Really nice C26

[tuffstuff1]

I landed this a few days ago. I already tested it and it works perfect. I did not realize how excellent of condition it was until I popped the cover. This baby is like brand new. I cleaned all the knobs because it was smoke stained. Man, is it pretty. Almost like new. All the lights work too!

Oh, snuck a pic of my 1700 I have onwed since I was 17.
And one more pick from last weekend for bragging rights!!!

 

[kevzep]

Wow, that thing looks brand spanking new......:thmbsp:


Nice catch of fish too!!

 

[DC]

Nice pre! It's at least as nice as the one here at Casa DC.

I replaced the front panel lamps (it gets a lot of use here) with some bulbs I found at Radio Shack - exact specs. as the originals - but they kept burning out. I then discovered that they were "flashlight" lamps and rated for very low hours (which doesn't make a lick of sense to me, but whatever). Subsequently, I have found the same lamps at Radio Shack, but rated 3000 hours. Much better!

 

[benhenny]

Are c26s a respectable preamp? I'm considering buying one from http://www.mcintoshaudio.com - I'm mostly concerned about noise floor. At what o'clock on the volume should I expect to start hearing the preamp circuit?

 

[John James]

Are c26s a respectable preamp? I'm considering buying one from http://www.mcintoshaudio.com - I'm mostly concerned about noise floor. At what o'clock on the volume should I expect to start hearing the preamp circuit?

Check here...

http://www.berners.ch/McIntosh/en/Matrix.htm

 

[DC]

Are c26s a respectable preamp? I'm considering buying one from http://www.mcintoshaudio.com - I'm mostly concerned about noise floor. At what o'clock on the volume should I expect to start hearing the preamp circuit?

I have one and have really like it - it's been the mainstay in my system for almost six years. That said, it's currently being replaced with something different.

There is some discussion here in the McIntosh forum that the C26, being an early unit and subject to the limitations of the technology of the day, was not the quietest of all preamps and subsequent units have the advantage of quieter gain components being available. In my system, I've never been at all bothered by any hiss, even on the phono stage. However, I may have a best-case-scenario for that: a phono cartridge with relatively high output (Ortofon 2M Black @ 5mv) and speakers with woeful sensitivity (Vandersteen 2Ce, at around 84dB) keep the S/N ratio well in my favor. Hi-eff speakers and a lower output cartridge might not be the best combination for a C26; I did use a Dynavector 10x5 (2.5mv) and was aware of some hiss, though it did not bother me.

Just my thoughts ...

 

[MX117.MC7150]

While I have not looked at the schematic, modern caps and transistors would likely go a long ways in dropping the s/n ratio with the C26. Too bad McIntosh does not offer a comparable preamp today. Very simple and straight-forward without a ton of bells & whistles. Only changes really needed would be the modern devices and a stepped resistive volume control.

 

[DC]

Too bad McIntosh does not offer a comparable preamp today. Very simple and straight-forward without a ton of bells & whistles.

Agreed!

 

[vahe]

Too bad McIntosh does not offer a comparable preamp today. Very simple and straight-forward without a ton of bells & whistles.

C26 has way too much hiss, it was my first separate along with 2105 during the vinyl era, eventually traded for a C29. Currently I am using a C15 as my main preamp, about as simple as it gets with minimal bells & whistles, by McIntosh standards, and has S/N about as low as any of their top models.

C26, once upgraded, will do fine with highly compressed rock/pop music, but with classical with frequent quiet passages the background hiss becomes audible particularly if combined with high efficiency speakers.

Vahe

 

[c_dk]

C26 has way too much hiss, it was my first separate along with 2105 during the vinyl era, eventually traded for a C29. Currently I am using a C15 as my main preamp, about as simple as it gets with minimal bells & whistles, by McIntosh standards, and has S/N about as low as any of their top models.

C26, once upgraded, will do fine with highly compressed rock/pop music, but with classical with frequent quiet passages the background hiss becomes audible particularly if combined with high efficiency speakers.

Vahe

That is why the C26 should make a great budget preamp restoration project.....if I ever get caught up.

 

[rolleiman]

C26 has way too much hiss, it was my first separate along with 2105 during the vinyl era, eventually traded for a C29. Currently I am using a C15 as my main preamp, about as simple as it gets with minimal bells & whistles, by McIntosh standards, and has S/N about as low as any of their top models.

C26, once upgraded, will do fine with highly compressed rock/pop music, but with classical with frequent quiet passages the background hiss becomes audible particularly if combined with high efficiency speakers.

Vahe

I am listening to a C26 as I test out an mc2105 restoration project I am about to complete and listening to classical music now and do not hear any background hiss or noise. I did upgrade 4 tantalum caps with muze caps and replaced three electrolytic caps with some KZ caps. It does sound nice but am going to pull it out of the system in few minutes to replace some Mylar caps with poly and perhaps re-stuff the cans with modern electrolytic caps. Enjoy

 

[Thocom]

Lake trout?

