Upgrade path

[miner]

I will be upgrading my analogue set up electronics. Currently using Rotel RC-1082 pre and RB-1092 amp - about a year old. I have decided to go the route of McIntosh C2200 (tube pre) and MC252 (SS amp). The two together just took me away - like Calgon. I bought the pre used locally (don't want to ship tube equipment) and will buy the MC252 new locally. Now, to break this to the wifey (the Omega I bought her last week should have been a clue). Wish me luck. The current Rotel will be sold eventually - both units are silver.

[htsteve]

miner,

The Mac's should be quite excellent for you. They do all things extremely well. I have a MC252 on a pair of 802D's, so I have no doubt they will drive your 804's supremely.


Enjoy that set-up.

[miner]

miner,

The Mac's should be quite excellent for you. They do all things extremely well. I have a NC252 on a pair of 802D's, so I have no doubt they will drive your 804's supremely.


Enjoy that set-up.

htsteve,
My equipment will be in a cabinet - opened at the back, doors in front. Does the MC252 get hot?

This is my analogue setup so the speakers will Dynaudio 52SE + Sub20A.

[miner]

Finally got the equipment installed - sounds wonderful, still breaking amp in. The preamp (tubes) gets warmer than the amp. I have ordered some cooling fans from Component Cool. These will set on top of the map and preamp. For my ICs I used a pair of Audioquest Colorado XLR cables. I need to decide whether to plug the amp into the APC H15 conditioner or leave it plugged into the wall outlet.

[htsteve]

miner,

Sorry I didn't answer you regarding the amp heat. As you've discovered, the amp does not get very warm. Mine does not get very warm driving B&W 802D's.

I would leave the amp plugged into the wall. The APC may limit current, even if it says it doesn't.


Enjoy that setup!

[bigburner]

Finally got the equipment installed - sounds wonderful

How much more wonderful than your Rotel set-up?

Does the Rotel set-up have any advantages?

Nigel.

[miner]

As much as I enjoyed the Class D design of the RB-1092 the MC252 Class A/B just seems to open up the dynamics, especially at the top end - a fuller sonic character. The RB-1092 is a wondereful amp and a great performer for the money - I have no regrets owning it. In fact I have another one in my main family room setup. The only advantage the Rotel setup has over the Mc is physical wt. The MC252 is 95 lbs and was a struggle moving around.

[bigburner]

As much as I enjoyed the Class D design of the RB-1092 the MC252 Class A/B just seems to open up the dynamics, especially at the top end - a fuller sonic character. The RB-1092 is a wondereful amp and a great performer for the money - I have no regrets owning it. In fact I have another one in my main family room setup. The only advantage the Rotel setup has over the Mc is physical wt. The MC252 is 95 lbs and was a struggle moving around.

What about the preamp? Have you done any chopping and changing between the C2200 and the 1082 - e.g. using the same amp - to determine the differences between the two preamps?

Nigel.

[miner]

No I have not - yet. I will as time allows.

BTW, those of you with RC-1082 and have the LED window to indicate if Tone Controls are on or not, mine was not lighting up so I called Rotel and they swore up & down that there was no such window on the unit, just a graphic to show On/Off. Mine DOES have a window with an LED (or I assume it is an LED in the window).

[Ferres]

No I have not - yet. I will as time allows.

BTW, those of you with RC-1082 and have the LED window to indicate if Tone Controls are on or not, mine was not lighting up so I called Rotel and they swore up & down that there was no such window on the unit, just a graphic to show On/Off. Mine DOES have a window with an LED (or I assume it is an LED in the window).

It appears to be a rectangular painted box, not an LED window, but it does look like one.

[miner]

Actually, mine is a window milled out of the aluminum faceplate. Possibly an early production model?

[rantzmar]

I too have decided to start upgrading. My first upgrade was the CDP. I have the RCC 1055 CDP. Its a very good CDP, but I decided to get the Musical Fidelity X-Rayv8.

Rantzmar