Preamp question for McIntosh MC275

[Scott Stone]

I am thinking of taking my first plunge into tubes via the McIntosh MC275 Mark V power amp after all the positive views on this forum.

I currently have a Creek 5350SE Integrated which has a passive preamp stage.

My question is, am I likely to have any problems using the Creek passive preamp stage as a preamp for the Mac 275? I'll probably look at getting a dedicated peamp in twelve months or so and move the Creek to another room but I would be looking for the Creek pre/Mac power combo to work for a year or so.

I'm driving Paradigm Studio 60 V3s.

[TONEPUB]

Best bet is to give it a try! Typically, with a passive preamp you will either get some magic, or you will lose dynamics and punch. Depends on how your other components work together.

The MC275 is a great amplifier! Steve and I both have em! Take his advice and get yourself some decent NOS tubes (don't have to be crazy expensive ones...) to replace the small tubes when you get the chance, you will really enjoy the diff in sound and usually the NOS ones last longer than the Chinese ones too!

As for preamps, the obvious choice would be the MC220, which is a great little preamp with a lot of control flexibililty. I've used my 275 with everything from the MC220 all the way up to my Aesthetix Callisto signature! The great thing about the 275 is that it is very user freindly, so whatever you pair it up with will probably give you great sound!

enjoy!!

[Scott Stone]

thanks - any recommendations for those NOS 12AX7 tubes. The old Telefunkens are way expensive.

And yes, I'm sure the MC220 will be on the shortlist eventually but one thing at a time from my budget point of view.

[sgb]

I'd agree with Tonepub & Steve that this is a great amplifier -- albeit one that could be outdone by a few others in its price range. I'd also agree that you will want to replace the stock Chinese tubes, and that includes the power tubes. We had the best luck with some SED KT88s, that helped to tame the amp's subtle brightness in the upper midrange. We replaced the AT & AX7s with some NOS Sovteks that we got from a private collector. Note: these are NOT what's being currently sold.

I'd add the Sonic Euphoria Passive Line Controller to the list of components you would want to consider. While passive, it employs the use of autoformers that enable one to drive long interconnects if need be. The unit comes either single ended or with a balanced ouput option.

http://www.soniceuphoria.com/

[Kent Teffeteller]

Hi,

You won't hurt your MC 275 by using the preamp mentioned. However, you'll be in heaven using a C 20, C 22, or MX 110 tuner-preamp (Z chassis version). You can't own too much McIntosh, it's addictive!

[Scott Stone]

Thanks for the advice. I took the Creek 5350 to my local dealer and tried it with the Mac 275. It didn't go well. Lack of gain through the passive reamp meant the sound had no punch or dynamics. Alas for some reason the Mac C220 preamp is way over-priced in Australia - like $7k, compared to just over $5k for the MC275. Don't know why.

So I've ordered a Prima Luna Prologue Three preamp as a first step. I'll see how that sounds through the Creek power amp stage while I pay off the credit card. Might be three to six months before I can get the MC275. If the Prima Luna and Creek don't work together I'll just turn it on and watch the tubes glow while I listen to the Creek integrated.:)

[TONEPUB]

The Prologue Three is a nice preamp. Definitely a good place to start! I bet it will warm up your Creek a bit! Let us know!

[drbryant]

I just purchased a new MC275, and it sure looks good. I plan on getting a dedicated pre-amp, but have not done my research at all. I presently have in use a Denon 5803 A/V amp and a Primare pre 30, either of which I could hook up to the MC275. Any thoughts on whether it will sound decent using a Denon A/V as a pre-amp?

Second question - What in your experience is the burn-in period for the 275? Also, how long do you typically wait to warm it up before you play?

[TONEPUB]

Because the MC275 doesn't have any exotic teflon caps under the hood, it should sound great out of the box and after a good weekend of listening be broken in as far as it will go.

Mine seems to take about 30 minutes to really warm up all the way. Again, it sounds good at turn on, but a touch more magic after about 1/2 hour.

It's a great amp!

[Steve Hoffman]

Jeff is exactly right. 1/2 hour before doing any critical listening.

No long term break in required. Works with any line stage..

Flavor to taste with tube rolling, different brands of cables and different types of preamps.

[drbryant]

THANKS!

[Gary Freed]

I just purchased a new MC275, and it sure looks good. I plan on getting a dedicated pre-amp, but have not done my research at all. I presently have in use a Denon 5803 A/V amp and a Primare pre 30, either of which I could hook up to the MC275. Any thoughts on whether it will sound decent using a Denon A/V as a pre-amp?

Second question - What in your experience is the burn-in period for the 275? Also, how long do you typically wait to warm it up before you play?

I was using a Denon A/V as a preamp for my 275 and recently switch to a MAC C41. The C41 is more transparent. If you stick with the Denon, run it in direct thru mode and bypass all the processing and you should be on your way.

[drbryant]

I hooked up the MC275 today. Used the Front R/L pre outs on the Denon. I let it warm up for about an hour, and put on the DCC Gold Joni Mitchell Court & Spark. It sounded terrific -- warm, rich sound, with amazing bass (I don't understand why a 75wpc tube amp sounds like it has more oomph than a 170 wpc solid state A/V amp -- someone please explain this to me). It sounds great with the B&W CDM 9NT's -- I was thinking of upgrading, but might not need to now.

disadvantages -- heavy and very difficult to handle (no space for you fingers under the amp), gets extremely hot, power cord sticks out of the side.

advantages -- sounds great, and if you turn out the room lights, it looks like an underwater city.

[TONEPUB]

I hooked up the MC275 today. (I don't understand why a 75wpc tube amp sounds like it has more oomph than a 170 wpc solid state A/V amp -- someone please explain this to me). .

Solid state amps (usually) have a different distortion characteristic than tubes do, with tubes compressing gently when they exceed their power rating...

No matter what anyone tells you watts are watts and "tube watts" aren't more powerful than "solid state watts", Your ear just has an easier time with the way they distort.

Bottom line, if it sounds good, that's great!

I'm with you on that side power cord thing!!

[Scott Stone]

come to that, I'm not a big fan of the interconnects and speaker cables connecting on the left either. There's a reason almost every other amp on the planet has all the wire at the back.

But I suppose the point is it's a retro design. You can't redesign the look of it too much without it no longer being a 275.

[drbryant]

Actually, now that I think of it, if you are one of those who is inclined to purchase high-end interconnects and power cords, you can actually show them off!