McIntosh Announces the MC830 Mono Amplifier & C8 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier

McIntosh Announces the MC830 Mono Amplifier & C8 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier

Sep 17, 2020
Matching units feature an open chassis, retro styled industrial design!

Following in the footsteps of the immensely popular and retro styled MA252 and MA352 Integrated Amplifiers, which took design cues from the timeless MC275 Vacuum Tube Amplifier, McIntosh is proud to introduce two more exciting models with similar styling: the MC830 Solid State Amplifier and C8 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier.

Featuring styling reminiscent of Mc's 1950s and 1960s designs, the MC830 and C8 are full of modern day technology to produce an amazing home audio experience. When a pair of MC830s are combined with the C8, they can form the foundation of system that can deliver a lifelike home audio experience.

The MC830 is a 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier that has a similar footprint to the MA252 Integrated Amplifier. The MC830 is a direct coupled output design that is rated at 300 Watts into 8 Ohms or 480 Watts into 4 Ohms. A fast-responding Dual Scale Watt meter gives an accurate readout of power output for both speaker impedances. McIntosh 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 music system.

To protect your speakers and overall system, the MC830 includes two of McIntosh's cornerstone home audio technologies: patented Power Guard® technology that monitors the amplifier's output signal to protect your speakers against being over driven; and fuse-less short-circuit protection circuit Sentry Monitor™ that will disengage the MC830's output stage if current ever exceeds safe operating levels.

The C8 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier is also similarly sized to the MA252 Integrated Amplifier, and is powered by four 12AX7a vacuum tubes housed inside stylish protective cages. 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. 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 from the factory, it is digital-audio-ready as the McIntosh DA2 Digital Audio Module can be installed in it (adding the DA2 is an optional dealer installed upgrade).

For personal listening, the C8 comes with Mc's High Drive headphone amplifier that has plenty of power and flexibility to drive a wide range of headphones. 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.