C8 2ch Preamplifier with Pair of MC830 1ch Amplifiers
The MC830 is a 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier that features an open chassis industrial design similar to our popular MC275 Vacuum Tube Amplifier, and MA252 and MA352 Integrated Amplifiers.
A pair of MC830s, when combined with a preamplifier (such as the matching C8 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier), source components like a turntable, CD player or streaming music player, and a pair of speakers, can deliver a true-to-life home audio experience.
1-Channel Solid State Amplifier
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300 Watts into 8 Ohms
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480 Watts into 4 Ohms
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Power Guard, Sentry Monitor, Monogrammed Heatsinks, Solid Cinch speaker binding posts
With a similar footprint to our MA252 Integrated Amplifier, the MC830 is a direct coupled output design that is rated at 300 Watts at 8 Ohms or 480 Watts at 4 Ohms. A fast-responding Dual Scale Watt meter gives an accurate readout of power output for both speaker impedances. Our Monogrammed Heatsinks „¢ add visual appeal and will keep the MC830 running cool for optimum performance. Both a balanced and unbalanced input are included for connecting it to the rest of your home music system.
To protect your speakers and overall system, the MC830 includes two of our cornerstone home audio technologies. Our patented Power Guard ® technology monitors the amplifier's output signal to protect your speakers against being over driven; if necessary, it makes real time micro adjustments to the input signal to prevent clipping that could damage your speakers. Another level of protection is Sentry Monitor „¢, our fuse-less short-circuit protection circuit that will disengage the MC830's output stage before current exceeds safe operating levels, and then will reset automatically when operating conditions return to normal.
Our patented Solid Cinch „¢ speaker binding posts easily secure your speaker cables to prevent them from coming loose and possibly causing a short. The binding posts are gold-plated to prevent corrosion and ensure a quality audio signal is sent to your speakers. Power Control ports allow for easy system power up and shutdown by sending power on/off signals to other connected McIntosh components. The user selectable Auto Off feature will turn off the MC830 after 30 minutes if no audio signal is received.
A die cast aluminum name badge is affixed to each side of the chassis, and the front, top and rear of the chassis is polished to a mirror finish. The MC830 features a black glass front panel with silver trim, a blue Watt meter, an illuminated logo, and control knobs.
SPECIFICATIONS:
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- Power Output per Channel
- 300 Watts into 8 Ohms
480 Watts into 4 Ohms
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- Number of Channels
- 1
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- Total Harmonic Distortion
- 0.005%
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- S/N below rated output
- Balanced: 120dB
Unbalanced: 118dB
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- Dynamic Headroom
- 2dB
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- Damping Factor
- >100 Wideband
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- Rated Power Band
- 20Hz to 20kHz
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- Frequency Response
- +0, -0.25dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz
+0, -3.0dB from 10Hz to 100,000Hz
CONTROL
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- Remote Power Control
- Yes
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- Multi-Channel DB25 Cable
- N/A
CONNECTIVITY
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- Speaker Binding Post Type
- Patented Solid Cinch „¢ Speaker Binding Posts
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
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- Circuit Configuration
- Push-Pull Complementary
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- Circuit Design
- Solid State
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- Mono Bridge
- N/A
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- Mono Parallel
- N/A
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- Output Type
- Direct Coupled
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- Meters
- Yes
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- Meter Light Switch
- Yes
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- Balanced Input
- 1
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- Front Panel
- Glass
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- Illumination
- Direct LED
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- Chassis Style
- Polished Stainless Steel
WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS
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- Dimensions (W x H x D)
- 12-9/32" (31.2cm) x 9-1/2" (24.1cm) x 16" (40.6cm)
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- Weight
- 48 lbs (21.8 kg)
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- Shipping Weight
- 55 lbs (24.9 kg)
About C8 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier:
The C8 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier has an open chassis industrial design similar to our popular MC275 Vacuum Tube Amplifier, and MA252 and MA352 Integrated Amplifiers.
When combined with an amplifier (like the matching MC830 Amplifier), source components such as a turntable, CD player or streaming music player, and a pair of speakers, it can help deliver a lifelike audio experience in your home.
2-Channel Vacuum Tube Preamplifier
- 5 analog inputs (1 balanced, 2 unbalanced, 2 phono)
- (4) 12AX7a vacuum tubes
- High Drive headphone amplifier
- Optional dealer installed upgrade to DA2 Digital Audio Module available
Similarly sized to our MA252 Integrated Amplifier, the C8 is powered by four 12AX7a vacuum tubes housed inside stylish protective cages. For inputs, the C8 comes with 1 balanced and 2 unbalanced analog inputs, plus 1 Moving Coil and 1 Moving Magnet phono inputs with adjustable loading to play cherished vinyl collections. All inputs can be given user-friendly names in order to simplify user control. Bass and treble tone controls help fine tune your music to your personal preferences. For outputs, it has 1 balanced and 2 unbalanced; 1 of the unbalanced outputs can be configured as a subwoofer output for use with a powered subwoofer to further enhance low frequencies.
