Mcintosh pre amp pricing

With McIntosh gear, best to have a budget and then shop for what you can afford.  Consider some older models like C45 or C46?  You’re never going to find a piece at low price unless it’s damaged but even then, they are not cheap.   Guarantee once you own one, you’ll never settle for anything else. 

Thanks, I actually started going back to older and older pre amps and that's what got me frustrated- units that were 10-15 years old are still asking for 5k- when they listed for 5k a decade or more back. Fewer features, old switches and knobs, old technology etc. I ended up buying a newer (still current I think) c53 from Audio Classics with a warranty for $5500- new DAC, EQ, full featured. It validates my point about people asking the same money for units that are clearly much, much older, and that much closer to needing a service at some point. These older units are not "classics" either. In any event I'm happy with the C53 which is all that counts in my book !

Yeah, run away if a seller demands friends and family with PayPal. On the market, some people are proud of their stuff and demand close to MSRP, that’s when you skip buying used and buy new.  Eventually when people can’t sell it and they really want it gone they’ll lower the price, typically there’s equally other good gear out to close from aside from Macintosh to chose from.  

 I've owned McIntosh gear since 1971. Have always paired with JBL speakers. I have gone thru many different models and configurations with few issues. Have four different systems in use at this time with three of the four powered by McIntosh. The other is a nostalgic reproduction of my first system I ever owned. When I power it on, I remember why McIntosh is my personal choice. The proliferation of audio brands gives all of us a choice. Not everybody appreciates the McIntosh sound, and that's OK, it's what makes the world go 'round.

@speedthrills 

Congratulations on getting over your preconceived thoughts on buying McIntosh gear. 

I set out 8 years ago to compose an all McIntosh system which had been an over 50 year dream. I bought some pre-owned gear, some opened-boxed gear from Magnolia Audio, when it was thriving, and new gear from my local high-end audio vender in Berkeley, CA. Even the new gear I negotiated a discounted price lower than MSRP, simply because there is wiggle room even at retail venues. But “No One” sold me pre-owned gear for 50% off MSRP. I did the same when I purchased pre-owed REL-S/812 Subwoofers from the website TMR (The Music Room). I admit that I over did it when it came to my subwoofer system…Which I’m correcting.

I don’t buy gear because of it’s resell value, I simply buy the gear that I want to be in my system without a care about resell. However, It’s nice to know that the McIntosh gear will hold a good portion of its value but I’m too old now to care about such things..I’m 73.

I’d like to think that I’ve learned over the years to at least ask for a discount from MSRP for just about anything that I buy. If the answer is no, then I decide if it’s worth the price to me or not. Often times a bit of patience is all that’s required to wait out holiday sales.

I took advantage of McIntosh’s March/April 2026 Trade-In -Trade-Up program and traded-in a C-2600 Tube Preamp (which I got 75% of original MSRP) for a new C-2800 Preamp because it has new features that I wanted. I spent time comparing both systems at my local high-end audio dealer. I paid the difference with an added discount from my dealer. You have to shop and you have to ask for a deal…

You can see the results of my efforts and see my system here in My System.

Enjoy the music!!

Gary