McIntosh Laboratory has launched the new C1100 — a luxurious two-chassis preamplifier, which allows the control and power sections to rem...
McIntosh Laboratory has launched the new C1100 — a luxurious two-chassis preamplifier, which allows the control and power sections to remain completely separate from the audio section. The C1100 comprises the C1100 controller and the C1100 vacuum tube preamplifier. Inside each chassis, the left and right channels are electrically and mechanically isolated from each other, to allow true dual-mono operation.Â
The two boxes are connected together via a pair of specially designed shielded umbilical cables. All power control, data ports and external control connections are dual-microprocessor-managed and located in the C1100’s controller chassis. The unit can be operated either directly on the C1100 controller’s front panel or using the remote control.
The C1100 vacuum tube preamplifier houses the audio connections and circuitry, and features 12 analogue inputs: six balanced and four unbalanced connections, plus adjustable-loading Moving Magnet and Moving Coil phono inputs. For the outputs, two sets of balanced and two sets of unbalanced connections provide flexibility with partnering power amplifiers.
Twelve vacuum tubes in total (six 12AX7a and 12AT7) power the valve preamplifier. Compared to its predecessor, the C1000, which had eight valves, the additional four valves lower its dependency on any solid-state support.
For personal listening, the headphone jack features a higher output than any of McIntosh’s other preamplifiers, while the company’s proprietary Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD) brings depth and spatiality to all headphones. Further features include a Home Theater Pass Through function, which allows for seamless integration into existing multichannel home theatre systems.
The C1100 preamplifier employs fully balanced circuitry to perfectly match any of McIntosh’s Quad Balanced amplifiers. The amp incorporates classic McIntosh design cues and with classic black-glass front panels, blue meters, a stainless steel chassis, illuminated logos and custom-machined brushed aluminium end caps, the C1100 is all McIntosh.
www.mcintoshlabs.com