McIntosh Preamp Advice Needed

[allenzachary]

I am guiding the hand of an old friend as she pursues her first real steps into Audio Nervosa.  She is working on assembling a high-ish end system, piecing it together by identifying the right equipment, then patiently waiting until the right deal comes along on it.  I have been successfully advising her, but I've run into a bit of a stumbling block.  She's decided, wisely so, that she wants a used McIntosh preamp, but aside form acknowledging the greatness that Mac is, I have very little knowledge of the actual products and their nuances. 

She was eying an MX130...a six channel THX video monster that she plans to neuter to 2 channel.   I don't like the idea of it.

Her budget is $1000-$1200.  Requirements: Headphone output; phono section.  Preferences: Two channel, Remote control.  Tube is OK.  Solid State is OK. Old is OK, but new(er) is preferred.  Her choice of speakers is B&W 802 Matrix Series 2.  She is currently running Rotel mono blocks (which aren't terrible) driving some awful Infirmity floor speakers.  She also plans to upgrade the amp soon.

Which pre's do you recommend?

[Triode Pete]

I used to own a McIntosh C31V... 2 channel Audio/Video Control Center (preamp)... with remote control... and headphone jack! Great McIntosh quality in a modern design...

I really liked this preamp and sold it for what I paid for it 3 years later... I originally purchased it at Audio Classics....

Here's one... http://www.audioclassics.com/detail.php3?detail=C31V&nav=brand

My $0.02,
Pete

[richidoo]

I'd avoid Mac preamps. Lots of features, excellent resale, but SQ, not so much. Maybe old ones all tubes are OK, but then you compete with collectors on price. The newer, lower priced preamps sound pretty bad, imo.

Eastern Electric Minimax preamp is excellent. It is very strong, good sounding tubes (12au7) easy to roll, cheap to roll only 2 tubes, small, pretty. Look for later models with 4 inputs, modified from the importer by Tom Tutay.  http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649096255-eastern_electric_minimax_phono_preamp_tom_tutay_modded/

Van Alstine preamps are pretty good for the money, they sound better newer. 

AES (Cary) has made a few nice inexpensive preamps using 6SN7 and 6DJ8 type tubes. They sound very nice. Can be quality problems, your raleigh tech can advise, he worked QC there.  http://app.audiogon.com/listings/tube-aes-djh-hot-rod-silver-black-2014-02-01-preamplifiers-68434--2

Cary SLP-98, etc.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/tube-dodd-reference-preamplifier-2014-02-12-preamplifiers-78726

A lot of people like the sound of this:
http://www.thehornshoppe.com/the_truth_pre_amp.html
But it's expensive for what it is.

Good value if she can solder?
http://www.transcendentsound.com/Transcendent/Transcendent_Sound_Grounded_Grid_Preamp.html
Add another $100 for upgrade parts like output caps, rectifier diodes, etc. I built one it was fun and very easy. Sound is big and fat.  I wouldn't pay him to build it, better pres available used for 900.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/tube-cary-cary-slp30-tube-preamp-modded-musical-excellent-conditon-new-tubes-2014-01-17-preamplifiers-98312-bremerton-wa

Don't forget the tube eater!

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/tube-audio-by-van-alstine-ultra-sl-hybrid-preamp-2014-02-09-preamplifiers-29577

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/tube-cary-ae-3-djh-signature-super-preamp-upgraded-by-cary-audio-2014-02-07-preamplifiers-10591-north-tarrytown-ny

Parasound Zpre2 sounds pretty good, remote
http://www.parasound.com/ParasoundZ/zpre2.php

Not heard this one, but probably at least as good as Z.
http://www.parasound.com/nc/2100.php
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-parasound-classic-2100-toss-in-a-mf-v-link-ii-24-96-2014-02-04-preamplifiers-98258-lake-stevens-wa

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-mccormack-rld-1-remote-control-pre-amp-with-smc-silver-edition-modification-2014-01-16-preamplifiers-53221-milwaukee-wi

Not a fan of Bryston, Wyred4Sound, or Burson.

That's all I got. Good luck.

[Carlman]

I have a Musical Fidelity X-150 that has a remote and phono inputs and was mod'ed by Sol here locally to sound a little better.
Perfectly paired with a Sony direct drive turntable..  And, connected to a cd player and Squeezebox.

This could easily power a pair of B&W's nicely and sound 'OK' doing it.  

That got me thinking about recommending an integrated Mac.. but I haven't heard them recently enough to remember how they sound...
http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/us/Products/pages/ProductListingHorizontal.aspx?CatId=integratedamps

You can get them at a variety of prices.  I'm sure they aren't the bottom line in SQ but sometimes that's not the absolute priority with these things.

Also, you can't lose on buying McIntosh.  I haven't lost any money reselling it.  Could be a great learning experience.

[allenzachary]

Friend dove in for the modified MacCormack RLD1. We'll see how she likes it.  She has Nervosa so bad that she's changing components before she even has them set up to for listening.  It's fun guiding her.  I live vicariously.

I know a smart 21 year-old that would kill for a Musical Fidelity Integrated and a Sony Turntable.  In about a year or so she'll have the scratch to get it, too.

[rollo]

  The B&W requires an amp and preamp that are warm or rich in character. No bright components need to apply. Period.
   McIntosh amp yes, Marantz amp yes as examples. Then a preamp that is neutral can be introduced.
    A McIntosh intergrated or Marantz is also a good starting point. Actually the Rogers intergrated is a killer combo. My customer sold his beloved Mark Levinson and now uses the Rogers. Driving his B&W Diamonds just fine. The Levinsons were no slouch the Rogers clearly better.
    One piece to buy no hassles and great results. Not a dealer for Rogers.


charles

[Carlman]

Friend dove in for the modified MacCormack RLD1. We'll see how she likes it.  She has Nervosa so bad that she's changing components before she even has them set up to for listening.  It's fun guiding her.  I live vicariously.

I know a smart 21 year-old that would kill for a Musical Fidelity Integrated and a Sony Turntable.  In about a year or so she'll have the scratch to get it, too.

Sounds like (familiar) fun, Allen.
She's got a great guide helping her. 
The MF is in nearly constant play at our house.. it has become our main-floor system with a nice pair of ERA Design 5 speakers.  It's going nowhere for a long time.  I actually won that MF in an Audiogon contest years ago... weird!

The TT will still be available... I keep threatening to get out of vinyl all the way.. but I have a tough time with it.  I'll feel like a lesser a-phile.