While the C8 does not come equipped with any digital inputs, it is digital-audio-ready as our DA2 Digital Audio Module can be installed in it. Adding the DA2 is an optional dealer installed upgrade. The DA2 has 7 digital inputs: 2 coax, 2 optical, 1 USB, 1 MCT (for use with our MCT500 or MCT80 SACD/CD Transport), and 1 audio-only HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC)1 connection. The DA2 is powered by a next generation, Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). Its audiophile-grade DAC is highlighted by improved dynamic range and improved total harmonic distortion. For high resolution audio playback, the USB input can support native playback of up to DSD512 and DXD up to 384kHz, and the coax and optical inputs can decode digital music up to 24-bit/192kHz.
For personal listening, the C8 comes with our High Drive headphone amplifier that has plenty of power and flexibility to drive a wide range of headphones. Power Control ports allow for easy system power up and shutdown by sending power on/off signals to other connected McIntosh components. The user selectable Auto Off feature will turn the C8 off after 30 minutes when there's been no user input or if no audio signal has been detected. Home Theater Pass Through allows the C8 to be seamlessly integrated into your home theater system, and Data Ports can send remote control commands to connected source components.
Input selection, bass, treble, tone bypass, balance and input offset levels can be adjusted using the front panel knobs or the included remote control; all settings, volume level, and input selection will be shown on the front panel display. The C8 sits atop a stainless steel chassis that's polished to a mirror finish; classic McIntosh-styled die cast aluminum name badges are attached to each side. It has a black glass front panel with silver trim, an illuminated logo, and rotary control knobs.
SPECIFICATIONS:
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- Number of Channels
- 2
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- Total Harmonic Distortion
- 0.08%
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- Frequency Response
- +0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20kHz
+0, -3dB from 15Hz to 100kHz
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- Maximum Volts Out (Balanced / Unbalanced)
- 16V RMS / 8V RMS
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- Sensitivity High Level (Balanced / Unbalanced)
- 900mV / 450mV
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- Sensitivity Phono (Moving Coil)
- 0.45mV
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- Sensitivity Phono (Moving Magnet)
- 4.5mV
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- Signal To Noise Ratio (High Level)
- 95dB
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- Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Coil)
- 75dB
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- Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Magnet)
- 80dB
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- Voltage Gain (High Level)
- 15dB
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- Voltage Gain (Moving Coil)
- 75dB
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- Voltage Gain (Moving Magnet)
- 55dB
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- Input Impedance (Balanced / Unbalanced)
- 44K ohm, 22K ohm
CONNECTIVITY
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- Balanced Input
- 1
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- Unbalanced Input
- 2
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- Phono Input Moving Coil
- 1 (adjustable)
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- Phono Input Moving Magnet
- 1 (adjustable)
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- Upgradeable Digital Audio Module
- Yes: DA2 can be installed
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- Digital Coaxial Input
- 0
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- Digital Optical Input
- 0
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- Digital MCT (DIN) Input
- 0
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- Digital USB Input
- 0
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- HDMI (ARC) Input
- 0
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- Digital AES/EBU Input
- 0
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- Balanced Fixed Output
- 0
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- Balanced Variable Output
- 1
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- Unbalanced Fixed Output
- 0
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- Unbalanced Variable Output
- 2
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- Headphone Output
- 1/4" High Drive
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- Input Level Match
- Yes, +/- 6dB
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- Home Theater PassThru
- Yes
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- Unbalanced Analog Connector Type
- Standard
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- Service Port
- 1
CONTROL
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- Tone Controls
- Bass and Treble
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- Tone Bypass and Input Assign
- Yes
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- RS232 Control Input
- Yes
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- Power Control Output
- 1 Main, 2 Trigger
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- Rear Panel Data Port
- 2
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- Rear Panel IR Sensor Input
- Yes
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
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- Multi-Chassis or Single
- Single
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- Output Meters
- No
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- Vacuum Tube or Solid State
- Vacuum Tube
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- Power Consumption (On)
- 50 Watts
WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS
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- Dimensions (W x H x D)
- 12-9/32" (31.2cm) x 7-5/8" (19.4cm) x 16-1/4" (41.3cm)
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- Weight
- 18 lbs (8.2 kg)
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- Shipping Weight
- 25 lbs (11.3 kg)
