McIntosh C49 Solid State Preamplifier - Lightly Used and Complete
Please note this item must be purchased in store and we will not ship under any circumstances. Click here for more information about this policy.
Click here to schedule an appointment to visit our store.
Please support your local McIntosh Dealer.
Standout Features:
• 13 inputs (7 analog + 6 digital)
• Supports up to DSD256 files
• Comes with DA1 Digital Audio Module installed
• Optional dealer installed upgrade to DA2 Digital Audio Module available
General:
Lightly used preamp from a single owner looking super clean and complete with everything like the day it left the factory.
This is the current model with the DA1 Digital Audio Module installed which ensures your preamp will not become obsolete.
As an official McIntosh Dealer we can upgrade this C49 to the DA2 Digital Audio Module on request for an additional cost before shipping. Please inquire if interested.
General:
Be prepared for future digital music technologies with the C49 Preamplifier. The C49 features our DA1 Digital Audio Module, which can be replaced by new modules as new digital audio technologies are developed. This will allow you to keep your C49 up to date with digital music formats and viable well into the future.
The C49 comes with a multitude of inputs. For analog, it has 2 balanced and 3 unbalanced, along with 2 phono inputs (comprised of 1 Moving Coil and 1 Moving Magnet) for connecting turntables.
On the digital side, it has 6 inputs housed in the DA1 module. The inputs are: 2 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 USB and 1 proprietary MCT (for use with our MCT series of SACD/CD Transports).
The DA1 is powered by an 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) that is used in Quad Balanced mode; it supports up to DSD256 and DXD 384kHz for playback of high resolution audio. (NOW AVAILABLE: Optional dealer installed upgrade to the DA2 Digital Audio Module.) In total, the C49 has 13 inputs, and each can be given user-friendly names to simplify system setup and control.
"Digital was clean, but not harsh, imaging and soundstage were good, and after a download of McIntosh USB drivers the DA1 ran with no issues. You would have to buy a pretty stellar stand alone DAC to outperform the DA1, in my opinion. Maybe you’d even pay prices that would rival the cost of the entire C49 before getting something well above what it can do." Winner of 2021 Editors Choice Award for Preamplifiers. - Part-Time Audiophile
For connecting to your amplifier and the rest of your home audio system, the C49 has 2 balanced variable outputs, 2 unbalanced variable outputs, and 1 unbalanced fixed output.
The outputs are designed for easy use when bi-amping your speakers so that neither your highs or lows are inadvertently turned off. Your audio sources can be fine tuned via the bass and treble tone controls.
The C49 can be seamlessly integrated into your home theater system via Home Theater Pass Through. Power Control ports allow for the easy turn on/turn off of other connected McIntosh components, while the Data Ports can send remote control commands to connected source components.
Our High Drive headphone amplifier with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®) is also included.
"Better detail, better soundstage, better coherence... Whether I was listening to my CD collection or some hi-res, the music sounded much more lush and full of body than my current setup. It was more organic and more real." - Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
The C49 is one of many McIntosh products to receive Roon Tested designation from Roon Labs. As a Roon Tested partner, McIntosh has provided equipment to Roon for testing with a variety of different operating systems and computers, and shared information about its design and capabilities.
The C49 comes complete with classic McIntosh design staples such as a black glass front panel, knobs, an illuminated logo and aluminum end caps. Pair it with a variety of amplifiers, turntables, CD players, tuners, speakers, power controllers and room correction devices to make a complete home audio system.
Brand Background:
Founded in 1949, McIntosh is known for offering distinguished home audio systems that deliver the ultimate experience in music and film. Offering products for two-channel stereo sound systems and multi-channel home theaters with surround sound, McIntosh continues to define the ultimate home audio entertainment experience for discriminating listeners around the world. Our iconic blue Watt output meter is globally recognized as a symbol of quality home audio. With a McIntosh home stereo system or home theater, listeners have the ability to create their own luxury audio experience – and truly live their music.
McIntosh products are designed and handcrafted at our Binghamton, NY factory by our dedicated employees who share a passion for music and the McIntosh heritage. Since our inception, McIntosh has been powering some of the most important moments in music history and pop culture. From President Lyndon Johnson’s inauguration speech to Woodstock to the famous Grateful Dead “Wall of Sound,” McIntosh has not only witnessed history, we have shaped it.
Included:
C49, Remote Control, Owner's Manual, Power Cord.
Packing:
McIntosh Carton
Dimensions:
17.5" (44.45cm) x 6" (15.2cm) x 18" (45.72cm)
Weight:
23 lbs (10.4 kg)
Reviews:
Link to Manual:
C49 Preamplifier Owner's Manual
Recommended Cables:
McIntosh Balanced Audio Cables (XLR)
Kimber Kable - Optical Digital Interconnect
Kimber Kable - USB Select Series Interconnect
Kimber Kable - Ascent 14 Gauge Power Cord - Better
Kimber Kable - Palladian 14 Gauge Power Cord - Best
The SkyFi Testing Process for Preamplifiers:
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 PCBs 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.
Specs:
ELECTRONIC SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Channels
2
Total Harmonic Distortion
0.005%
Frequency Response
+0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20kHz
+0, -3dB from 15Hz to 100kHz
Maximum Volts Out (Balanced / Unbalanced)
16V RMS / 8V RMS
Sensitivity High Level (Balanced / Unbalanced)
900mV / 450mV
Sensitivity Phono (Moving Coil)
0.45mV
Sensitivity Phono (Moving Magnet)
4.5mV
Signal To Noise Ratio (High Level)
100dB
Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Coil)
80dB
Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Magnet)
82dB
Voltage Gain (High Level)
15dB
Voltage Gain (Moving Coil)
60dB
Voltage Gain (Moving Magnet)
40dB
Input Impedance (Balanced / Unbalanced)
44K ohm, 22K ohm
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Multi-Chassis or Single
Single, two layer
Output Meters
No
Vacuum Tube or Solid State
Solid State
Power Consumption (On)
30 Watts
Click here to schedule an appointment to visit our store.
Please note this item must be purchased in store and we will not ship under any circumstances. Click here for more information about this policy.
Please support your local McIntosh Dealer.
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