Anyone ever tried any mcintosh preamp with the BHK 250? am not using a preamp currently between my BHK250 and PS Audio DSD DAC , but want more control of volume at lower levels without any sound degradation and am considering a McIntosh (BHK preamp is above me price point).
Suggestions? Alternatives?
As far as I know the DSD DAC volume control is bit perfect at any of its volume settings. That having been said some report an improvement in sound quality, Paul being one of them, with a preamp in the equation. And yes, that Paul.
Well, McIntosh makes good gear. The only experience that I have had was with a mid 70’s C28 that I just overhauled for a friend. It was pleasant but no match for the BHK preamp. It has a “1970’s” sound to it. Bass is a little mushy and the highs not so crisp and maybe kind of granular. Lovely midrange, though. This unit was known to be one of the better ones from that era - a very “tubey” SS unit but flawed, I think, by today’s standards.
mahalos for that - gonna habe to wait on a preamp anyway… might as well save for a very good one to match the bhk250
There a lot of great tube preamps out there that don’t list for $7k.
Conrad Johnson ET series or GAT series preamps. Over time used ones do appear at the music room.
Fwiw, BHK pre’s go for about $3k on the used market
There’s a Decware ZTPRE for sale on their forum’s classified–that is an excellent preamp. I owned one for some time and would buy one again if I needed a preamp.
If your sound is “degrading” at lower volume levels, the cause is not the DSD volume control. There are a great many reasons to use a dedicated preamp, but your stated issue isn’t one of them, the DSD volume control is excellent.
What McIntosh preamp sells for less than a BHK, especially a used one?
The GAT is a very special preamp. Had I not decided to downsize with a focus on integrated amplifiers, and to walk away from tube gear ingeneral the GAT would be on the top of my list.
I run a C2700 into the BHK250. No complains. No itches to try something else. Stock tubes in the preamp. new production premium JJs in the BHK.
A used Conrad Johnson ET3 tube preamp just showed up at TMR for $1900.