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Re: McIntosh C-22C vs C-2200

The C22 and C22c both sound great in my humble opinion. The later C22C does have better switch quality and a slightly less romantic sound. Both are low distortion and can throw a lot of drive.
The C2200 is a clean sheet design which employ post attenuation to the output section. The C2200 uses the 214, .5 dB steep volume control which is also used in the C200 and other high end pre amps or mixing consoles. This will eliminate any channel unbalance or volume control quality issues as their are no moving parts or contacts. The digital microprocessors simply set the appropriate level of the 214 step resistor. This is a very effective analog volume control.
The volume post attenuation will interleave the input and output gains so the tubes do not have the signal approach their noise floor. This results in a dramatic reduction in noise. I have measured well in excess of 105 dB S/N ratio which is over 15 dB better than a C22. Very few preamps, including solid state, will be quieter. The volume attenuator has a range of 107 dB, step error and channel matching is less than .001% and dynamic range is 120 dB. The volume control operates in a normal audio log curve which is followed by the digital readout as well as the meters.
Since the microprocessors are controlled by the volume control, the C2200 allows the eight inputs to be adjusted up or down in volume so they all match. All of the inputs can be renamed and programed to match the owners source components. The tone controls can be programed to only operate on the inputs desired and are completely by-passable.
The front panel output meters will read 0 VU at 2.5 volt out and the C2200 will deliver 8 Vrms unbalanced and 16 volts balanced before clip.
Rather than rely on mechanical input and output switching the C2200 uses Electro-Magnetic devices mounted at the rear panel input and output jacks to eliminate noise and distortion. These relays use ruthenium contacts, sealed in a glass bottle, filled with inert gas, wrapped in a magnetic shielding coil, and encapsulated in plastic for shock protection. Ruthenium is the finest contact material known. Having a dirty selector switch is not possible with this design.
The C2200 uses 4 12ax7 and 4 12at7 tubes. Two tubes are used of each type in the high level and phono sections. The unit is shipped with the phono section tubes off and this input set to Aux. If the phono is needed, renaming the input to phono will turn on the 4 phono tubes. If not used they may be saved as a spare set for the high level section.
The power supply of the C2200 uses a large oversize, multiple winding, power transformer which is potted in tar and sealed in a drawn aluminum can. This feeds five separate regulation sections. Each channel has its own section of regulators and capacitors for maximum channel separation which is in excess of 80 dB, worst case.
The C2200 is very transparent and stays out of the way of the music. This may not be what everyone is looking for as it will not color the sound. If you want a pre amp to sound like nothing, turn the volume control all the way up and hear no sound, no pops, no hiss, the C2200 could be your last pre amp. And yes, I am biased!
Ron-C





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