I own both a McIntosh C-28 preamplifier, and the second preamp which a Pioneer Spec-1 with the additional SG 9500 equalizer to go with it.
Was wondering if anyone has compared the two of these preamps to see which one has the most pure and more robust sound. Please let me know, as I’m trying to figure this out. Thanks
Was wondering if anyone has compared the two of these preamps to see which one has the most pure and more robust sound. Please let me know, as I’m trying to figure this out. Thanks
I have never owned a C-28, but I have worked on several. Frankly, I find it to be one of the worst examples of transistor nastiness I have ever encountered.
It may have that beautiful McIntosh look, but it has all of the sonics of a badly designed transistor radio.
On the other hand, I have yet to encounter a piece of Pioneer equipment that was painful to listen to. Can't imagine the Spec-1 would disappoint either.
It may have that beautiful McIntosh look, but it has all of the sonics of a badly designed transistor radio.
On the other hand, I have yet to encounter a piece of Pioneer equipment that was painful to listen to. Can't imagine the Spec-1 would disappoint either.
Shine up the McIntosh, and sell it to a doctor. They love them (It's the blue lights).
Thanx for your replies. Reason I’m asking is cause I have a pair of arc VM-220 tube monoblocks, a pair of MC-2300’s, and a pair of MC-2500’s. The power amps are not so bad, but my concern is the C-28. I think I might just have to get rid of this C-28.
Once again, thanx for helping me with this matter.
Once again, thanx for helping me with this matter.
So you have both units, but you can't be bothered to try them for yourself.
And why have you posted in the Amplifier section, when this should be in the Line level PRE amplifier section ?
And why have you posted in the Amplifier section, when this should be in the Line level PRE amplifier section ?
The McIntosh C-28 seems to sell for around $1500 US, so buy something else with the money.
The Spec-1 is a statement design belonging to a series of components that set a very high standard in audio reproduction.
The MC-2300 happens to rate pretty well with serious listeners when used with a true high end preamp.
But the impedances of these 2 must be within the 10x limit (lower for pre, higher for amp) to make a good pairing.
The preamp has an output impedance of 600 ohms whereas the amp has a whopping input impedance of 200k!
Will they sound good together? Let us know.
The MC-2300 happens to rate pretty well with serious listeners when used with a true high end preamp.
But the impedances of these 2 must be within the 10x limit (lower for pre, higher for amp) to make a good pairing.
The preamp has an output impedance of 600 ohms whereas the amp has a whopping input impedance of 200k!
Will they sound good together? Let us know.
Last edited:
I couldn't edit my last message do to an arbitrary and illogical time limit.
I meant to say that the impedance spread should be 10X or greater to ensure a good match.
Pioneers matching amps fall just short of this @ 50k.
I meant to say that the impedance spread should be 10X or greater to ensure a good match.
Pioneers matching amps fall just short of this @ 50k.
The Mac C-28 is rated at .1% THD. The Pioneer Spec-1 israted at .033% THD.
This was back in the days that Macintosh was first designing transistor units.
They carried over a lot or their circuit design from their very good tube designs
which did not work very well with higher current transistors.
This was back in the days that Macintosh was first designing transistor units.
They carried over a lot or their circuit design from their very good tube designs
which did not work very well with higher current transistors.
Your reply is very snide and unimportant to me. If you have nothing else to do but send SNIDE and ABUSIVE remarks to others on this forum, then DONT SEND ANY AT ALL.
And who are you to ask why I posted in the amplifier section for in the first place. If these items are preamplifiers, common sense would tell anyone to post them in the amplifier section.
In the future, you’d be better off thinking before you strike.
And who are you to ask why I posted in the amplifier section for in the first place. If these items are preamplifiers, common sense would tell anyone to post them in the amplifier section.
In the future, you’d be better off thinking before you strike.
Thanx for your reply RJM1. I’m kind of new to this stuff, and I’ve always liked this stuff since I was 10 years old.
Like I was saying, the Pioneer Spec-1 is the superior preamp sonically.
