klipschnutsky Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 hi guys, i now have a c33 mc preamp, i was wondering if i am going a step down if i decide to buy a c20 tube preamp. sound wise, i have a mc 2300 power amp and am now using a c33 preamp with khorns. any ideas.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HudsonValleyNoah Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 JMHO, but that could be a BIG step up IF the C-20 is working in spec and tubed well. For straight -up 2-channel listening - I have never heard anything better than a C-11 / C-22 and I had heard that the C-20 was in the same class. YMMV Noah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HudsonValleyNoah Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 OTOH, if the juicy one knows the c-20 specifically, there you got a very respectable opinion on your SPECIFIC question. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago_Pete Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 I have owned a C11, and 2 original C22s. They sounded veiled and muddy to me. Granted none of them had been restored, old everything inside. On the other hand I really like the McIntosh signature sound that their amps seem to have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptnBob Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 My first "serious" preamp was a C-20. I took it a Mac clinic and Mr. O'Brian said (and this is a quote - it's been over thirty years but I can hear it like yesterday) "We're not too proud of that one." (After testing my brother's Marantz 2270, he said "They have some real engineers over there." but I digress...) The C-20 was IMHO a quantam step above the Dyna PAS 3, and is still the most flexible preamp I've ever used -if you are getting into old, pre RIAA records the C-20 is the unit to get. Equalization curves galore. The bass trims on the back are nice too, as is the variable loudness control. The things to watch out for are the volume control, which has been known to not track well after so many years (the left and right channels change volume at different rates as you turn the knob up or down) the phase switch, which for some reason increases distortion when engaged, running too long a cable run between the C-20 and whatever power amp you're using. As for the other Mac tube preamps, the C-22 is reportedly much better sounding. The C-11 is not as flexible a unit, but as a simpler design, is probably a bit cleaner. If I was grading a C-20, I'd say flexibility A, sound C-. I'd also have to say, at going rates, it's probably over-priced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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