McIntosh C22 Vintage Tube Preamplifier, Restored and Highly Collectible

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This is the Holy Grail of preamps from McIntosh. 

Likely the most collectible vintage piece from McIntosh, and their top tube preamp.

An all-tube unit providing that warm and engaging vintage sound that so many are after. In very nice cosmetic condition with light signs of use as expected from a well cared for piece from this era.

SkyFi Restoration Notes:
• Replaced grommets on tube holder.
• Rebuilt entire power supply with reproduction multi-section caps, NOS carbon comp resistors, and other modern components.
• Cleaned and tested all controls.
• Verified signal path restoration by previous repair shop - PASS.
• Unit appears to have been maintained by Analogique in the past.

Cosmetic Notes:
• One convenience outlet has minor damage.
• Number etched into the bottom of the faceplate, however not at all visible unless unit is turned completely upside-down.
• Slight silkscreen lifting around source selection text.
• "Volume" text slightly deformed.

Functionality Notes:
• There is a tiny bit of source bleed when the volume control is at its minimum.
• Even after thorough cleaning, the volume control still has a bit of scratchiness in the lower range. Also little pops can be heard when manipulating the tone controls.

A perfectly matching vintage McIntosh wood cabinet is available for an additional $549 including shipping. Just select the option in this listing to add.

Click below to add our recommended matching cables from Kimber Kable, all brand new as SkyFi is an official Kimber dealer.

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - Phono Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - Flagship Tonearm Interconnects - Best

McIntosh C22 Specifications

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

±0.5 db from 20 cps to 20,000 cps.

DISTORTION

Less than 0.2% at 10 volts output, 20 to 20,000 cycles. Less than .02% at 3 volts output, 20 to 20,000 cycles.

HUM AND NOISE

High Level Inputs: 85 db below rated output

Low Level Inputs: Less than 1.5 microvolts at input terminals.

INPUT SENSITIVITY AND IMPEDANCE

Auxiliary, Tape, Tuner 1, and Tuner 2: 0.25 volts, 250,000 ohms. Phono 1 and Phono 2: 2 millivolts, 47,000 ohms. Microphone: 2.5 millivolts, 1 megohm.

Tape Head: 2 millivolts, 1 megohm.

Tape Compare: 0.25 volts, 250,000 ohms.

OUTPUTS

Main (2 jacks on each channel) : 2.5 V with rated output. Tape: 0.25 V with rated output. Left Plus Right: 1 V from generator impedance of 25,000 ohms.

VOLTAGE AMPLIFICATION

Auxiliary, Tape, Tuner I, and Tuner 2: To Main Output, 20 db (10 to 1).

To Tape Output, 0 db (1 to 1). Phono 1 and Phono 2 (At 1 KC): To Main Output, 62 db (1250 to 1). To Tape Output, 42 db (125 to 1). Microphone: To Main Output, 60 db (1000 to 1). To Tape Output, 40 db (100 to 1). Tape Head (At 500 cps): To Main Output, 62 db (1250 to 1). To Tape Output, 42 db (125 to 1).

AUXILIARY AC OUTLETS (5)

1 unswitched for turntable or tape machine (Red), 4 switched (Black).

POWER REQUIREMENT

117 volts 50/60 cps AC, 34 watts.

TUBES

6 each 12AX7.

TAPE JACK SWITCH

2 position, connects panel jacks to allow signals to be fed from or to the C22 to record or playback using an external portable tape recorder.

BASS CONTROLS

Separate channel 11 position switch type,± 20db at 20 cycles.

TREBLE CONTROLS

Separate channel 11 position switch type,±20 db at 20,000 cycles.

COMPENSATOR SWITCH RIAA or LP record equalization.

TAPE SWITCH Normal, or Tape Monitor.

RUMBLE FILTER 50 cps cutoff.

HF FILTER 5000 cycle cutoff.

ADDITIONAL SET·UP CONTROLS

The following controls are located behind the front panel on the top of the C22 chassis. These controls are readily accessible by depressing the PANLOC buttons to slide the C22 forward from the mounting panel.

OUTPUT LEVEL CONTROLS (L, L+ R, AND R)

Allows the balance of the enti re system to be conveniently adjusted.

LOW FREQUENCY TRIM CONTROLS (L AND R)

Allows frequencies below 100 cps to be boosted up to 6 db

TAPE EQUALIZATION CONTROLS (L AND R) Adjusts tape head input high frequency response.

PHASE SWITCH

2 position, normal (0°) or reverse (180°).

PILOT LAMP INTENSITY SWITCH 2 position, bright or dim.

SIZE

Front panel; 16 inches wide by 57/16inches high; chassis (including PANLOC shelf) 15 inches wide by 5 inches high by 13 inches deep, including connectors; clearance in front of mounting panel including knobs,lYz inches.

WEIGHT

16 pounds net, 25 pounds in shipping carton.

McIntosh C22 Tube Preamplifier - Owner's Manual

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.