 

[Crestwood23]

I really think the c26 gets a bad rap. Mine is dead quiet (even on the uber efficient horns of JBL L300s) has great synergy with my MC2105, and has a mighty fine MM phono section (with 2 inputs) to boot. I've seen clean ones go for as cheap as $400 - I think it's a great classic Mac bargain!

 

[Gregory]

I landed this a few days ago. I already tested it and it works perfect. I did not realize how excellent of condition it was until I popped the cover. This baby is like brand new.

Ok I'll play along


The C26 was my FIRST Mc piece. Bought it used in 1976 or 77 from the owner of a now-defunct dealer. Yes, it was in the home of store owner Louie DelPadre (1988 photo below), and I knew the salesman well, he was the ex-Soundco (long-since defunct) audio dept manager.




It's been everywhere.. from pop's upstairs bedroom, out to college..




and through several interstate moves, and worked PERFECTLY all those years.




Decided to recap it in 2013.






Most of the screws are STAINLESS steel now (originals are in zip-lock plastic).




Every component is LIKE NEW, even behind the front panel.




Its last active duty was a `recliner chair local control unit´ for Blu-ray viewing. Love that LOUDNESS control.






Still have the original carton.



Think we're talkin' 40 years. Lets make in 39 years just to be conservative.


Oops.. hope I didn't hijack another thread!

 

[tuffstuff1]

Holy smokes Gregory did you jump in a time capsule? I caught those fish almost 2 years ago. lol. Ironically I just recommission my C-26 the other day. I really like the loudness control over the C-28 (not stepped). Nice C-26 you have there BTW. Back to the future.

 

[Gregory]

Holy smokes Gregory.. I caught those fish almost 2 years ago.

Lol - completely missed your C26 thread, was in Torrance CA for most of summer 2013.


Jan 2013 photo of C26.




The photo at top [of chronology] was taken in State College, fall 1980. It's amazing how many students can cram into a dorm room with McIntosh and a keg of beer inside.


Sorry.. got carried away (nothing unusual about that).

 

[jbailey930]

Ok I'll play along


The C26 was my FIRST Mc piece. Bought it used in 1976 or 77 from the owner of a now-defunct dealer. Yes, it was in the home of store owner Louie DelPadre, and I knew the salesman well, as he was the ex-Soundco (long-since defunct) audio dept manager.


It's been everywhere.. from pop's upstairs bedroom, out to college..

View attachment 709899


and through several interstate moves, and worked PERFECTLY all those years.

View attachment 709892


Decided to recap it in 2013.

View attachment 709939

View attachment 709891


Most of the screws are STAINLESS steel now (originals are in zip-lock plastic).

View attachment 709894


Every component is LIKE NEW, even behind the front panel.

View attachment 709893


Its last active duty was a `recliner chair remote control unit´ for Blu-ray viewing. Love that LOUDNESS control.

View attachment 709888

View attachment 710009


Still have the original carton.

View attachment 709890

Think we're talkin' 40 years. Lets make in 39 years just to be conservative.


Oops.. hope I didn't hijack another thread!

Damn, that is fine! And seems you are a neighbor, hmm. I am in Cascades.

 

[beej]

Loved my C26 before I sent it out to Terry D (sent him my MC250, too). Both now sit upacked in my son's house awaiting our move to VA later this year. Really looking forward to system set up once we get settled.

 

[Gregory]

Damn, that is fine! And seems you are a neighbor, hmm.

Yes, well.. changed the photo description above to `recliner chair Local control´ which is more correct. Hey that could be a new acronym, RCLC. Lol

All the units in the photo survived college, though ultimately the CT-800 tuner didn't hold up well. One of the tricks to long component life is.. to mount them up high in the rack.


Rack height exercise

Let's do the following exercise again. In standing position, raise right forearm by bending the elbow up 150°. Make the motion of `reaching forward and if turning a control´ or pot. That's how high above the floor to mount your preamp [the C26]. Do likewise reaching above head. That's how high to mount power amp [see top photo].

And again for the home, with hands down at side, reach right hand forward without bending elbow as if `turning a control´ with hand.... that's how high from the floor to mount the lowest piece. But in college, beer could get spill on a unit that low.

HTH

 

[pathologymd]

OK I'll jump in now! I have a C26 and MC2105 and it has been a wonderful combination over the years. I went through both, replacing all capacitors in the C26 and today, for the first time in about 15 years, listened to records on my new turntable through this system. I must say the C26 is doing a fine job on phono. I'm listening from 10-12 o'clock on the C26 volume control, and the noise just isn't objectionable to me. I had actually bought transistors to update the phono section, and still may, but right now it is making beautiful music.