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Mcintosh C-2300 first impressions

I bought an C2300 from an authorized mac dealer with return rights minus shipping. I have 11 days to listen to it. My current preamp is the Counterpoint SA-5.1 that has had the line and phono stage upgraded by Mike Elliott (the original designer/engineer of Counterpoint gear). Since I use a low output cartridge, I also use the Counterpoint SA-2 in conjuction with the SA-5.1. My amp is the Jadis Defy 7 MKII. What I was hoping to achieve was to retain all of the sound quality of the SA-2/SA-5.1 combo while lowering the noise floor compared to my current phono section (the line section of the SA-5.1 is very quiet).
My initial impression from my first night of listening is that the C2300 has a refined, polite presentation in a button-upped British sort of way with a sweet top end. However, it sounds thin much like a SS preamp sounds and it doesn't have much in the way of a bottom end which can even be heard on acoustic bass. Forget any type of wowie-zowie bass punch with this preamp. Voices also don't sound as real as my current preamp. And these listening impressions come from listening to LPs, CDs, and 15 ips 2 track tape. I guess if I didn't know any better I could be happy with this preamp, but unless things improve soon it will be going back.
For those of you who own and love the C-2300, I would love to know what preamp it replaced in your system. I love all of the creature comforts this preamp has to offer with 8 inputs, 4 sets of balanced inputs, a cool remote, etc. I do think it is a bit garish looking in person with different shades of green lights as well as blue. If this preamp doesn't start fleshing out more of the music, it will be going back. And please don't tell me that it takes magic Telefunken 12AX7s to make this preamp come alive. I have heard mixed reviews with some owners not liking the Telefunkens at all and actually preferring the Mcintosh selected 12AX7s while others who are hooked on Telefunkens of course swear by the improvement they expected to hear.

Mark
mepearson
phillyb's avatar
phillyb
394 posts
 
I own the C2300 for several months and over that time I can tell you the tube used will make a big difference. Also the preamp is natural, if your room has issues it will show it, I took down a few wall panels and I was shocked at how much quality I lost in the weight and presentation.

Tubes that I found that work great are: Mullards, Siemens 12ax7WA, GE 5751 black plates, RCA 12ax7 black plates and ECC83 Telefunkens.

Each will have a sound of their own and depending on the rest of your gear it will be hard to tell which set you might like more.

It is a learning experience. All beat current made tubes.
talk2me's avatar
talk2me
325 posts
 
I took home a demo C2300 for 24 hours. It looks nice, but it did not envolve me emotionally.I am getting a Burmester unit.
opus111
58 posts
 
What you need is all NOS Telefunken ECC803s (only NIB and NOS will do). You also need around 10,000 (or better yet 20,000) hours of break-in time and $10,000 power cord to make the C-2300 to sing. Until then, you haven't heard its true potential.
chatta
314 posts
 
The C2300 is a solid built preamp better balanced than the c2200. Great phonostage and a really good sounding piece
miner42
709 posts
 
I worked my way up from Rotel to a McIntosh C2200 and was totally blown away by the shear openess that I was hearing - natural musical sounds without the veil of color added. I has my c2200 for approx 5 months and was made a very good deal on a C2300 - I could not resist. I was enamored by the remote and what all could be controlled with it from my listening position. I have had the C2300 ow for less than a week and have only listened to two sides of 'Brothers in Arms'; I was please at what I have heard so far and the flexibility of the C2300 is nothing short of amazing. I have tubes to roll but will give the Mc tubes time to show their stuff. I was able to take the Graham Slee Era Gold V out of the listening chain because the C2300 phono stage is so good. My newish Era Gold V is now for sale. The next step up would be the C1000 (C500 is close to the C2300 in sonics/features), but I don't think I will ever achieve that level of audiophile-dom. Enjoy your C2300, it will serve you well.
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