McIntosh C49 Preamplifier Preview

See the complete review for the McIntosh C49 Preamplifier.

McIntosh Labs has come out with a new entry-level preamp, the C49.

Its DA1 DAC can be upgraded to the newer DA2 chip (which among other improvements, has an HDMI input). The ability to replace it via a modular design allows for future upgrades should new digital music formats arrive. For analog inputs, it has two balanced, three unbalanced, one moving coil, and one moving magnet for turntables. On the digital side, it has six inputs housed in the DA1 module: two coaxial, two optical, one USB and one proprietary MCT (which can be used with the McIntosh series of SACD/CD Transports, like the MCD600 I reviewed late last year).

The DA1 module is powered by an eight-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) that is used in quad balanced mode; it supports up to DSD256 and DXD 384kHz for playback of high-resolution audio. In total, the C49 has 13 inputs, and each can be given custom names to simplify system setup and control.

I am currently running the C49 with my home theater system via a front R/L speaker pass-through and the sound quality is remarkably better than my current system. No surprise, since the C49 sells for nearly ten times what my current preamp costs. I’ll be giving my full impressions on this state-of-the-art preamplifier in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

See the complete review for the McIntosh C49 Preamplifier.

Jim Milton

Jim Milton has been interested in high fidelity since his college years in the late 70's. It was there that he first became interested in classical music. He has been part of choral music, both in opera and oratorio and is an avid collector of classical music from the Baroque through the Romantic periods. He enjoys an occasional night at Boston Symphony Hall or attending an organ concert at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, ME. Currently he is the director of Nuclear Medicine at the North Shore Medical Center, located just outside of Boston. He also serves as an adjunct professor for Salem State University where he teaches a course in nuclear instrumentation. During his leisure time, he enjoys listening to his music collection and an occasional movie with his wife of 30+ years. Living on the longest stretch of sandy beach north of Boston offers him plenty of opportunities to take a relaxing stroll or soak up some sun. "Remember, acquiring good A/V gear takes lots of time...but doesn't necessarily take lots of money."