Brother Vs Brother: McIntosh C55 Solid State Pre Amp vs C2800 Tube Pre Amp

[@Skye_the_toller]

Still wait for the c2700 vs c2800 sound comparaison…😢

[@beeemerg6504]

Grown men talking and listening to each other's love for the hobby and music. So glad the young man that is always cutting off people is gone .

[@SantanKGhey1234]

thanks, great seeing Mike & Lewis again. Its wonderful that Mcintosh has made two variants to suit the customer needs. System synergy is key. For the C2700 replace the tubes with Gold Lions, soundstage width, air and clarity will open up, yet retain the beautiful plumpness properties that make it sound soo good!

[@CButti-x1s]

Hi Adrian, Lewis and Mike. Great comparison review. I actually think this is the best one you've ever done! I've been really looking forward to this one. Love to hear the multiple different opinions and discussion. It's great that McIntosh give's you the choice of either a tube or SS version and this basically allows you to compare a similar pre-amp with the the two different approaches. Agree with Lewis on Sammy Davis Jr. Just listened a couple of days ago to The Wham of Sam album from 1961, his first for Sinatra's then new Reprise Records label. A great album that swings and oozes that ultra cool Rat Pack vibe! Thanks again for these great reviews and keep them coming!

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks!

[@Yanks9698]

How close/ how do these compare to the C12000?

[@stephencosta6814]

OK, yes I am your first comment Adrian you are up so early hard-working man. I’ve been waiting for this one for a while. Let’s get started.❤👍

[@YouDcm]

As a suggestion, don't go into the history and background of the songs (First guy). Long-winded and not at all important to sound.

[@bikemike1118]

But it shows that they actually listened to music while comparing gear!

[@Coolguy-xo3cj]

Good to see the whole clan back in action... 👍👍💪💪

[@michaelschultz1125]

I like my music to have some weight or as you said (plumpness) to it. Based on your reviews, I would probably prefer the C2800.

[@austinberger06]

Please include the full system tested in the written description.

[@hiresaudiocosta873]

Thanks so much for the wonderful review. I miss this type of videos where everyone gives their thoughts and opinions on the same gear ⚙️ or comparisons of more than one piece of equipment. Great content 🎉. By the way, to Adrian’s wife, your husband’s voice is so calming, when I have a hard time falling asleep, I’ll put on and binge watch Audio excellence Canada and that usually helps me fall fast asleep. 💤. That’s not to say Adrian is boring, as that’s definitely not the case, what he says is incredibly interesting and entertaining. 🎉. It’s just the tone of voice. 😂

[@adrianlow2114]

lol, good save

[@Mark-rw3kw]

Although Dave Brubeck made some important contributions to “Take 5” Brubeck gratuitously gave full official composer credit to his band member Paul Desmond.

[@tomfrank2707]

Love Lewis for some of his music tastes; especially the Tom Jones and Englebert Humperdink references. I'm 57 yrs old and grew up as a kid listening to this. Over the past couple of years, these 2 artists music have found their way into my Spotify and Amazon Music playlists.

[@charlesf2804]

The differences you heard might be affected by the tubes you're using in the 2800. I use Telefunken Black Diamond tubes in my C2300 and they sounded different from JJ tubes, for example; the JJs are warmer and somewhat less tight-sounding. I'm assuming the factory tubes were in the 2800 for the review. What brand might they be, or who manufactures them?

[@blugato22]

Thanks to the three of you for your incites. As I was viewing the start of the video it occurred to me that your individual conclusions would somewhat reflect the current state of your hearing (or loss). Not that there is anything wrong with that - changes in hearing are the reality of life for all of us. Anti-oxidants may somewhat slow down that trajectory. These both sound like excellent pre amps with either choice being a good choice. Thanks again for a great educational and entertaining video!

[@adrianlow2114]

Thank you!

