McIntosh C8 Preamp

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pearsall001
pearsall001 Posts: 5,393
in Electronics
Anyone have any experience with the C8. Just kicking things around & that pre caught my eye.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 26,138
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    No experience with that one, but my C2800 has been fantastic.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon MiND2 Shunyata Triton/Typhon Rotel RP9400 Turntable

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson

    How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it?
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,554
    edited September 4
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    Assuming (???) you mean the original Mac C8: The C8 is a very good mono preamp. As was the case of many hifi components in the early (relatively speaking) era of the Columbia microgroove vinyl LP, the phono preamp's flexibility in EQ curves is much appreciated by old rekkid collectors -- in either sense of the term: collectors of old rekkids, and old collectors of rekkids ;)
    I don't have one (much less two), but many of the gang up here in northern New England do.
    xi6ddcuzt0e5.png

    EDIT: mmmm... looks like McIntosh has recycled the "C8" moniker. :p
    Sorry!


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  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 4,369
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    The new iteration of the C8 is a hybrid design, using operational amplifiers for the phono section and passive/active RIAA EQ using additional operational amplifiers. Then a tube stage using 12AX7s for additional amplification and (probably) cathode follower stage.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,554
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    No EQ options for 78s, and weird curves for early LPs, then, I take it?
    ;)
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  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 4,369
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    No direct tape head inputs, either. He he.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 26,138
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    SeleniumFalcon wrote: »
    The new iteration of the C8 is a hybrid design, using operational amplifiers for the phono section and passive/active RIAA EQ using additional operational amplifiers. Then a tube stage using 12AX7s for additional amplification and (probably) cathode follower stage.

    The tubes act as a buffer...
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon MiND2 Shunyata Triton/Typhon Rotel RP9400 Turntable

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson

    How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it?
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,554
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    SeleniumFalcon wrote: »
    No direct tape head inputs, either. He he.

    Guess we'll have to wait for the "Gold SE" version...
    B)
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  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 4,369
    edited September 5
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    "The tubes act as a buffer..."

    That accounts for one of the tubes (a single 12AX7 could perform both left and right buffering/cathode following), what are the other three doing? I think it's likely the tubes are being used as a gain stage, with unity feedback and then the cathode follower stage. It's impressive that McIntosh can achieve those s/n results, they must have put lots of effort into the power supply and cable routing and transformer isolation.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,393
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    Well it definitely looks like a solid pre from what I can gather. I'm just thinking out loud here because I really, really enjoy my Parasound JC2 BP pre. & that would have to go. Maybe just leave well enough alone.
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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 6,065
    edited September 5
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    pearsall001 wrote: »
    Well it definitely looks like a solid pre from what I can gather. I'm just thinking out loud here because I really, really enjoy my Parasound JC2 BP pre. & that would have to go. Maybe just leave well enough alone.

    I'd bet you'd be pleasantly surprised upgrading to the C8.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre Upgraded with Mundorf Supremes
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,393
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    audioluvr wrote: »
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    Well it definitely looks like a solid pre from what I can gather. I'm just thinking out loud here because I really, really enjoy my Parasound JC2 BP pre. & that would have to go. Maybe just leave well enough alone.

    I'd bet you'd be pleasantly surprised upgrading to the C8.

    Yeah I know it would be a complete 180 in what I currently have with the JC2. I would have to pick one up with a great return policy & do a head to head comparison to see if the change is something I like before making a move.
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