales brochure, manual, and remote, so it's a nice set. This is my first piece of Mc gear, even though I've listen to a bunch, and excited to see what it does to my system. With all the really good Chinese electronics I've been buying over the last few years, I'm excited to pick up a piece of equipment that will continue to hold it's value very well, even if I don't sell it.

A short review to come after I do some listening.

doctor r

Nice aquisition. It should give you a lot of flexibility and a little different presentation than some of your other equipment. Having the complete package (remote, manual, paperwork, ext) is nice and indicates the previous owner cared enough to hold on to all of it. From my memory it has a decent MM phono section and headphone out also. Enjoy and keep us updated.

Rick

zingo

zingo

Initial set-up sounds good. Preamp has great functionality and works fantastically with my Harmony One including input switching, muting with start-up, and a volume control that's not too sensitive.

Conradicles

I like it!

erniejade

Nice!! I am running a c-39 that also has blanaced out and a sub out since it was originally a HT pre but, I love the size of yours! I think they were both made around the same time frame as well. Sometimes the loudness curve comes in handy also!!

zingo

I thought it a little weird since it's not the normal height Mc preamp, but I really like the size now as it's a little more flexible and simply doesn't look as busy. I can't think of any other features I would want, so I'm very happy right now joining the McIntosh family.

Listening last night had a hiss that was not preferable, but I was running Mc C712 via XLR 440wpc class D single-amp'ed to my corner horns, and the hiss seems to come entirely from the amp. The high powered class D sounds awesome on everything except the 105 db sensitive speakers, and I just think they are a poor pairing and not a reflection on the preamp. The sound quality is actually pretty decent, just more noise than I would like. (The two, little red lights to the right of the preamp are the channel indicators of the amp)