McIntosh C49 Preamplifier

Preamplifiers act as a hub for the connection of all your other components. The rear panel of any McIntosh preamplifier will feature an enormous number of connections. They are there to accommodate all of your current and future needs.

At McIntosh, performance, ergonomics, and quality construction all play equally important roles. Nowhere is this more evident than in their preamplifiers and amplifiers.

They offer intuitive operation, and exude a quality feel and familiarity that’s welcoming.

Offered with both Solid-State and Tube-type circuits, all McIntosh preamplifiers are easy to operate, flexible, and offer the highest level of audio performance available.

C49 Stereo Pre-Amplifier

Be prepared for future digital music technologies with the C49 Preamplifier. The C49 features our DA1 Digital Audio Module, which can be replaced by new modules as new digital audio technologies are developed. This will allow you to keep your C49 up to date with digital music formats and viable well into the future.

The C49 comes with a multitude of inputs. For analogue, it has 2 balanced and 3 unbalanced, along with 2 phono inputs (comprised of 1 Moving Coil and 1 Moving Magnet) for connecting turntables. On the digital side, it has 6 inputs housed in the DA1 module. The inputs are: 2 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 USB and 1 proprietary MCT (for use with our MCT series of SACD/CD Transports). The DA1 is powered by an 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analogue Converter (DAC) that is used in Quad Balanced mode; it supports up to DSD256 and DXD 384kHz for playback of high resolution audio. In total, the C49 has 13 inputs, and each can be given user-friendly names to simplify system setup and control.

For connecting to your amplifier and the rest of your home audio system, the C49 has 2 balanced variable outputs, 2 unbalanced variable outputs, and 1 unbalanced fixed output. The outputs are designed for easy use when bi-amping your speakers so that neither your highs or lows are inadvertently turned off. Your audio sources can be fine tuned via the bass and treble tone controls. The C49 can be seamlessly integrated into your home theatre system via Home Theatre Pass Through. Power Control ports allow for the easy turn on/turn off of other connected McIntosh components, while the Data Ports can send remote control commands to connected source components. Our High Drive headphone amplifier with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®) is also included.

The C49 comes complete with classic McIntosh design staples such as a black glass front panel, knobs, an illuminated logo and aluminium end caps. Pair it with a variety of amplifiers, turntables, CD players, tuners, speakers, power controllers and room correction devices to make a complete home audio system.

SPECIFICATIONS

ELECTRONIC SPECIFICATIONS

TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION

0.005%

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

+0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz
+0, -1dB from 10Hz to 100,000Hz

MAXIMUM VOLTS OUT (BALANCED / UNBALANCED)

16/8 V RMS

INPUT IMPEDANCE (BALANCED / UNBALANCED)

44K ohm, 22K ohm

PHONO VOLTAGE GAIN

Moving Magnet: 40dB
Moving Coil: 60dB

HIGH LEVEL VOLTAGE GAIN

To Outputs 1 & 2: 15dB
To Fixed Output: 0dB

SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO

100dB 

CONNECTIVITY

HEADPHONE OUTPUT

Yes 1/4", High Drive with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD^®)

INPUTS UNBALANCED

3 Stereo + 2 Phono

INPUTS BALANCED

2 Stereo

VARIABLE OUTPUTS UNBALANCED

2 Stereo

VARIABLE OUTPUTS BALANCED

2 Stereo

DIGITAL USB INPUT

1 (accepts PCM signals up to 32-bit/384kHz; supports DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256 plus DXD 352.8kHz and DXD 384kHz)

DIGITAL COAXIAL INPUT

2

DIGITAL OPTICAL INPUT

2

DIGITAL MCT INPUT

1

PHONO MOVING MAGNET INPUT

Yes, adjustable 

PHONO MOVING COIL INPUT

Yes, adjustable 

RECORD PROCESSOR LOOP

No

INPUT LEVEL MATCH

Yes, +/- 6dB

HOME THEATRE PASS THROUGH

Yes

CONTROL

TONE CONTROLS

Bass and Treble

TONE BYPASS AND INPUT ASSIGN

Yes

RS232 CONTROL INPUT

Yes

POWER CONTROL OUTPUT

1 Main, 2 Trigger

REAR PANEL DATA PORTS

Yes, 4

REAR PANEL IR SENSOR INPUT

No

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

MULTI-CHASSIS OR SINGLE

Single, two layer

OUTPUT METERS

No

TUBE OR SOLID STATE

Solid State

ON, POWER CONSUMPTION

30 watts

WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS

DIMENSIONS (W X H X D)

17.5" (44.45cm) x 6" (15.24cm) x 18" (45.72cm)

WEIGHT

23 lbs (10.4kg)

SHIPPING WEIGHT

37.5 lbs (17 kg)