McIntosh C2200 All Tube Analog Preamplifier - Serviced!

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General:
This is just about the last iteration of this series preamp before they added a DAC. Most purists do not want noisy digital circuitry in their analog tube preamp.

Wonderful classic looks with modern circuitry and the convenience of a remote. Also has a very capable built-in tube phono section to accommodate just about any turntable. 

The current iteration of this tube preamp, the C2700, will set you back $8500. Perhaps justifiable if you're also looking for a great DAC and you don't mind having it all in one unit.

Serviced and working like new. Glass faceplate and top are looking perfect (8) while the is a small scratch on the rear side bringing the overall condition to a 7 on our official and super conservative scale.

The original remotes from this era aged terribly, so we'll supply a brand new modern remote which is sleeker and more comfortable to use.

This C2200 will ship in authentic double McIntosh box, the only way to safely transport these pieces.

SkyFi Service Notes:
• One of the small signal relays in the tone defeat circuit had failed at some point in the past. We replaced both relays in the treble section of this circuit with parts sourced directly from McIntosh.
• All 14V panel illumination lamps were replaced.
• The original Vacuum Fluorescent Display had become very dim. We replaced the VFD with a new part, again sourced directly from the McIntosh parts department.
• The original meter color had faded to a greenish tone due to extended exposure to incandescent lamp heat. The meters, light boxes, and color filters were also replaced with brand new parts which restores the original meter color. 
• All tubes were replaced with NOS vintage IE and GE devices.

Brand Background:
McIntosh Laboratory is an American manufacturer of handcrafted high-end audio equipment based in Binghamton, New York. The company was founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh. The company designs and produces audio amplifiers, stereo tuners and other consumer electronics products.

Ownership:
Single Owner

Connections:
There are six pair of outputs—three balanced, three unbalanced. Removable IEC Power Cord

General Sound:
Big beautiful musical sound with little fatigue.

Cosmetic Condition:
7/10 = Good. One or two minor scratches. Well Maintained.. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab and listening room.

Reviews:
Click Here

Dimensions:
17" wide by 7 1/8" high, and the preamp is 14" deep

Weight:
27 lbs.

Link to Manual:
Click Here

Recommended Cables:

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best 

Kimber Kable - Phono Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - Flagship Phono Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Better

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Best

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Best

Testing Process:

We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCB’s for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

When we first power on a preamplifier we connect its RCA output to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates real world loading conditions and gives us an oscilloscope interface. The first order of business is checking that the volume control works smoothly throughout its entire range with acceptable channel balance. This is accomplished by feeding a 1KHz sine wave into one of the preamp’s line level inputs while monitoring the preamp’s output on an oscilloscope. We then switch to a 1KHz square wave to test the tone controls, loudness function, and filters where applicable. During this step we are watching for equal alteration of the test signal by both channels. This also helps us identify dirty controls that will need treatment. Once the basic line stage functions are verified, we test each input individually. This is especially important for devices that use relays to select their sources. If the preamp is equipped with a phono stage we test that as well. We use an inverse RIAA filter which allows us to feed a reference test signal into the phono input with the proper RIAA equalization and level. A square wave or sine sweep is used to verify that the device’s phono stage is faithfully reproducing the RIAA curve. If the preamp under test has balanced inputs and/or outputs these are tested as well.

We finish up our bench testing with a listening test with our bench amplifier and reference speakers. During this test we check for hum or hiss that may not have shown up in earlier testing. We also check that all of the tone controls and filters perform as expected. If the preamplifier has remote control functions these are also tested. Preamps with tube circuits or complicated power supply topologies are connected at our long term test rig for extended stress testing under real world conditions.