McIntoish C8 or PrimaLuna EVO 300
Both of the McIntoish C8 and PrimaLuna EVO 300 preamps seem to check the boxes in terms of inputs, outputs and features, and I can lift them. Does anyone have experience of either or both of these preamps?
I think my system is in need of a bit of warmth, I have noticed recently that the very highest violin notes are a bit aggressive - in the recent past I've been listening to mainly choral works and had not noticed this.
I was playing the Hilary Hahn sonatas and partitas, (I have the disks and digital) and noticed the problem. I dug up my 40 year old (!) C-J PV6 and the sound was sweet to the top, but that pre-amp lost the air and space of the choral recordings; everything was warm and cuddly but the sense of the recording space was lost.
My interconnects are Cardas Clear Reflection and I have the issue on both analog and digital - and with SS or tubed Power amps.
My current preamp is the Benchmark LA4 which is, perhaps, a bit on the analytical side of neutral.
Changing from my Rockport Atria II speakers is NOT an option.
So, I am looking for warmth but not losing the sense of the space, Am I asking too much in the $5k price bracket?
@retiredaudioguy before you replace your preamp, have you considered adding a shunyata Alpha V2 or Sigma V2 power cord to your current preamp first? That may clean up the harshness you are hearing. You can pick one up used. If you don't like it you can turn around and sell it getting most of your cash back. Some of what you are hearing may be due to noise coming in on the AC line to your preamp. The clear reflection cables are nice but can be a tad on the lean side. |
I’m an integrated amp guy, but… I had a Mystere ia21 with 6sn7s and now have a Primaluna EVO 300 tube integrated with 12au7s. I’ve run both with KT88 power tubes. The EVO 300 is brighter, but otherwise similar to the ia21 - to my ear. I agree with @glennewdick as far as resale value. |
Get a Schiit Freya + to enjoy a preamp with more features and options than most, a Class A Stereophile rating (still), and save some bucks. I have the original with NOS GE tubes that sounds astonishingly good. Not expensive enough for some but you can make it up elsewhere with $5,000 ac cables or a trip to the Bahamas. |
Neither is "better" than the other. Build quality, feature and flexibility and value the PL is "better" and a true all tube amp compared to the Mac. You would need to have both side by side to hear which is "better" to your ear-not someone on a forum. Used would be the "best" cost/performance. You could likely negotiate a lower price with shipping included. Primaluna Evo 300 Preamp with Extras!! For Sale - US Audio Mart If you're into the tube rolling thing, the PL will offer more "tuning" than the Mac. |
