Amp/Preamp Asylum

Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here.

Return to Amp/Preamp Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Harman Kardon Citation II & Mcintosh C47

73.124.12.254
Posted on June 2, 2017 at 19:09:59
cantfindmymail@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: Florida
Joined: May 8, 2017
 After a few years with my LFD integrated I've decided to move to a ss preamp/tube amp combo. I bought a restored HK Citation II amp from audioclassics.com and a Mcintosh C47 preamp from audioclassics as well, anxiously waiting for delivery on both. I remember audioclassics from my younger audiophile days; good memories.

Should be a synergistic combo. Thoughts? A very new Mcintosh preamp (introduced 2015) and a very old (but completely restored) HK amp. I've been in this hobby for about 30 years, I don't see any gotcha's but would like to get opinions of things to keep in mind when setting them up. Besides the fact that I'm going to need help lifting the amp.

And where the heck is the on/off switch on the Citation? Not apparent to me in any pics I could find.

Thanks.

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Harman Kardon Citation II & Mcintosh C47, posted on June 2, 2017 at 19:29:25
cantfindmymail@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: Florida
Joined: May 8, 2017
 I think I just found the answer to my power switch question. I don't think there is a power switch. I need to go to plan b. Idea's please??

 

RE: Harman Kardon Citation II & Mcintosh C47, posted on June 2, 2017 at 22:02:54
audiomaniac
 I used something like this with my MC225.

 

RE: Harman Kardon Citation II & Mcintosh C47, posted on June 2, 2017 at 22:29:26
cantfindmymail@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: Florida
Joined: May 8, 2017
 Thank you!! Exactly what I'm looking for.

 

RE: Harman Kardon Citation II & Mcintosh C47, posted on June 2, 2017 at 22:31:27
audiomaniac
 Enjoy your new gear!

 

Wow - you're living my dream there, posted on June 3, 2017 at 06:59:20
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 You're gonna have a lotta fun there!

A sweet combo and an even better LOOKING combo.

I always like McIntosh preamp over their amps. And the Citation - well it's perhaps the best amp ever. One of my all time favorite preamps was their C38. They kept it simple with no tone controls and equalizers but kept the same preamp gain circuits. Wonderful preamp and paired VERY well with my tube amps.

I think I speak for a lot of us here but WE are looking forward to reading YOUR reviews. Now I can't wait!!!

 

RE: Harman Kardon Citation II & Mcintosh C47, posted on June 3, 2017 at 08:14:55
AudioSoul
Audiophile

Posts: 4594
Location: north central AZ
Joined: July 9, 2005

I would like to hear your thought process on why you picked these two seemingly different amps. I am not questioning the amps chosen. I just like to hear why people chose one amp or another. This should be an awesome setup...

 

Hopefully you won't have to wait too long, posted on June 3, 2017 at 11:33:25
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 10117
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007



Have you read their shipping policy?

I used to think it was a typo, but they say it twice, in the header after the bullet, and again in the details, and it's been written that same way for years. I've sometimes wondered if it's their legal, 'Get out of jail free' card. If they don't ship promptly they can simply say, "Hey, read the fine print. We'll ship your order someday!"

From my understanding, Audio Classics does have a good reputation. I'm sure you'll get them both soon enough, and I hope they bring you years of trouble free enjoyment.

 

