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Preamp for Mc275

Greg_M

Greg_M

New Member
I have a 60s version Mc275.
Been using a NAD 1700 preamp, but yesterday the NAD died.
I also have a ridiculously cheap tube preamp I got from Amazon (FX Audio TUBE-01 6J1 Tube Buffer HiFi Preamplifier) and it sounds pretty nice (I did do the tube upgrade).

It looks a little stupid, so I've been looking around for a preamp.

Don't want to spend the thousands for a McIntosh unit, although I have always wanted one.
Back in the day Haflers were well thought of. Just wondered if they would be a good match for the Mc275. There are a couple on the net in my area currently for pretty cheap.
The question I have right at the moment is that this unit does not have a CD input so would it work to use the AUX in ? Or should I just look for a more modern unit?

Suggestions?
Greg

PS
I'm really not a "New Member". I have been a member here for a number of years.


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Greg_M said:
The question I have right at the moment is that this unit does not have a CD input so would it work to use the AUX in ?
Click to expand...
Hafler is still a great brand to use. I prefer to use a McIntosh pre, but I understand that cost is an issue. The AUX input will work just fine for a CD.
 
Greg_M said:
I have a 60s version Mc275.
Been using a NAD 1700 preamp, but yesterday the NAD died.
I also have a ridiculously cheap tube preamp I got from Amazon (FX Audio TUBE-01 6J1 Tube Buffer HiFi Preamplifier) and it sounds pretty nice (I did do the tube upgrade).

It looks a little stupid, so I've been looking around for a preamp.

Don't want to spend the thousands for a McIntosh unit, although I have always wanted one.
Back in the day Haflers were well thought of. Just wondered if they would be a good match for the Mc275. There are a couple on the net in my area currently for pretty cheap.
The question I have right at the moment is that this unit does not have a CD input so would it work to use the AUX in ? Or should I just look for a more modern unit?

Suggestions?
Greg

PS
I'm really not a "New Member". I have been a member here for a number of years.


​

Click to expand...
A Hafler or NAD (or any decent) preamp will work just fine with the MC275 and you can plug the CD player into any high-level input (Aux, CD, Tuner) and it will be fine, these are all electrically identical. Just don't plug the CD player into a phono input - that won't work.

So any competent preamp will work fine and play correctly but you asked for something that's a good match. Hafler and NAD are good vendors who design to get respectable sound at a low price point - which means they compromise other parameters like some finer aspects of sound quality, chassis and build quality and reliability. That's all fine and I respect that - I've owned examples from both companies.

But the MC275 was designed to be an all-out assault on the state of the art for sound quality with no compromise in build quality, reliability or cosmetic quality. That's why after 65 years these are still in use, sought after and valuable.

So there is a bit of a mismatch here between these inexpensive preamps and the MC275. I have not heard a Hafler / NAD / MC275 combo so I will not predict what sound you will get. But I can imagine that the MC275 (if working to spec.) even at 60+years provides a very neutral sound and so any colorations or distortions added by a lesser preamp will be dutifully passed along to the speakers by that power amp. (I.e., your system may sound more like the inexpensive preamp than what the MC275 can do). Again just a guess.

So I recommend just about any McIntosh preamp for a best match (and if you decide to get one, first ask here for advice on specific models).

If cost is the issue, another approach is to sell the MC275 (god forbid) and use the money to buy a more modern McIntosh integrated amp for a more balanced set up.

But if you ignore all that, I would see if you can try out some of the preamps you're looking at in your own system to find what sounds best to you.
 
I'm curious what you select. I presently use a C70 with my original MC275. But there are endless possibilities. Selling the amp wouldn't be one ...
 
I’d save up for a late-C20 (silver face), C11, or C22. Which is what I did… There’s a well-priced C22 on USAM. Not mine, no affiliation. A well-sorted late C20 always seemed like the most visually-impressive unit, though.

I don’t blame you for not wanting to spend the money, though. Everything is overpriced and a lot of gear is sitting for 3, 6, 9 months or a year with people obstinately refusing to drop prices.

Also, the MX110Z is identical to the C11/22 with the addition of a tuner. They’re much, much cheaper. Not sure why.
 
I use a C22MKIV with my MC275MKVI, a combination I love. I’d want to keep the 275, but you might consider trading it in on a used McIntosh tube or hybrid integrated amp. Either way, call Audio Classics. See what they suggest regarding both preamps and integrated amps—McIntosh or otherwise. You might be pleasantly surprised.
 
If you don't want to spend the money on an OG MAC, you may want to consider the Marantz 7 clone preamp with full remote. I have used it with the 275 as well as the 225 and 240.
 
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