Where to go from here? upping the tube ante


I have a Macintosh C2200 tube preamp and MC2102 tube amp (KT88). They are fine components and I'm very pleased with them. However, just in the interest of curiosity I'm wondering where one can go from here? In other words, what components would give me more than what I'm getting with the Macintosh pair? (I've upgraded the 12AX7 tubes in the preamp which led to a nice improvement.)

More of what you say! More music! OK, truthly more naturalness and ease. Not more sounding live, because that's not the point here, but having a violin or piano sound more like the real thing. But musicality is key.

I have an Audio Note balanced DAC and adding it to my system was a revelation over my EMC-1. I guess I would say I'd someday like to look forward to the same improvement with the amp/preamp. But, if the Macintosh are hard to beat please state your opinion.

Additional components:
Electrocompaniet EMC-1 UP used as transport
Tannoy D500 speakers
Audience Au24 interconnects and speaker cables
Acoustic Zen MC2 digital cable
Blue Circle Music Ring
BC and Audience power cords

Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks.
budrew

Showing 2 responses by fatparrot

What are you using as your 12AX7 tube upgrade? What 12AX7's were you using before?
Budrew, if those are the "Mullards" that are mil-spec in white boxes marked as CV4004 KQDD/K that is part of your problem. These tubes are CRAP from the 1980's, that do not have the same wonderful sonics as real NOS Mullards from the 1970's and earlier. Look at the tubes; you won't see the Mullard name printed on the glass. I would try to find a pair of real NOS Mullards. Andy at Vintage Tube Services might be able to help. Tel # is: 616-454-3467.