mcintosh 501 vs 2102

given the mac501's with your 2300 are just about heaven, stay right there. they are overkill with most speakers, but they are quiet, clean, neutral, and most importantly 'natural' sounding. the control of dynamics is as good as it gets in just about any enviroment you can think of(or any speaker you can name). I've owned the mc275, the mc2102, and the mc602(the closest in character to the 501's). Ironically the mc275 has a bit more grunt than the 2102, but at the end of the day, the 501's(like the 7300, 500, 602, etc, is an ss product for the ages..even by mac standards

Has anyone compared the c2300 to the c500 or c1000 tube preamps?

What speakers do you have? I think that will be the deciding factor. If you have current hungry speakers, 100Wpc may not be sufficient....

right now i have dali mk2 400 but i just ordered a set of totem winds. i have not hooked up the c2300 to the 501's yet, it is still in the box, i am using my shindo monbrison. i am debating wich pre amp to keep. or use. so jaybo, you have used the 2300 with the 501's? and what are your thoughts of the 2102? your saying the 501 is better suited? now grant you, maybe when i hook up the 2300 to the 501 i will get a great snyg. i love the way my shindo sounds with the 501, but like i siad im changing speakers. even though i just bouth the dalis, i came across the winds at a diffrnt dealer, and fell in love, so now i ordered those as well, and yes i now have two brand new set of speakers, or i will in about two months when the winds get built. ( selling the dalis) but back to what we were talkign about. i would love to hear from anyone who has used the 2300 with the 501's or the 2102. i love the 501's

Check this out; http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=85928&highlight=501+versus+2+2102%27s

That is my thread Jamnesta has attached.

My view is that 1 x MC2102 is generally a nice amp but does not have the dynamics nor the power vs the MC501's. The single MC2102 does however have that "tube" magic that the MC501's will never have and there is the quandry.
When you go to 2 x MC2102's you really get the best of all worlds. the dynamics and power are in spades and you get the tube magic.
I now have the c2300 and it is an excellent pre amp. It is also more revealing than say my old c46, but a lot better balanced.
I tried the MC501's back in 2006 and preferred the 2xMC2102's to the MC501's. I again tried the Mc501's about a month ago when I was demoing the c2300. the 2xMC2102's now kill the MC501's period.
You can get more detail from the karma thread.

have fun

that was a great link. so downunder, in what way did you enjoy the tubes over the 501. i have the 501's for a while and i love them, but i did grow up with ss, i grew up listening to the mc2500 that at 20yrs old (org owner) still looks and sounds as if it was brand new. but i do like how tubes give you that ease, almost warmth. i just got the c2300 but have not opened the box, i am using my shindo monbrison still. how did the c2300 blend with the 501 and how do you like it with your 2102? when you say more revealing, in what way do you mean?

The bass on the 2xMC2102's gets larger and grows with the music as you turn up the volume, the 501's bass gets tighter as does most SS bass. I think the tube bass is more natural sounding.
In the upper frequencies again the Mc2102's have better depth and more of a 3d effect, whereas the 501's sound somewhat mechanical and 2d in comparison.

The C2300 sounded better with the MC2102's than did the 501's.

Don't get me wrong, the 501's sound good but if you like the sound of tubes, you won't look back.

cheers

thanks alot. for your indept comments. just wondering did you ever test the 275 remake? i was thinking of maybe doing two of them.

No never heard the MC275. Me I like the idea od my tubes cruising with 200 watts for 16 x KT88's or 6550's vs 150 watts with 8 x KT88's or 6550's.

Whuch amp do you think is working harder??

I have the 2300 and the 501s and it's the perfect combination as far as I'm concerned. I have not heard the 2102 but I was deciding between the 501s, 402 and the 275 as monoblocks and I felt the 501s were the best of the lot with the 2300. It's just a wonderful combination in my opinion.

Downunder & I have similar systems and agree on these aspects, I have since sold my 2102's and use 2 MC2000's to power my modded Khorns along w/ my C2300. In all honesty I wish I never spent the xtra $$$$$ on the MC2000's, not much of a difference sound wise. Looks wise though......Hands down the most beautiful tube amp made!

i use the c2300 with 501's. Power and finesse!