McIntosh C12000 Flagship Hybrid Preamplifer - Pre-Loved

Pre-owned unit, comes with SkyFi 1 year warranty (no McIntosh warranty). 

Price listed is MSRP, call to order and discuss pricing.  

Support your local McIntosh Dealer!

This is the first pre-owned McIntosh C12000 we're offering for sale. Both chassis are in excellent condition and functioning beautifully.

Please support your local McIntosh Dealer. Click here to schedule an appointment to visit our store for pricing. Price shown is MSRP.  This C12000 will come with a SkyFi one-year warranty, and the original box/manual/remote like when it arrived new.

More from McIntosh:
• Includes our Hybrid Drive™ technology that uses the best of vacuum tubes and solid state to produce the best sound performance
• Separate audio & control sections
• 12 analog inputs including 2 configurable phono inputs
• Offers both solid state and vacuum tube output
• Fully balanced circuitry

Maximum Control and Configurability
The C12000 Preamplifier is the next generation of our acclaimed two-chassis preamplifier design. The two-chassis design allows the audio section to be completely separated from the control and power sections. The absolute isolation of a preamplifier's two main functions – control and sound – is achieved by this unusual but effective design. Splitting these primary purposes of a preamplifier up into separate chassis will deliver the purest sound reproduction possible.

The C12000 is comprised of the C12000 Controller module and the C12000 Preamplifier module. All power control, data ports, and external control connections are located in the C12000 Controller. Dual isolated power supplies drive the left and right channels, while a dual microprocessor gives robustness to the control system.

The C12000 Preamplifier houses the audio connections and circuitry. Inside each, the left and right channels are electrically and mechanically isolated from each other to allow true dual mono operation – resulting in the ultimate stereo separation and sonic purity. The two units are connected together via a pair of specially designed, high performance umbilical cables that are shielded to prevent outside noise from leaking into the audio signal. Although they are two separate units, when connected they act as one and are easy to control and operate from the included remote control or the C12000 Controller front panel.

A total of 12 analog inputs are located in the C12000 Preamplifier module: six balanced, four unbalanced, and two unbalanced phono inputs. The phono inputs are no longer set up as dedicated for Moving Coil or Moving Magnet cartridges; instead, both are configurable as either Moving Coil or Moving Magnet with adjustable Capacitance and Resistance Loading, along with adjustable Gain in 6dB steps from 40dB to 64dB. This provides maximum flexibility for you to configure the C12000 to best fit your turntable(s), cartridge(s), and vinyl record collection.

The C12000 includes our Hybrid Drive™ technology that uses the best of vacuum tubes and solid state to produce the best sound performance. The C12000 Preamplifier module offers both vacuum tube and solid state output, allowing you to decide which to use based on the music being played, the audio components in the rest of your home audio system, and your sound preferences. All outputs are driven by discrete amplifiers. For vacuum tube output, six tubes or valves power the high-level preamplifier section with two 12AT7 tubes and one 12AX7A tube assigned to each the left and right channel. Solid state output is via a discrete balanced op-amp.

Regardless if you choose the vacuum tube or solid state output, the phono stage utilizes four 12AX7A vacuum tubes, with two tubes used per channel in a fully balanced configuration that incorporates RIAA equalization.

For connecting the C12000 to your amplifier(s) and the rest of your home music system, there are four total outputs: one balanced vacuum tube; one balanced solid state; one fixed unbalanced; and one programmable unbalanced (can be either vacuum tube or solid state). The amount of user adjustments available on the two phono inputs and all the outputs represent a new level of customization in McIntosh preamplifier design, allowing you maximum flexibility in how you want to configure your audio system.

The amplifier circuit has a high common mode rejection, so any noise introduced by interconnect cables is significantly reduced. For personal listening, our high output High Drive headphone jack is included, while the user selectable Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®) brings an added depth and spatiality to your music. The C12000 can be seamlessly integrated into your existing multi-channel home theater system via the Home Theater Pass Through feature.

