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

[@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!

[@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 .

[@Coolguy-xo3cj]

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

[@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.❤👍

[@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!

[@Skye_the_toller]

Still wait for the c2700 vs c2800 sound comparaison…😢

[@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.

[@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!

[@matta9316]

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

[@adrianlow2114]

many thanks

[@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.

[@MyCroWave2]

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

[@adrianlow2114]

Yes that's it

[@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.

[@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 ...

[@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?

[@dajikbatarang1]

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

[@adrianlow2114]

I think we've done a few

[@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

[@chaiyahTangtatharakul]

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

[@Yanks9698]

How close/ how do these compare to the C12000?

[@theshootindutchman]

Really nice job guys😄👍

[@adrianlow2114]

Thank you

[@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.

[@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.

[@MikeFromAudioExcellence]

Mike from Audio Excellence here. The complete system costs around $124K CAD or $90k USD. The system we used is as follows (prices in CAD): Pre-Amps: C55 & C2800 $12,600 Source: Lumin P1 Streamer/DAC $13,500.00 Speakers: Sonus Faber Amati $50,400.00 Amps: McIntosh MC451 Monoblocks $39,000(pair) Cables - Speaker(high/lows): Shunyata Theta $2,760.00 / Shunyata Gamma $1,380.00 Cables - Coax: Nordost Valhalla2 $4,500.00(approx.) Cables - AC: Shunyata Sigma $690.00

[@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.

[@SantanKGhey1234]

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

[@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.

[@duns7800]

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

[@kevtn8]

How are you liking the combo so far ?

[@jearley22]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@net_news]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.