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C47 Vs. C2700

aramirez626

aramirez626

Well-Known Member
Hello all, I am looking at a C47 and the tube C2700 to go with my MC452. I am looking for value so the C47 was my first choice. I really liked the tube pre-SS amp combination I had previously so am strongly considering the C2700, I just don’t know if the extra $2,000 would be a huge difference in sound.

Just wondering if anyone has/had one or both of these combinations and what your thoughts are.
Thanks!
 
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It all depends on if your ears can distinguish a positive sound quality difference between solid state and tube preamps while paired with a solid state amp. I for one, can't. So, I stick with inherently more reliable solid state. The C47 is definitely the best bang for buck preamp McIntosh offers, in my opinion.
 
^^^ without a doubt as far as bang for buck. It's their "lower level" pre but is basically the same as the C52 but without tone controls on the faceplate. It does have tone controls but they are in their menu options. They can be set, like an EQ, and turned on or off with a button on the face.
Since it is what many consider entry level (LOL) they can be snapped up gently used for way less than half what a C2700 costs new. And will never depreciate.
All that said, if it was raining money in my neighborhood I'd be very tempted to have a 2700 sitting next to my amp. It's a statement piece.
 
jayvis said:
It all depends on if your ears can distinguish a positive sound quality difference between solid state and tube preamps while paired with a solid state amp. I for one, can't. So, I stick with inherently more reliable solid state. The C47 is definitely the best bang for buck preamp McIntosh offers, in my opinion.
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I honestly don't know if I could, or if I'd know what to listen for. Thanks!
 
grillebilly said:
^^^ without a doubt as far as bang for buck. It's their "lower level" pre but is basically the same as the C52 but without tone controls on the faceplate. It does have tone controls but they are in their menu options. They can be set, like an EQ, and turned on or off with a button on the face.
Since it is what many consider entry level (LOL) they can be snapped up gently used for way less than half what a C2700 costs new. And will never depreciate.
All that said, if it was raining money in my neighborhood I'd be very tempted to have a 2700 sitting next to my amp. It's a statement piece.
Click to expand...

It's all relative I guess. For me, having the C47 next to my 452 is a dream setup, albeit "low end" for others! :music:
 
You might look at it like this: If you were to purchase the C2700 to go along with the 452 amp, you will not need to make another purchase for a long, long time. Buy it right the first time should be the goal.
 
Not rolling tubes every few years is another huge perk and additional cost savings. I love tubes, but having rolled tubes three times (in about 10 years) in my (optional) tube phono pre, I can say it isn't cheap. I'm not even buying top of the line tubes, and good ones are becoming considerably more expensive to obtain.
 
jayvis said:
It all depends on if your ears can distinguish a positive sound quality difference between solid state and tube preamps while paired with a solid state amp. I for one, can't.
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Yep, the $5000 dollar question. And if you can, does the difference make it a good value?
 
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I know to me highs seemed more congested with tube pre-amps. Now some folks prefer the sound of the from 800 Hz down to about 100 Hz of tube products. I can get the same balance by adjusting a filter. plus I will have the cleaner highs and lower distortion and increased signal to noise of SS. Plus I won't have to be laying out money periodically for replacement tubes which aren't cheap. My favorite spec to be most concerned about is signal to noise. ou can't have low distortion with out great signal to noise. The first time I made a professional recording using Scotch 201 and later the much superior Maxell reel to reel tapes I couldn't believe the difference. The difference between an outstanding tube pre-amp and a great SS pre-amp don't come close to the differences in tape formulations back in the 70's. For instance. What was scary was the improvement in sound of the C-24 phono section over the original C-22. THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE.
 
WATChad said:
How much does that cost? I think of FETs I think of Yamaha FETS.
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There are multiple vendors who produce socket based discrete FET modules. The dual Burson Audio units I used with a DAC ran about $40 each. Singles like the 5534 found in many McIntosh models run $24 each. McIntosh buys their 5534s in reels most likely for about $.34 each. :)

I posted my observations of replacing the op amps in my garage DAC here.

WATChad said:
Better sound than tubes?
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Not necessarily. JFETs can sound quite good. My preamp is a hybrid that uses both JFETs and triodes in class A using zero corrective feedback. Decidedly better than op amps IMHO.
 
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I find it interesting that a 1963 vintage RCA tube clear top, black plate side getter or what ever can be the benchmark creme de la creme of tube design (let alone ant number of other brands) that will fetch unbelievable sums and certain "experts" will look down on opamp designs that also set the benchmark, the standard for future audio opamp designs to emulate.

If I remember correctly the optical grade selected low noise 5534 opamps where north of $10.00 back in 1980.
 
I
c_dk said:
I find it interesting that a 1963 vintage RCA tube clear top, black plate side getter or what ever can be the benchmark creme de la creme of tube design (let alone ant number of other brands) that will fetch unbelievable sums and certain "experts" will look down on opamp designs that also set the benchmark, the standard for future audio opamp designs to emulate.

If I remember correctly the optical grade selected low noise 5534 opamps where north of $10.00 back in 1980.
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I don’t really know what all this means. It’s probably good I stick with the “low level” C47 to start with and see where that takes me.
 
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