Decware zStage with McIntosh ?

[dan-r]

Has anyone tried the Decware zStage tube preamp with McIntosh power amplifiers?

Decware site states lifetime warranty & made in the USA
- is there a advantage to point to point wiring used?

Just looking at options for tube preamp as C220 and C2300 seem long in the tooth now...maybe updates at CES 2013

 

[MX117.MC7150]

Will surmise that both the C220 and C2300 are considerably more modern designs than is anything from Decware. Not that there is anything 'wrong' with Decware, but am guessing that the engineering/design support at McIntosh, while suspect at times (on the digital end of things) far surpasses what Decware can bring to the table. With modern CAD layout programs there is not advantage to point-to-point wiring like there was 40 years ago. Just a chance to introduce more human error. From what folks have posted over the past few years, the C2300 is a terrific preamp. I certainly liked my C2200. Personally, I'm not into stereo gear that looks like the chassis is wearing an old picture frame.

 

[bonsai]

I run a ZSTAGE with my MC75 60th Anniversary pair and it is excellent!

I used to run a Bob Latino ST120 amp and drove it with a passive/100 ohm Attenuator. I loved it. I got the MC75 pair and the passive didn't really cut it. I have 2 sources with this type of gain/buffer stage sitting on top.. One is driven by a ZSTAGE and the other by a Ecofan Boost-It. I then run these to the source select/passive pre built by Mapletree

Sounds like a hodge podge mess but I dig it.

I'd go with the ZSTAGE. Even if you get a McIntosh Pre later you will want to keep this. I think these do well to boost things with weak modern output like a Cable/Dish box or similar... Just add a touch of gain and then the buffering added and then you got a better signal from the weak box.