McIntosh C26 Vintage Preamp in Gorgeous Wood Case, Serviced

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This is a great looking and sounding vintage preamp from McIntosh, and a solid foundation to your system.

Would pair up well with the McIntosh MR78 tuner and MC2105 (or similar) amplifier.

In overall super condition showing little signs of wear, plus it includes the McIntosh matching wood cabinet in fantastic shape!

Service Notes:
• This preamp was previously serviced before arriving at SkyFi. Select electrolytic capacitors were replaced / added as needed by another technician.

Please see the linked owners manual below for full technical specifications:

McIntosh C26 Preamplifier Manual

MID-LEVEL ANALOG INTERCONNECT RECOMMENDATIONS

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

The SkyFi Testing Process for Preamplifiers:

We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure there are no signs of stress or aging. Capacitors are checked for telltale sings of bulging or leaking, resistors are checked for signs of overheating or cracking, and transistors are checked for signs of stress or damage. Special attention is paid to the power supply which is the most common source of failure for preamps. We then power up the unit and run a simple 1k sine wave while monitoring the low voltage output on an oscilloscope for signs of distortion or noise to get a baseline.

At this point we will lubricate and clean all switches and potentiometers (that are not sealed) with a high quality contact cleaner, and then re-test all functions for any signs of noise or scratching.

Final testing involves putting actual music through the preamplifier We have learned over time that some issues are only noticeable to a trained ear while listening to a familiar source material. Our test bench has reference vintage KEF speakers that we are super familiar with which will quickly reveal any discrepancies. Some preamps will then move into the listening room where they will be tested with our in-house reference system.

Please click here for detailed specifics regarding our specialized packing process that separates us from the rest.