McIntosh C8 preamp and MC 830-1 Monobloc Power Amps
REFERENCE AUDIO – WITHAM ESSEX
BOB’s Review Series - No 24 – McIntosh Labs C8 Vacuum Tube preamp and Solid State MC830 Monobloc Power Amps
Introduction – Most audiophiles would be able to name McIntosh if asked to name 5 audio manufactures from outside the UK because McIntosh are one of the oldest surviving brands, having started way back in 1949 and for most of us they have always been around. Most would also be able to recognise a McIntosh product in a photo line-up because they have maintained a consistent house style for virtually all that time. They are particularly associated with their famous blue Watt output meters that feature on many of their products. They produce a wide range of equipment to serve stereo and multi-channel home audio systems, mostly in the mid to higher end of the price spectrum.
Designed and manufactured in Binghampton, New York they released 70th anniversary products in 2019. Originally, they concentrated efforts on Vacuum Tube (Valve) amplifiers and then diversifying into solid state when transistors became readily available for the audio industry. For a while McIntosh dropped all their Tube amplifier designs but today, they once again embrace them fully and their current catalogue contains a healthy mix of both tube and solid-state amplifiers, sometimes mixing both in the same chassis, even now the same monobloc amplifier in their massive MC901.
Their current product range includes valve and solid-state Preamps and Power Amps, SACD Players, Tuners, Turntables, Speakers, Multi-Channel Surround Sound and many other components so they can supply you with a full home audio or cinema system if you are so inclined. They also have an automotive division; a music app and they even make a McIntosh style clock that retails for $1800 USD, I wonder how many of those they have sold! For this review I have selected the recently released 3 box mid-sized amplifier system comprising the Vacuum Tube C8 Preamplifier and the Solid State MC830 Monoblocs which shows McIntosh’s continuing commitment to both formats in one system although of course the C8 does not need to be used with the MC830’s or visa versa.
Technology – The C8 Preamp at £4,995 (at the time of writing) is a Vacuum Tube design using four 12AX7A valves, two per channel with stainless steel individual cage surrounds. It has five analogue inputs, 1 on XLR, 2 on RCA and user adjustable MM and MC inputs also on RCA. There is an optional DAC module available, the DA2 at £1,295 which can be specified at the time of purchase or added as a post purchase dealer fit item. Our review sample didn’t have the DAC module installed. It measures just 312w x 195h x 413d and weighs 8.3Kg.
The MC830 Monoblocs at £5,795 (at the time of writing) each are solid state devices with rear inputs on switched XLR or RCA as well as 12v triggers for connection to the C8 or other suitably equipped devices for auto turn on/off. The amps can also be set for auto turn off after 30 minutes of no signal. They develop 300W into 8ohms and 480W into a 4ohm load, these being have direct coupled output amps rather than the more usual and renowned Auto Transformers used in their bigger amps. Both Monoblocs have the central blue Watt meters that define McIntosh products. They measure 312w x 241h x 406d and weigh in at 21.8Kg each.
McIntosh have recently released a style matching SACD Player, the MCD85 at £4,995 that can accept digital inputs including USB up to DSD256. It’s the same size as the C8.
System Components – The McIntosh Pre and Power amps were reviewed as a complete amplification set and I didn’t set about listen to them as separate components (but see post review note). The preamp was fed from my Innuos Statement streamer/server via the Matrix Audio X-Sabre Pro (MQA) DAC and by balanced XLR’s into the C8 Preamp. Speakers were my usual Marten Mingus Quintet with cables mostly from Jorma Design. I connect the preamp to the monoblocs with Chord Company Sarum T Tuned Array balanced XLR interconnects. CDs were also used during the review with my Sony CD Player acting as a transport connected to the Matrix Audio DAC via QED Glass Optical cable.
Performance – I am very familiar with McIntosh products having once owned their 1201 monoblocs, Valve preamp, SACD Player, Tuner and DAC so I was hoping for a familiar sound and in the main I wasn’t disappointed although the sound was initially warmer than I remember. I also once owned their MA9000 Integrated Amp which is all solid state. Although I no longer have McIntosh products in my home system, I do listen to them regularly in our showrooms including their new MA12000 Integrated amp which features a valve front end and solid-state power amp and really is something to behold and hear. The C8/MC830 had only a few hours running on them before I brought them home for review and they did sound better as time went on, generally a little freer, a bit more dynamic with slightly wider soundstage, but still on the warmer side of the fence. They don’t run anything more than cool so masses of ventilation shouldn’t be needed.
