McIntosh C8, Balanced Tube Preamplifier

McIntosh C8, Balanced Tube Preamplifier, New at Ohm-Audio B.V. !

Retail Price : € 6.190,00

--- Ohm-Audio B.V. is an official McIntosh dealer ---

EN.

General : The McIntosh C8 is the entry-level preamplifier from McIntosh. The McIntosh C8 features balanced and unbalanced inputs and a built-in phono preamplifier for MM and MC cartridges. It also includes a high-quality headphone amplifier, and you have the option to install a DA2 DAC module so you can benefit from various digital inputs as well.

Technical : The McIntosh C8 is a very stable and solidly built balanced tube preamplifier. The McIntosh C8 offers 2 pairs of analog RCA inputs and 1 pair of balanced analog XLR inputs, and phono inputs for MM and MC cartridges are also available. You also have an extra Pre Output for connecting a subwoofer. On the front of the amplifier you will find 2 buttons. The right button is for turning the amplifier on or off and adjusting the volume. With the left button you can select the input and operate the menu using the display. In the menu you will find various options, such as adjusting the balance, turning outputs on or off, adjusting the input trim (Gain), turning the lights for the meters behind the glass plate and under the tube bases on or off, adjusting the display brightness, setting the amplifier to function as a mono or stereo amplifier, and finally: operating the tone control. The tone control consists of a bass control and a treble control which you can adjust between -12dB and +12dB, 24 steps in total. This allows you to fully adjust the sound to your personal preference and/or room. The McIntosh C8 uses two 12AX7A tubes per channel, so 4 in total.

Appearance : You can almost always recognize a McIntosh device from a mile away, and so is the McIntosh C8. The McIntosh C8 features the characteristic glass plate on the front where the McIntosh logo lights up in green and where 2 analog meters with an illuminated blue background are located. Below you will find an LED display that shows the volume and the input, and with which you can also open the menu. For those who do not like illuminated equipment, the lights behind the analog meters can be turned off and the intensity of the LED screen can also be easily dimmed or made brighter. In front of the glass front you will find a chrome plate with the 12AX7A tubes; the tubes have a beautiful, included individual protective cage with a McIntosh logo. The 12AX7A tubes have LED lights at the tube bases. These light up orange during warm-up of the tubes and light up green when the C8 is ready to use. These LED lights can also be easily turned on or off. And at the very front you will find 2 large shiny buttons for volume control and menu operation and input selection. On the side, 'McIntosh C8' is written in large letters for extra flair. The McIntosh MA352 is very solidly built. The dimensions are 31.2cm (W) x 19.4cm (H) x 41.3cm (D), the McIntosh C8 weighs 8.2Kg.

Sound : The McIntosh C8 has the typical McIntosh character. This means that the C8 sounds beautifully full, detailed and rich. The difference with older McIntosh equipment is more in the detail and tangibility of the soundstage. The McIntosh C8 will never give too much or too little of anything. The sound is very controlled and balanced, and even at higher volumes with heavier music, the McIntosh C8 maintains its grip and the sound remains comfortable, so you won't have to rush to the volume control to turn it down. This means that after hours, days, weeks, months or years you can still enjoy the McIntosh C8. Overall there is a pleasant tube sound that provides more emotion and involvement with the music. Although the McIntosh C8 sounds quiet and refined, it does not sound dull or too tame. Because of this very refined character, the McIntosh C8 is suitable for virtually any type of music at virtually any volume on virtually any type of speaker. It is also worth mentioning the excellent service that McIntosh provides on its equipment, so you don't have to worry about the future, as spare parts are in ample stock and can be made available in the future, and McIntosh never leaves its customers in the cold, as it should be.

Ohm-Audio B.V. is an official McIntosh dealer. The McIntosh C8 can be auditioned by appointment without obligation while enjoying a delicious cup of coffee.

McIntosh C8 Specifications :

Brand : McIntosh USA
Model : C8
Type : Balanced Tube Preamplifier
Fine Sounds BeNeLux Warranty : 36 Months
Analog Inputs : 2 x Unbalanced RCA, 1 x Balanced XLR
Phono Input : 1 x RCA for MM, 1 x RCA for MC
Digital Inputs : DA2 Module Optional : 2 x SPDIF Coax, 2 x SPDIF Toslink, 1 x USB Audio, 1 x MCT, 1 x HDMI
Analog Outputs : 1 x Balanced XLR, 1 x Unbalanced RCA, 1 x Subwoofer Output RCA
Finish : Black / Chrome
Trade-in : Negotiable