[@chaiyahTangtatharakul]

Very good and honest review. Next time would you pls compare accuphase c2300 to mcintosh c55 preamp

[@jearley22]

Be nice to know the total system cost to give us all an idea of what "league" we're playing in with this equipemnt.

[@MyCroWave2]

I recall elevator music being referred to as Muzak. Is that what you were thinking Adrian?

[@adrianlow2114]

Yes that's it

[@matta9316]

You do a great service for the community sir! Love your content

[@adrianlow2114]

many thanks

[@DavidJohnson69-qq2bo]

To me, this comparison is really a real farce, since the power amps are actually hybrid amps, 1/2 tube and 1/2 solid state. So, with the C2800, you are listeing to two tube amps in series (i.e. tube squared), and with the C55, you are listening to solid state preamp feeding a tube/solid state output. That just doesn't make cents/scents/sense, since there is no way for you to listen to anything without tubes in the chain. To create a fair comparison, they should have used MC611 power amps.

[@tedrubinstein2003]

I know this was done 7 months ago, so I don’t know if you guys still read these but if you eq’ed or turned up the base up on the 55 just a bit which makes my speakers sound the best anyway would that equate to some of the plumpness of the 2800’s bass?

[@JohnMoog-ug6bk]

What preamp would have this (or better) sound quality if I don’t need 16 inputs & all the other bells & whistles?

[@Mark-rw3kw]

IMO should have used a solid state amp when comparing a tube vs as pre-amp. Also would have used a more neutral speaker such as Wilson, Acora, or even Martin Logan Tower (dynamic) speakers.

[@edwardhaynes8857]

The vintage McIntosh C22 is to die for ...

[@ErikWithaK63]

❤my c2800 mc462 combo with vintage grand piano home speakers w\ sb3000 subwoofer.🏁👍

[@kevtn8]

How are you liking the combo so far ?

[@DavidJohnson69-qq2bo]

Grrrrrreat video and comparison. I was in the market for either a C53 or C2700, u til the C55 & C2800 came out. Question: Can I use either the 55 or 2800 in place of getting a MEM220, which I was going to use as a frequency splitter; bass to my MC601’s and highs to a future MC275 (or a pair of tube mono blocks)? If I get c2800, would I still need to bi-amp with the C275 , to my B&W 802 D3’s? If I get the C2800, and then add the MQ112 equalizer, will the MQ112 destroy that tube goodness (note: I really like/need the EQ, to warm a li’l bit my Diamond speakers, not to mention fixing some recordings? What if purchased the C55, the MQ112, and then tried to get a tube buffer amp (between my C?? And my MC601’s - I.e. the best of both worlds?

[@adrianlow2114]

Lots of questions, best to speak with your local dealer.

[@dajikbatarang1]

Great to see the team back. Will you be comparing martin logan against magnepan?

[@adrianlow2114]

I think we've done a few

[@HeatDeap]

Has anyone done a comparison between the C2700 and the C2800 I am in the market for one of these I am running solid state power amps and Nautilus B&W and get fatigued very quickly so I am locked in on one of these obviously there are good deals on the C2700 is there anything I would be missing from not getting the C2800 many thanks for any advice cheers 🍻

[@theshootindutchman]

Really nice job guys😄👍

[@adrianlow2114]

Thank you

[@robertbubeck9194]

Thank you for the great teamwork review. It would have been advisible to address the phono sections as well as the high level sections. I have a C2700/MC462 combination which has been a great sounding cost-effective (relatively) setup. I noticed that you all did not use any classical music selections as part of your comparisons. I bring this up because back when I had the opportunities to compare the C50/C2500 and C53/C2700 pairs the relative sound reproduction of massed strings (the upper midrange) in quality symphonic recordings would quickly show the tube preamps to be the more musically desirable, IMHO. Frank and Ella sounded a bit more like themselves, too. In any case, I'll have to give the new units a listen.

[@adrianlow2114]

I did use classical, just did not mention the music as the video would be too long

[@djcordes4352]

What’s interesting is I got rid of my C2700 and got the C53 because of the lack of bass in the c2700. However, I still question not having tubes. I’ve had a tube preamp for 20+ years.

