From C33 to C53 question

LotusFool

LotusFool

Well-Known Member
I'm thinking about an upgrade to my system. I'm pretty sure the C53 would sound better than my C33 and probably worth the expense. I would trade in my C33 to help. I'm thinking I would no longer need my MP100 and I could trade that in as well, which leads me to my question.

Would the phono section in the C53 sound as good as the MP100?

Thanks for advise
Gary
 
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If someone tells you it will sound better, it probably will after you invested a lot of money for the change. My wild guess is that the phono circuitry in the MP100 is no worse than the C53. Does the C53 have wireless remote? That alone would get me to switch.
 
i have no experience with the MP100 but out of all my systems the c53 phono section is the best.
 
elmostro said:
i have no experience with the MP100 but out of all my systems the c53 phono section is the best.
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"I'm thinking I would no longer need my MP100 and I could trade that in as well"

You just said you own one?? Do you also own a C53? Sounded like you just thinking about buying one to replace your C33??
 
jlovda said:
"I'm thinking I would no longer need my MP100 and I could trade that in as well"

You just said you own one?? Do you also own a C53? Sounded like you just thinking about buying one to replace your C33??
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I own the c53. Great phono section. Specially the MC section.
 
elmostro said:
I own the c53. Great phono section. Specially the MC section.
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One final question. I do not understand what you are trying to say in your original post if you're "thinking" of upgrading your system.
 
jlovda said:
One final question. I do not understand what you are trying to say in your original post if you're "thinking" of upgrading your system.
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Sorry about the confusion. My c53 have a very good phono section. I’m very satisfied with it.
 
For me it would be about the lack of flexibility the C-53 suffers from. No stereo reverse being one big complaint. Yes Virginia they do get the channels reversed some times. Even from one selection to the next on the same album, which really bugs me. No tape monitor, no record selector switch, no processor loops and in my case the thing is just too big. If I had more space I would have a C-40 but would still need the MP100. I use a MB20 instead of a DA2. In a recent audition I found I prefer the sound of the MB20 with my computer compared to the sound using a DA2. That could be the computer. I want Mac to make another small box like the MB20 but with a DA2 card instead. Oh the steps in the balance control on the C-53 are to large in the very first step either left or right from center. There should be a 4 or 5 KHZ graphic control too. I have to use my program EQ in one of the processor loops along with my DBX 3bx. No Compander on the C-53 either. Another big gripe, no loudness control. Why not just make a black box to hide and give you a C-53 remote. Nope, the C-53 is not for me thats why I keep my C-34.
 
Thanks guys!

After reading twiii & caddy's comments, I think I'll keep the C33 and MP100 combo. It sounds great with my MC225. It will also save me 8 hour's of driving down to AC and back, plus several thousands dollars for something that will probably sound the same and have less control and features.

Reading about twiii's adventure to AC just put the bug back into me to go spend money at AC. It's always a fun trip.
 
If you haven’t recapped the C33, then that alone will greatly improve the balance and tightness of the system. 40 year old electrolytics just don’t compare to today’s quality ones. I have done both my C33s and the difference was amazing. I need the maximum tape loops and inputs and most all features of the C33, so I don’t see me switching anytime soon. Remote would be nice, but then I have a ton of remotes that sit there already for other gear. I enjoy knob twiddling. An MP100 would be great, but the 2Gs is a bit stiff for me & I can get by building the Ultra HQ DIY Phono pre on AK by Wyn.
 
seacliffe301 said:
Glad to hear that you've come to a decision that you're happy with.
I'm curious, was there something about the sound quality of your C33 that you're dissatisfied with?
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Oh no. The C33 sounds great. I was just thinking the C 53 may be more quit. When I went from a MCD 7005 to the MCD 500 the improvement was very large. So I was thinking 40 years newer might sound better. A remote would also be a blessing although those blue meters would be a distraction and I know I'd hate them.
 
LotusFool said:
Oh no. The C33 sounds great. I was just thinking the C 53 may be more quiet.
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Without looking up the specs I'm sure that is so...on paper, that is.

In practice however, the noise already present in the vast majority of recorded material is well above that of the C33 and the only benefit would be when the system is at idle and not playing anything.
 
When I sent my C-34 back because of a separated tone control push button switch to Audio Classics as the part is no longer available. . It surpassed it specs by a large margin and was 6 db quieter in the phono stage than rated and 10 db quieter in the line and tape stages. So whats to dislike. I know, no MC input, but thats what the MP100 is for and no DA2, but thats what the MB20 is for. Every day is the best when you visit Audio Classics. For me the Third time was a charm.
 
I went from a Terry DeWick serviced C33 to a c50. the c33 is one of the greatest vintage pre amps ever made, my C50 is MUCH better than it was, no contest. it is MUCH quieter than the c33, no contest. the remote is a big help, but even without it, switch. I too thought the whole firmware based thing was bad, you get over that quick after hearing it. I have no experience with the MP 100, but I have found as the macs get newer the sound improves. I loved my c33 one of the longest owned pieces of audio equipment I have ever had, but I couldn't go back. the worst a c53 could be is just as good as the c50, and it has a better dac than the c50 will have in it.

Side note the dac that is in my MCD 1100 is newer by one click than the one thats in the c50, so my MCD 1100 sounds better than the DAC in the c50 ( same DAC as the C52) so the c 53 is probably better still. I think it has the DA2 module, so it will be up-gradable when the next leap forward is happening and you won't even have to replace the c53 for the most likely reason you might have had to, the only thing I really don't like about the c50 now is you can't upgrade the dac, like a C53.

it will be a very noticeable, youre c33 is holding back that MC 205 you have.
 
S/N of C33's phono stage is 90 dB which is 2 dB quieter than the C50 (88 dB); High level inputs is identical @ 100 dB for C33 and C50. (All specs A-Weighted)

http://www.berners.ch/McIntosh/Downloads/C50_own_b.pdf (go to p. 26)

http://akdatabase.com/AKview/albums/userpics/10004/C33 Owners.pdf (go to p. 20)

At 82 dB, C53's phono is 8 dB noisier than C33 (90 dB). Same S/N for line level inputs at 100 dB.

https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/preamplifiers/C53

Concerns about firmware are failure related and lengthy repair turnaround times. Owners complaining about lost warranty time while unit was out of service for repairs at factory - one for 9 months. And few outside the factory seem to have the ability to deal with bricked equipment when firmware O/S crashes.
 
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I went from a C33/C40 to a C48, and there was a distinct and obvious step up in sound quality in both cases.
More linear and realistic sound.
Having said that, the C33 is a great performer and has a lot of functionality the C48 doesnt have, things like Tape monitor, processor loops, the record selector and so forth.
I still liked my C33 and in fact in some ways preferred it to my C40....

I don't look at specs much at all, I just listen to them and decide what I like based on that.....

Jumping from a C33 to a C53 would be quite the noticeable difference if the rest of your system is up to it....
 
if there is one thing all my time in audio has taught me it is this:

reading about what something sounds like, is like trying to see what something looks like by listening to it.

all I can say is, the c 50 is much better than the c33 I had. I stand by my original post in this thread.

Sure, there have been firmware mishaps, but it's highly unlikely to happen. it's easy to drive yourself crazy looking at specs. go to audio classics, I think they will give you 14 days to return something for any reason, if the rest of your system is up to snuff, the c 53 will win. I stand confident in what I have said.

the c33 is the loudest quieter pre amp I have ever heard then. it's amazing that the c50 is nosier yet quieter than the c33.
 
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