The C12000 preamplifier employs fully balanced circuitry to match the level of performance achieved in any of our Quad Balanced amplifiers. Both the C12000 Controller and C12000 Preamplifier chassis are made from stainless steel polished to a mirror finish plus hairline brushed black Titanium stainless steel, offering an enhanced degree of richness and refinement.

With classic McIntosh black glass front panels, blue meters, knobs, stainless steel chassis, illuminated logos, and custom machined brushed aluminum handles, the C12000 makes a visual statement in addition to its audio prowess. It can be paired with a variety of McIntosh amplifiers, speakers, room correction devices, CD players, turntables, tuners, media streamers and other source components to make a complete home audio system.

SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
Some very light scraches seen on the side surfaces. Overall very good.

Brand Background:
McIntosh Laboratory is an American manufacturer of handcrafted high-end audio equipment based in Binghamton, New York. The company was founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh. The company designs and produces audio amplifiers, stereo tuners and other consumer electronics products.

Ownership:
Single Owner

Connections:
RCA, XLR, IEC Power, Ground Terminal

General Sound:
Big beautiful musical sound with little fatigue.

Cosmetic Condition:
9/10 = Excellent. Perfect physical condition, gently used. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab and listening room.

Warranty:
SkyFi Warranty

Included:
Everything like when it arrived new

Packing:
Original Manufacturers Packing

Reviews:
Click Here

Original MSRP:
$19,000.00

Specs:
Number of Channels
2

Total Harmonic Distortion
High Level: 0.005%
Phono: 0.05%

Frequency Response
+0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20kHz
+0, -3dB from 10Hz to 100kHz

Maximum Volts Out (Balanced / Unbalanced)
20V RMS / 10V RMS

Sensitivity High Level (Balanced / Unbalanced)
900mV / 450mV

Sensitivity Phono (Moving Coil)
0.25 – 2.5mV

Sensitivity Phono (Moving Magnet)
5 – 10mV

Signal To Noise Ratio (High Level)
107dB

Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Coil)
79dB

Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Magnet)
83dB

Voltage Gain (High Level)
15dB

Voltage Gain (Moving Coil)
58 – 64dB

Voltage Gain (Moving Magnet)
40 – 46dB

Input Impedance (Balanced / Unbalanced)
50K ohms, 25K ohms

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Multi-Chassis or Single
Multi Chassis (C12000C plus C12000ST)

Output Meters
C12000C: No
C12000ST: Yes

Vacuum Tube or Solid State
Both (user selectable)

Power Consumption (On)
75 watts

Dimensions:
Each module: 17.5" (44.45cm) x 6" (15.24cm) x 18" (45.7cm)

Weight:
52 lbs.

Link to Manual:
Click Here

Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - Phono Interconnects

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Better

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Best

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Best

Testing Process:
We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

When we first power on a preamplifier we connect its RCA output to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates real world loading conditions and gives us an oscilloscope interface.

The first order of business is checking that the volume control works smoothly throughout its entire range with acceptable channel balance. This is accomplished by feeding a 1 KHz sine wave into one of the preamp’s line level inputs while monitoring the preamp’s output on an oscilloscope.

We then switch to a 1 KHz square wave to test the tone controls, loudness function, and filters where applicable. During this step we are watching for equal alteration of the test signal by both channels. This also helps us identify dirty controls that will need treatment.

Once the basic line stage functions are verified, we test each input individually. This is especially important for devices that use relays to select their sources. If the preamp is equipped with a phono stage we test that as well. We use an inverse RIAA filter which allows us to feed a reference test signal into the phono input with the proper RIAA equalization and level. A square wave or sine sweep is used to verify that the device’s phono stage is faithfully reproducing the RIAA curve. If the preamp under test has balanced inputs and/or outputs these are tested as well.

We finish up our bench testing with a listening test with our bench amplifier and reference speakers. During this test we check for hum or hiss that may not have shown up in earlier testing. We also check that all of the tone controls and filters perform as expected.

If the preamplifier has remote control functions these are also tested. Preamps with tube circuits or complicated power supply topologies are connected at our long term test rig for extended stress testing under real world conditions.