Preamp Shootout: McIntosh C33 vs. PrimaLuna Prologue 3

Posted by mike555 (A) on August 4, 2013 at 16:19:33

I have had the opportunity to test two very different but excellent preamplifiers in my stereo system. These preamps are: 1) the McIntosh C33, a solid state unit from the early 1980s, recently recapped and restored by Terry DeWick; and 2) the PrimaLuna Prologue 3, a tubed unit of more recent vintage. This post consists of a comparison and contrast between the performance of the two preamps.

The remainder of my system, for the purposes of testing, consists of a McIntosh MC2105 amplifier, McIntosh MS300 music server as source, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand bookshelf speakers, Audioquest Golden Gate interconnects, and Mapleshade Clearview speaker cables. (The McIntosh C33 has a reputedly excellent phono stage as well, but it will not be considered for the purposes of the present review.)

The McIntosh C33 seems to excel particularly with providing a warm, tonally-rich, full-bodied presentation. With the McIntosh unit, the sonic spectrum, or range of sounds, being conveyed seems more comprehensive or complete. This creates a full-bodied quality to the sound, as if there are layers and layers not only to the music as a whole, but even to the individual instruments contained therein. These qualities are particularly beneficial to the enjoyment of well-recorded classical music and also of rock music with multiple guitars. For the former, it feels like I am hearing more natural, organic, refined instruments than with the PrimaLuna. With rock music, there is a "wall of sound" quality to the string instruments that gives it a particularly appealing depth.

On the other hand, the McIntosh has a slower presentation than the PrimaLuna. It does not excel to the same extent as the PrimaLuna at conveying the music's dynamics. And the music conveyed sounds perhaps slightly more recessed, with the instruments less fully separated, than with the PrimaLuna.

The PrimaLuna's best qualities are its abilities to separate the instrumental components of music and the overall tonal balance of its presentation. While the instruments do not sound quite as rich as with the McIntosh, there is an incredible smoothness to the Primaluna's presentation that is non-fatiguing and allows the listener to appreciate the overall coherence of the music. Individual guitars on the Primaluna have a three-dimensional quality that is not as prominent with the McIntosh. The PrimaLuna has a slightly more forward sound than the McIntosh.

Music sounds faster with the PrimaLuna and more like a live show at a small, acoustically sound music club. There is a symphony hall like quality to the music being conveyed by the McIntosh--rich and warm and full-bodied.

I hope this review is useful or interesting or both. I am still undecided as to which unit is, overall, better, but I do know they are both excellent and highly enjoyable. Note that these are only my subjective impressions, not based on any rigorous blind testing or expertise.

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Topic - Preamp Shootout: McIntosh C33 vs. PrimaLuna Prologue 3 - mike555 16:19:33 08/04/13 (0)

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