Strangely when I first tried to listen, I could only select the RCA inputs on the C8 and for some reason it completely ignored the presence of an XLR Balanced input. Nothing in the settings menu, accessed via the two front push and turn knobs, gave any hint what was wrong or how to fix it. After a while I gave in and did a full factory reset after which the XLR Balanced input came to life and listening could commence and the problem never reoccurred. It’s possible to adjust tone settings via the menu but I decided to keep it simple and listened with all settings flat.
This review followed directly on from the Chord Electronics Ultima Pre 2 and Ultima 3 Monoblocs I recently reviewed at home and at first I assumed this was the reason they seemed overly warm to me but after several days use this feeling never really faded much. Eventually I found one of the causes for this (see Post review note at the end of this review) but for the main part of the review I was a little concerned that some, myself included, would find them just too warm sounding for comfort.
Notwithstanding this I found them to be a great sounding trio with lots of dynamics, wide soundstage, and musically engrossing just as you would expect from McIntosh and they seemed to keep getting better as I used them over several days. After the first 24 hours of use I listened to ‘Atom Heart Mother’ by Pink Floyd and ended up listening right to the end and was impressed by the level of detail and resolution these amps can find form a recording now well over 50 years old. Fantastic stuff. The MC830 power amps are seriously powerful belying their size and were more than capable of driving my Marten speakers to high volume levels without distortion or clipping.
McIntosh have always been ambivalent regarding the use of valve verses solid state design for their amplifiers, at times seeming to prefer one over the other and of late using both formats as we have here with this Trio that have clearly been designed to work together. Listening to ‘Six Blade Knife’ by Dire Straits showed how well McIntosh knowhow can be used to combine valves and solid state to deliver deep and dynamic sound whilst retaining clarity in the mids and a sweet yet detailed treble. The C8 giving the finesse and the MC830’s the Drive.
Seeking out some electronic music I listened to ‘Electrified’ by Yello and although I again felt them to be a little on the warm side the dynamics and rhythm generated by this track was very impressive. The Eagles ‘Hotel California’ was a great listen, this track can be overly bright with some equipment but not here, even the opening and closing audience applause was less brittle than it can be on some systems. ‘Into My Arms’ by Roger Daltrey was delivered with real emotion and care in his voice and the entrancing backing piano being well resolved and lifelike. One of the last tracks I listened to was ‘Next to You’ by Little Big Town and again the vocals were clear with an ambient soundstage filling the room. These amps can deliver the dynamic swings to bring life to music and can easily fill large rooms with sound yet they are also able to stir the emotions with their special ability to separate instruments and vocals and at the same the preserving the coherence of the mix. Probably not for heavy metal aficionados and not for those that like crisp clarity over a warmer style but for the rest of us they may be just what we are looking for as a long-term investment.
Conclusion – This trio of amplifiers from McIntosh is detailed, dynamic and very musical and in today’s world of exotic audio equipment they represent real value for money. For my taste perhaps they were a little on the warm side but for many this will be just what you are looking for and if paired sensibly with speakers and source they could be just right. McIntosh clearly know what their new and existing customers are looking for and if like me it’s the music that inspires you then they clearly have every possible avenue to glory covered by their wide and expansive product range and this trio feels right at home.
Post Review Note – Changing Cables: After the main review I considered removing the C8 Preamp and replacing it with my Michi P5 solid state preamp to check if the C8 was the root cause of the warmer than normal sound I experienced with these amps. But first I swapped out the Chord Sarum T Tuned Array balanced XLR lead (£3,000) between pre and power amps for something less exotic, the Chord Signature Tuned Array XLR cables (£1,000), still expensive but probably in more keeping with the price of the amps. The improvement in sound quality was not insignificant and in fact it was transformative. It didn’t cure all the issues I had with the slightly over warm presentation, but it did resolve most of them to the point that listening became an enjoyable attention holding event again. The cheaper cables taming the overly warm bass and providing increased clarity right across the audio spectrum. Suddenly the McIntosh trio began to make much more sense as a partnership and for me the system became much more enjoyable drawing me in and keeping my attention whereas with the Sarum T cable I found myself losing interest much of the time. To me at least this proved that more expensive cables are not always the better option and system compatibility plays a big part so try before you buy wherever possible. After this experience with the cables, I didn’t feel the need to swap preamps and was more than happy listening to the McIntosh trio for another long session.
Bob – Team Reference Audio