McIntosh C22 MKV
McIntosh valve preamplifier with seven inputs, including MM and MC phono, and a headphone output with Headphone Crossfeed Director.
Description
The C22 MK V is a valve preamplifier from McIntosh, designed as the central hub of a high-end hi-fi system. It receives and selects sources, adjusts listening level and balance, then distributes the signal to one or two power amplifiers via its balanced and unbalanced dual output.
The amplification stage relies on six valves, one 12AT7 and five 12AX7A, visible through a glass panel on top of the unit. The preamplifier offers seven inputs: two balanced, three unbalanced, plus a moving coil (MC) phono input and a moving magnet (MM) phono input, each with impedance and capacitance adjustment. Total harmonic distortion stands at 0.005%, with a stated frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz (0/-0.5 dB) and up to 100 kHz (0/-3 dB) at wider tolerance. The signal-to-noise ratio reaches 100 dB, ensuring a silent background even at high volume.
Output voltage is 16 V RMS balanced and 8 V RMS unbalanced, with a gain of 15 dB. The phono inputs show a sensitivity of 4.5 mV, the balanced line inputs 900 mV and the unbalanced inputs 450 mV. Input impedance is 44 kOhms balanced and 22 kOhms unbalanced. A headphone output incorporates Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD) technology, designed to recreate a more natural sound image when listening with headphones.
This preamplifier is aimed at enthusiasts of high-end hi-fi systems who already own one or two separate power amplifiers, as well as owners of turntables fitted with MM or MC cartridges seeking dedicated phono preamplification with fine adjustments. Its format and glass-and-aluminium finish naturally suit it to integration within an existing McIntosh system.
Technical specifications
| Brand | McIntosh |
| Reference | C22 MK V |
| Valves | 1x 12AT7, 5x 12AX7A |
| THD | 0,005 % |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz à 20 kHz (0/-0,5 dB) et 15 Hz à 100 kHz (0/-3 dB) |
| Output voltage | 16 V RMS (symétrique), 8 V RMS (asymétrique) |
| Phono input sensitivity | 4,5 mV |
| Balanced input sensitivity | 900 mV |
| Unbalanced input sensitivity | 450 mV |
| Gain | 15 dB |
| Balanced input impedance | 44 kOhms |
| Unbalanced input impedance | 22 kOhms |
| Signal to noise ratio | 100 dB |
| Connections | 1x sortie casque 6,3 mm, 2x entrées symétriques XLR, 3x entrées asymétriques RCA, 1x entrée phono MM, 1x entrée phono MC, 2x sorties symétriques XLR, 2x sorties asymétriques RCA |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 444,45 x 152 x 457 mm |
| Weight | 11,3 kg |
What to check before buying used
When buying used, attention should be paid to the condition of the six valves, as their wear directly affects the background noise level and linearity stated by the manufacturer. It is also worth checking the correct operation of the input selectors, the impedance and capacitance settings of the phono stage, and the condition of the XLR and RCA connectors, which are particularly stressed on a unit intended to drive several amplifiers.
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