[@kevtn8]

I'm thinking of selling C2700 to get C2800. I prefer tube preamp myself.

[@bikemike1118]

So a C2855 would be the perfect preamp from McIntosh 💪🏼

[@swredman]

I wish you guys would have touched on the phono performance. The tubed phono section used to be one of the main reasons one would choose the C2700 over the C53.

[@adrianlow2114]

perhaps in a later vdeo

[@swredman]

@@adrianlow2114 Thank you, Adrian.

[@MikesVinylExperience]

Yes, I would love to know just how good the phono stage is in these two units.

[@pswitzeny]

THE BOYS ARE BACK!!! Great video and wonderful music suggestions. I especially love Mike's choices - he always introduces me to something totally new. Great video, gang!

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks!

[@woody168]

@adrian on this video, I was able to see the color better on the YG, and I was able to freeze frame it once to see the 24 Hr bezel, revealing that to be a GMT! 😉

[@adrianlow2114]

lol you are amazing

[@SantanKGhey1234]

Common Lewis... who doesnt like Tom Jones and Engelbert?

[@jearley22]

BTW, Lewis is enjoyable but just cant get over the debacle of the MA 8950 review- Lewis and Vilipe.

[@alpro3714]

It's depressing to me how much difference and coloration these two pre-amplifiers can have on the sound... 😞 How complicated does it have to be to match, amps, DACs, streamers, speakers, inter-connects and power cables (I recently found out just how much impact the damn power cables can have...😞 ? And, I forgot, the turntable and all its parts... Wish we can just by-pass the damn pre-amp. Good to see and hear Mike and Lewis take on it... 🙂

[@adrianlow2114]

You can bypass the preamp - use digital lol. Point taken

[@jamesschneider3828]

Lewis, becoming the Jazz master and nothing wrong with dating yourself by Listening to Tom Jones or Engelbert Humperdink. When the music is good, it's good. Also, Adrian liked one over the other but with tone controls it seems one should be able to highlight the sound more to your taste. I shouldn't comment on equipment that I have never listened to.

[@enniol8043]

I have given Adrian permission to ridicule Italians :) I think that if you can, go for the C12000 so you can have the best of both worlds.

[@keithmoriyama5421]

The C55 has the EQ in all the wrong points! HUGE MISTAKE. Don't let an electrical engineer design an EQ system. Get a SOUND ENGINEER to design the EQ points. It's the same as a newbie hearing a good system for the first time-- you think it's good because you don't know any better. If you think cables make a big difference, what do you think changing the frequency response at critical musical points does?

[@net_news]

wow you got so emotional I thought you were reviewing the Schindler List instead of a pair of preamps 😂

[@chrisbouris3699]

In fact to me McIntosh is visually - I emphasize VISUALLY - the worst high-end brand out there. With all those blue and green lights, it reminds me of an 18 wheeler on the freeway at night. Luckily it doesn't have chrome because then...... I'm more of an Esoteric and/or Hegel type of person Also the PS Audio appearance, works fine for me

[@Skye_the_toller]

I have several brand in my setup… people looks and talk about the McIntosh fist every time! This « apparence » has something meaning high end… not the case of ps audio as exemple… not meaning that ps audio is not loooking good either!

[@chrisbouris3699]

@@Skye_the_toller On the other hand, most "people" usually hear bad "hi-fi" sound. If I cared what the majority thought I would buy a Bose, not a dCS

[@beeemerg6504]

Mcintosh has been doing something right for 75 years still around . Rolex ,Tiffany , Mercedes and McIntosh. The name is the name .

[@robertbubeck9194]

I'm afraid you, sir, are in a minority. 😉

[@chrisbouris3699]

Aesthetics is subjective. We can't all have the same. We are different people. That's why in Europe we wore Italian suits and in the US, t-shirts and tracksuits.