RE: Harman Kardon Citation II & Mcintosh C47, posted on June 3, 2017 at 12:13:06
cantfindmymail@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: Florida
Joined: May 8, 2017
 Well certainly. I've had lots of audiophile stuff over the past 30 years. 3 years or so ago my amplification was a Joule Electra preamp (loved it) and a Modwright KWA150 amp (didn't love it). They sounded "good" but I wasn't thrilled with the Modwright so I decided to simplify my system with the best sounding Integrated I could afford by selling my separates. I spent about 6 months looking for the right one. I was not concerned at all about convenience, I was only looking for the best sound through my new to me Sonus Faber EAII's. My music is Joe Pass, Coltrane, Bill Evans, classical quartets, cello, old rock and roll like CSNY, Jerry Garcia etc.. No metal, headbanger, music.
Acoustic space, midrange vocals and strings, the "you are there" feeling were (and are) my priority. The LFD NCSE had glowing reviews but I couldn't find any to listen to and the new price was too high to consider. So...-.audiogon of course. Found my NCSE on a Sunday afternoon, picked it up in NYC that evening. Put it in my system and other than a new Ayre DAC for TidalHiFi stream and a MC phono stage for my turntable no changes now for about 3 years.
I moved to FL a few months ago and as a move in present to myself (I'm divorced of course) I got a big new OLED TV. And I have more time on my hands. Well, one thing leads to another, and now I want a remote volume control now for when I play the TV through the system. So I visited audioclassics.com site last week, saw the Citation II, read up on the Mcintosh C47 (I'll be selling my outboard DAC and MC phono amp soon) and snatched up the fully restored Citation II (the only way I'd buy a very old tube amp - and the restoration was done by the lead tech at audioclassics - great shop) and the C47 (they are a top tier Mc dealer) and that was that.
I'll probably augment my system by buying a well-used inexpensive solid state amp (like B&K ST140 or and old Adcom) and use the Citation for music sessions.
This is a fun hobby.

 

No, you want something more like this......, posted on June 3, 2017 at 15:25:23
viridian
 the remote is priceless. Home Depot and WalMart carry them. Just make sure to get one with high current.

The remote is priceless.

 

H-K Citation II power switch, posted on June 3, 2017 at 18:05:52
triamp
Audiophile

Posts: 780
Location: USA
Joined: August 6, 2008
 I have an H-K Citation II. Mine has a power switch on the back, a beefy toggle switch. I think this must have been added at some point, the schematic does not show a power switch.

My amp has also had all the McShane mods done to the grounding and power supply. I love the amp.
Science doesn't care what you believe.

 

RE: Harman Kardon Citation II & Mcintosh C47, posted on June 4, 2017 at 07:53:05
bobschneider8
Audiophile

Posts: 100
Location: Chicago
Joined: August 5, 2008
 You're supposed to control power to your Citation 2 by plugging it into one of the switched outlets on your Citation 1 preamp.

On mine, I added a power switch where the AC convenience outlet was, but I normally control the power via my Citation 1

 

RE: Harman Kardon Citation II & Mcintosh C47, posted on June 4, 2017 at 12:38:11
cantfindmymail@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: Florida
Joined: May 8, 2017
 I thought about the C1 but I can only handle one old tube component at a time :-). And it didn't provide the flexibility I was looking for.

 

Odd pairing, posted on June 4, 2017 at 15:34:53
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37639
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 Why not one of Mac's tube preamps on which they built their reputation?

As for me, I'd rather not put a DAC into a phono capable preamp chassis.

 

That ridiculous........, posted on June 4, 2017 at 20:51:03
viridian
 none of the major carriers accept shipments on Someday. I think UPS takes packages on Suterday and all of them accept shipments on Fryeday.

 

Does that exclude weak ends? (nt), posted on June 5, 2017 at 07:57:16
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 10117
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007

 

And, perhaps ironically, never on haulidays. -nt, posted on June 5, 2017 at 08:05:11
Jim Treanor
Audiophile

Posts: 2167
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: June 1, 2003
 .

Jim

 

RE: And, perhaps ironically, never on haulidays. -nt, posted on June 6, 2017 at 14:09:02
cantfindmymail@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: Florida
Joined: May 8, 2017
 the Citation II has been shipped to me. UPS tracking for Friday. 115 lbs. Oy vey.

 

Enjoy. -nt, posted on June 7, 2017 at 16:16:46
Jim Treanor
Audiophile

Posts: 2167
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: June 1, 2003

Jim

 

RE: Harman Kardon Citation II & Mcintosh C47, posted on June 7, 2017 at 17:45:40
cantfindmymail@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 20
Location: Florida
Joined: May 8, 2017
 Thanks! I've managed to find a Citation II manual online, and also have been referring back to Jim McShanes site to get a head start. Adjusting the bias seems pretty straightforward. I've never had to adjust the AC balance on an amp - an I don't have my VOM any more, so hopefully it doesn't need adjustment :-). The preamp should ship to me this week from audioclassics so hopefully I'll have the rig up and running by the end of next week.

 

Page processed in 0.025 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]