McIntosh C 42 – High End Stereo Equipment We Buy

McIntosh is one of the most dependable brand names when it comes to high-end audio systems. For years the brand has been recognized by audiophiles throughout the world as equipment that delivers clear and consistent quality in music. McIntosh is probably best known for its amplifiers and preamps, but the company produces many other components and parts for stereo and home theatre.

What are the specs for the McIntosh C 42?

Frequency response:
20Hz to 20kHz
Total harmonic distortion:
0.002%
Gain:
55dB (MM), 15dB (line)
Input sensitivity:
4.5mV (MM), 450mV (line)
Signal to noise ratio:
86dB (MM), 97dB (line)
Output:
2.5V (Pre out), 10V (Pre out Max)
Dimensions:
5.4 x 17.5 x 17.5 inches
Weight:
26 lbs

What else to know about the McIntosh C 42?

"This is an excellent preamp. It has a terrific amount of transparency and allows the sound signature of any source come through very clearly. My C712 I had before didn't have nearly this level of transparency - and thus less detail and dynamic capability. The C42 has fantastic dynamics if your amp doesn't limit it. It isn't very sensitive to cable selection and the sound has a very organized and coherent flow with a terrific amount of body to it - much more so than my BAT Vk-3i had. It is also fairly sweet but maybe not as much as the Classe CP50 or Cary SLP98 I had in my system but trades off by having excellent definition that betters the CP50 at least. The EQ is an excellent feature since so many recordings are not very good these days. I can take music that I didn't listen to because of brightness or tubby bass and I can correct them and improve them by a surprisingly huge amount. Also the volume control is the silkiest and most luxurious I have ever had - it makes the BAT's volume control seems crude and coarse in direct comparison. I haven't found any weaknesses yet to the C42. At first I thought it was soft but then I found out that it was my amp I was hearing. My current amps are Kora Aries monoblocks and they sound AMAZING with this preamp. Very very highly recommended from someone who has owned multiple nice preamps." - AudioReview

Brief History of McIntosh

Long mapped-to Binghamton New York – the current headquarters and manufacturing center for McIntosh Labs – not many people know the brand was originally launched outside of the Nation’s Capital in Silver Spring Maryland, in 1949. In 1956, the brand built their original facility in New York, according to the official brand website.

Other McIntosh Products We Often Buy

Typically, StereoBuyers purchases mostly used amplifiers, especially the vintage amps and high-end McIntosh models such as the MC202 or MC252, and the C220 preamp, for example. We have also purchased many pre-owned tuners from McIntosh over the recent years, including the MR67 and MR78 models, for example.

StereoBuyers has purchased tens of thousands worth McIntosh brand equipment since 2014, with individual buys ranging from $100 to well over $50,000. If you are moving, ready to upgrade, or have McIntosh equipment you do not or will not be using, why not contact us today to find out if it is worth good money?

If you are interested in selling your used McIntosh equipment to us in the greater NYC area or Colorado, please click here to fill out a Free Quote Form and we will get back to you. If we agree on terms, we come to meet you where you want, and pay cash.

The following images show actual McIntosh equipment purchased by StereoBuyers.