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  1. #1
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    McIntosh C2300 Tube Test Day

    I test my tubes in my gear once a year, usually in June. I have been a bit lax this year, but today I managed to motivate myself into pulling the McIntosh C2300 out of the living room rack and testing the 12AX7 tubes in the line stage and moving coil phono stage. I have Gold Lion ECC83/12AX7 tubes in the line stage and Telefunken ECC83/12AX7 tubes in the moving coil phono stage. My tube tester for small tubes is the Maxi-Preamp 2 from Maxi-Test. After 15 months daily use of the C2300, both pairs of 12AX7's still tested strong and closely matched. No reason to install new tubes at this time. That's good news. I reinstalled the tubes in the preamp, and reinstalled the preamp in the rack and got back to listening. I love my C2300 preamplifier. It's feature rich, quiet as a mouse, sounds remarkable, is built like a tank, and is all analog. What's not to like about that.







    Dan

    STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital coax,
    Sonos Connect, Stillpoints Ultra SS & Ultra Mini, PurePower 2000, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario

    LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205 Signal Sleuth, Sonos Connect, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable,
    Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD40 w/m505A tonearm, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Stillpoints Ultra Mini, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113

    VINTAGE - McIntosh 4300V, McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, JBL 4312A

  2. #2
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    Apr 2013
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    NY
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    Re: McIntosh C2300 Tube Test Day

    That’s pretty amazing and awesome for such a lot of use. Goes to show how McIntosh is easy on tubes.
    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  3. #3
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    Sep 2017
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    Seattle
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    1,964

    Re: McIntosh C2300 Tube Test Day

    Wow Dan, if your a tube owner that’s a cool device to possess.

    What’s something like that cost?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Source Analog: Kuzma Stabi R w/4point 11 arm | Kuzma 50 Cartridge
    Source Digital: Aurender N10 | Brinkmann Nyquist MK II
    Amplification: Dan D’Agostino Momentum HD and M400’s | Boulder 508
    Speakers: Wilson Alexias
    Cabling: Nordost Leif, Norse, V2 and Odin
    Power and Isolation: Audio-Ultra Home & Room Power Foundation Performance Package with StromTank S1000 | HRS









  4. #4
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    Apr 2013
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    NY
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    Re: McIntosh C2300 Tube Test Day

    https://www.maximatcher.com/maxipreamp.html

    Current pricing is $989.00

    It has certainly gone up lately.

    Attached Images Attached Images
    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  5. #5
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    Apr 2015
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    Re: McIntosh C2300 Tube Test Day

    Quote Originally Posted by UltraFast69 View Post
    Wow Dan, if your a tube owner that’s a cool device to possess.

    What’s something like that cost?
    Ed.......I purchased my Maxi-Matcher 2 power tube tester and the Maxi-Preamp 2 small tube tester at the same time in November of 2013. Delivered the total price was $1706.12. At that time the Maxi-Matcher 2 was $675.00 and the Maxi-Preamp 2 was 989.00. The current price for the Maxi-Matcher 2 power tube tester is $749.00. The current price for the Maxi-Preamp 2 small tube tester is $989.00.

    https://www.maximatcher.com/






    Dan

    STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital coax,
    Sonos Connect, Stillpoints Ultra SS & Ultra Mini, PurePower 2000, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario

    LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205 Signal Sleuth, Sonos Connect, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable,
    Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD40 w/m505A tonearm, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Stillpoints Ultra Mini, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113

    VINTAGE - McIntosh 4300V, McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, JBL 4312A

  6. #6
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    May 2013
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    Sydney
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    Re: McIntosh C2300 Tube Test Day

    I used to run Telefunken tubes with my C2300. They were expensive and awesome sounding
    Source: Technics SP10mk3 - Thales Simplicity II, TW Raven AC-3 - Graham Phantom, SME 3012-R, Exclusive P3,,Linn LP12 - Naim ARO
    Cartridges: Lyra Atlas Lambda SL, Lyra Etna SL, Lyra Delos, Dynavector XV-1s,Technics EPC100mk4, Ortofon A90, GM Royal, GM Classic, Denon ESC'd 103R, DL-S1, Audio Technica AT25, OC9II, Linn ESC'd Troika
    Phono Stage: Phasemation EA-1200, Accuphase C-37,TW Acustik phono
    EQ: ​DEQX HDP-4
    Preamp: D'Agostino HD, conrad johnson GAT,
    Amps: conrad johnson teflon premier 8a's, D'Agostino Momentum S250
    Speakers: Wilson Maxx3

  7. #7
    Senior Member
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    Re: McIntosh C2300 Tube Test Day

    Quote Originally Posted by XV-1 View Post
    I used to run Telefunken tubes with my C2300. They were expensive and awesome sounding
    Shane.......One of the reasons I run Telefunken tubes in the moving coil phono stage of the C2300 is to take advantage of their low noise. The Maxi-Preamp 2 tester has a test for noise. The Tele's are 2.5dB to 3dB quieter than the Gold Lion 12AX7's I use in the C2300 line stage. I have also tested the Telefunken ECC83/12AX7 tubes against Tung-Sol, Siemens, Philips, and Mullard. The Teles are the champion of low noise. And I agree, they sound very good.
    Dan

    STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital coax,
    Sonos Connect, Stillpoints Ultra SS & Ultra Mini, PurePower 2000, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario

    LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205 Signal Sleuth, Sonos Connect, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable,
    Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD40 w/m505A tonearm, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Stillpoints Ultra Mini, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113

    VINTAGE - McIntosh 4300V, McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, JBL 4312A

  8. #8
    Senior Member
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    May 2013
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    Sydney
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    Re: McIntosh C2300 Tube Test Day

    Quote Originally Posted by jdandy View Post
    Shane.......One of the reasons I run Telefunken tubes in the moving coil phono stage of the C2300 is to take advantage of their low noise. The Maxi-Preamp 2 tester has a test for noise. The Tele's are 2.5dB to 3dB quieter than the Gold Lion 12AX7's I use in the C2300 line stage. I have also tested the Telefunken ECC83/12AX7 tubes against Tung-Sol, Siemens, Philips, and Mullard. The Teles are the champion of low noise. And I agree, they sound very good.
    agreed Dan. Tele tubes are the best for low noise. I kinda wished I kept the C2300, but sold it as a set with my 2 x 2102's. But, you can't keep everything unfortunately.
    Source: Technics SP10mk3 - Thales Simplicity II, TW Raven AC-3 - Graham Phantom, SME 3012-R, Exclusive P3,,Linn LP12 - Naim ARO
    Cartridges: Lyra Atlas Lambda SL, Lyra Etna SL, Lyra Delos, Dynavector XV-1s,Technics EPC100mk4, Ortofon A90, GM Royal, GM Classic, Denon ESC'd 103R, DL-S1, Audio Technica AT25, OC9II, Linn ESC'd Troika
    Phono Stage: Phasemation EA-1200, Accuphase C-37,TW Acustik phono
    EQ: ​DEQX HDP-4
    Preamp: D'Agostino HD, conrad johnson GAT,
    Amps: conrad johnson teflon premier 8a's, D'Agostino Momentum S250
    Speakers: Wilson Maxx3

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McIntosh C2300 Tube Test Day

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