McIntosh Advice on Config

[UberK]

Would appreciate some advice. First off here is my config:

- MX123 pre. Dual MC451 monos to drive SF Amati G5s - biamp w Valhalla 2 speaker and XLR
- MC462 driving 2 SF Nova II surrounds, - MC257 driving CII Center, 2 Nova I backs. XLR to a Gavis VI.
- DAC hifi rose 150b (love the interface), Panasonic 9000 bray and Apple TV (Spatial Audio is crazy .. listen to cream by Prince)

The question is I did the whole Blue Heaven to a Tyr2 to a Valhalla2 test and …. (Insert claims of confirmation bias) … I was blown away.

In the listening config it was Sonus Faber, Biamp and a two channel pre-amp (McIntosh) to Sonus Faber Sonettos

I am thinking of adding a 2 channel pre-amp to the config as the MX123 sounds hollow compared to a dedicated preamp.

I have been exploring the C12000 …. But wondering if the tubes in the system are only relevant if you use phono.

Views in the right pre-amp 2 channel config?

Thanks

 

[Yamaki]

Tubes are relevant to any source, IMHO. There are a lot of excellent McIntosh two channel pre-amps to choose from but one that has consistently impressed me is the C2600.

From the multitude of balanced XLR inputs, the dual phono connections, the complete collection of digital inputs and the impressive array of RCA connections it is a well rounded and versatile pre-amplifier.

 

[UberK]

Thanks @Yamaki