MC275 & C8 vs 8950 Integrated. Opinions Please
 

Hi There Folks,

I've been a vintage tube person for most of my audio years. Due to maintenance and other issues, I sold all my old tube gear early last year (2022). My speakers are Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage. My room is small but the rear wall opens to the living room. I can run a pair of small RELs with no boominess. I have DIY acoustic treatment, primarily 6" thick traps at the front corners and am adding some 2" thick wall panels- first reflection points, etc.

I'm using a Luxman 550AXii as well as a Conrad Johnson CAV452-2 - this is their newest "control" amp, approximately 60 WPC, employing a pair of EL34 or KT77 per channel. I have absolutely no complaints about this amp.

The Lux works just fine but I find it a bit "dry." The CJ works very well but I've never owned McIntosh components, and am tempted. I cannot audition any of the MAC gear I'm considering. I don't play music loud and my rock n roll days are behind me. Classical, jazz, world, fine, but no metal, rap, hophip, etc.

I keep thinking I should finally get off the tube roller coaster, but man, I do love what the best of those glowing bottles do, both sonically and visually. And I keep thinking maybe it's time to "go MAC." OTOH, I'm very curious how the autoformers would work with the Guarneri Homage, thus eliminating tube gear. And I love the funcgtionality of the full-featured integrateds. I play vinyl but mostly stream using a Gold Note DS-10 with outboard power supply.

Any insights will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Paul

If you are a tube-guy, suggest you stick with tubes. I moved to solid-state about 7 months ago and am not sure if I'm happy. Giving some serious thought to moving back to tubes.

I know nothing about the McIntosh C8 preamp, but have owned one and also a pair of MC275MkV and thought they were great. Like various others here, I prefer the MC275 as a stereo amp as opposed to running a pair of them in bridged mode as monoblocks. YMMV.

If I were to go McIntosh again, I would go with the C22 preamp and a single MC275 or find a pair of the MC75s, which were my favorites with my C2200 preamp.

Good luck with your search.

Hi Glenn,
Thanks very much for your post. If I were to get the new MC275MKVI, I'd definitely run it in stereo. One reason I sold my vintage tube gear is that the amps were monos. I watched some YouTube vids done by Audio Excellence of Canada, and Villip and Adrian felt that the C8 was almost as good (detailed) as the C22. I can afford either, but I sure like the looks and simplicity of the C8. I'm also gonna check around for some older models of at least the amp.

I may be able to hear the new components but not in my home.
Best,
Paul

C22 & MC275 are incredible, and I will not be parting with either anytime soon. Heck, I love the c22 so much that I want a C70.

Thanks. Have you compared the C22 with the C8 by chance? Can you articulate why the combo is incredible for you? We have very similar speakers. I once had the Cremona Auditor M's and regret selling them. The Guarneri Homage are not going anywhere. :)

Here's a bit more info. My vintage tube separates sounded wonderful. BUT, Maintenance got to be untenable. Fortunately I found a local buyer.

Since then I've tried these tube integrateds: VTL, Pathos, Jolida (ugh) Primaluna, and now the little CJ. The VTL soundstage was more interesting to me but the SQ was not. VTL insisted that the amp was not a good match with my GH's. Perhaps they are correct. The CJ is to my ears the best tube unit I've heard in my room to date after the old separates. The Pathos was a hybrid and made for very pleasant listening. Sorry I sold that piece too. :) But we move on as we must, and don't look back,

Hope I've not derailed my own thread. :) With every birthday I think MAC- and ask myself: "if not now, when?"

I have never compared the C22 directly against the C8. However, I did hear the C8 & MC830 at my local dealer, and the sound captured my attention and brought me into the music. I felt I could listen for hours.

The MC275vi & Sonus Faber Cremona combination completely changed my listening. How? I feel a complete connection to music now, and I have no desire to improve anything when I am listening in the sweet spot. I think the sound is complete, and I am totally satisfied. But I will continue to tweak the system because I love this hobby, so why not.

Bass: I love the cabinet construction of the Cremona & your Guarneri Homage, which are fine instruments. The bass generated by the cabinet construction and the extra mid-bass bump that the MC275 provides is perfect for my musical taste. The bass notes by this combination are satisfying, and I find no desire to add a subwoofer. But, I always could place this speaker in the proper spot in my rooms.

Voices: The important presentation aspect for me is how the artist's voice sound. The MC275vi draws me into the music, and I prefer the fullest of the artist's voice and the smooth presentation that I hear when they are singing when I compare it to my other amp, which is the MC452.

Timing: The tempo & timing of the music draws me into the performance, and the sound stage is lovely, where I can locate and hear individual instruments clearly through the soundstage.

MC275vi is Stereophile rated class A, and I agree after living with this amplifier for many years. In addition, the Guarneri Homage is an incredible instrument/speaker, so I believe this combination will make you extremely happy.

I will never sell this MC275vi & C22, which will be handed down to my son, who also loves this amplifier.

I am currently listening to the C48 & MC275, and I love the sound. However, I imagine that any of McIntosh's semi-current preamplifiers combined with MC275vi will draw you into the music. The C8 or C22, MC275vi, and Guarneri Homage will sound wonderful together.

What are you using for power, sources, wires, & dacs?

An idea, I love having McSolid State Amplification and, of course, the MC275.

Maybe grab the MA8900, then add 275 at a later time. Then you can switch back and forth when looking for a different sound stage.

Good Day, Sir,
Thank you so much for your detailed and extremely helpful post. You've given me the information I was seeking.:thumbsup:

My wires are DIY Mogami, Speaker cable and IC's. I'm using a Supra Lo-Rad power strip with DIY power cords (I assembled these using the Supra wire and plugs) I have a single 15A dedicated outlet. TT is Rega P6 with Hana LO SL. Streamer is Gold Note DS-10 with the Gold Note external power supply. Acoustic treatments are being added and tweaked as I write.

With regard to a SS integrated, I already have a factory modified and upgraded Wells Audio Majestic which is quite excellent, IMO. One of the many reasons I sold my old MFA gear was to simplify my life, hence the Wells component. It's very good, but of course, it ain't tubes.
Thanks again-
Best Paolo

You have an excellent system. Let us know what direction you take and if I can be of any further assistance to you.

Thank you, sir. I greatly appreciate it.