mc or mac or mc.... it's mcintosh...!

i am always on the lookout for great preamplifiers........ever since the c200 was discontinued, there was nothing between the c1000 and c46 preamps in the mcintosh range.....

now this one, the new c500, looks like a gem and perhaps is a potential world beater..... it looks sooooo GOOODDD...... simply yummy

the flagship c1000 preamp from mcintosh is way too expensive and the c500 attempts to bring the price point to a slightly more affordable level......... in absolute dollars, it is still VERY expensive for a piece of audio equipment.....

but this is sooooo beautiful right????



u have a choice of either a transistor or tube signal path to mate with the c500 controller...... if your budget is very healthy u can buy both and enjoy the fun of listening to tubes vs transistors all day long........



all the switching and noisier circuits are in the c500 controller.... keeping the low level signals isolated and undisturbed.... for owners with poor eyesight, mcintosh displays are a god-send.......... for they are bright and BIG...... very easy to read....



obviously the c500t is the sexier of the two........... behind the see-through glass windows lie the 4 tubes to be admired from afar............ accompanied by the cool blue meters, it is more than a piece of sculpture and a feast for the eyes..... i am sure it sounds mighty good......



while the c500p has to be contented with the title of the ugly duckling (next to the c500t of cos).......

if i have the money i would swing for the c500t............ tubes are IN (they were never out in the first place).......