Parasound Halo JC3+ vs Mcintosh Built IN phono
 

Hello,

this is my system:

VPI Prime + Cadenza Red
Mcintosh MA6700
Sonus Faber Olympica III

I would like to know what external phono preamp would improve the built in from the integrated Mcintosh.

i will try to demo but not easy, so maybe you guys already have some experience.

I was considering to spend around 3,000 USD and this Parasound seems quite right.

Thanks.

I have a C2300 preamp. I first tried the Manley Chinook SE ($2400) but after some QC issues I felt there were too many tubes at work. The improvement was not that incremental to my senior ears. McIntosh makes some incredible built in phone stages. I then read Harry Weisfeld’s (VPI fame) review of the PS Audio Stellar phono stage ($2495 - $1795 after trade of product) and had to try one. It is staying for now - extremely quiet and versatile.

Parasound Halo JC3+ vs Mcintosh Built IN phono
 

I had the parasound and loved it. Tremendous bang for the buck. I don’t know, but would be surprised if it was surpassed by the Macintosh built in.

I have a C2300 as well. I'm using the built-in phono, but with a low-output moving iron cartridge (Grado Timbre) I have to turn things up much more than before with the Sonata cart I had before. Plus, the C2300's ground inputs are huge, and the spades on my tonearm cable don't fit around the poles. Maybe I'll look into the JC 3+ or the Stellar you mention. I'm sure neither is worse than the quite good phono stage on the 2300.

For what it's worth, The Mac MP100 phono preamp offers a "slight improvement in sound quality and functionality" over the C2300 phono stage (Mac's reply to a question I e-mailed them).

The recent Stereophile review of the MAC7200 thought quite highly of the built-in phono section. If your MA6700 has the same you might not find a 'big' difference. You could ask McIntosh about the phono-sections in the two pieces.

thanks for your answers.

At the end i need to demo in my system, otherwise too risky!

+1!
That is hands-down the best way to evaluate audio gear, imo.