The celebration in style of 75th anniversary of its foundation is making the legendary manufacturer of very high-level audiovisual components McIntosh exhibit dynamism and innovation capacity out of the ordinary. This is corroborated by the two most recent products marketed by the Binghamton brand: stereo preamplifiers with built-in DAC functionality. C2800 and C55designed to be the perfect control center of audio systems without compromise. Aesthetically identical and with a range of functionalities that share 99%these two truly reference electronics are differentiate basically in your configuration circuitry base, featuring vacuum tubes (three 12AX7A and one 12AT7) in the C2800 and by transistors in the C55, as well as the use of a control traditional tone (treble and bass adjustable in 1 dB steps) in the first and via 8-band analog equalizer in the second.
As befits their status as genuinely high-end products, both McIntosh are manufactured in a 100% handmade and individualizedbeing used in the same top quality components both in the analog and digital spheres. Thus, all power supplies are fully regulated, while a transformer with radial section core (“R-core”) ensures stable and noise-free operation. For its part, the commutation between inputs is of an electromagnetic type, in order to minimize distortion and reduce noise virtually to zero, a scheme that is complemented by a high precision volume control system (0.1 dB steps) fully balanced. As far as DAC functionality is concerned, the C2800 and C55 are equipped with the advanced DA2 module from McIntosh, which in addition to guaranteeing compatibility with PCM files up to 32 bits/384 kHz and DSD up to DSD512 (in both cases via USB), reinforces it with 7 digital inputs (including an HDMI with ARC and an MCT for connection to mechanical McIntosh SACD transport system) connectivity analogue consisting of 7 Line and 2 Phono inputs, the latter compatible with moving coil (MC) and moving magnet (MM) capsules, to which is added a exit of subwoofer.
As is the norm in reference preamps, there are balanced and unbalanced outputs which can also be configured to meet the demands of complex installations. Another feature built into these two new preamps is a input/output loop for ease the integration of external signal processors, in the case of the MQ112 Environmental Equalizer or the MEN220 Room Correction System from McIntosh itself, and the Home Theater PassThru, intended to facilitate insertion into Home Theater systems. The C2800 and C55 are completed with a headphone amplifier dedicated (HXD technology) and the unmistakable industrial design of the New York brand, are approved Roon Tested and can be controlled by the “app” McIntosh Connect.
