McIntosh Labs C22 2-Channel Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Mk V
The C22 Mk V marries tube warmth with striking clarity, serving vinyl with depth, timbre and dynamics while keeping line and phono playback impressively quiet. TECH REVIEWS admired its concert-scale space and engaging voicing, while Adrian heard precisely focused imaging, natural instrumental bite and generous bass. Its adjustable MM/MC phono stage makes this a compelling analog centerpiece.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
87/100
Features Connectivity
89/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Engaging warm-yet-clear presentation with convincing instrumental tone, detail and bass.
Excellent phono performance delivers vinyl depth, timbre and dynamics associated with costly standalone stages.
Quiet line and phono inputs, plus precise center imaging and instrument placement.
Cons
Purely analog design has no onboard DAC, streaming capability or upgradeable digital module.
No home-theater pass-through for system-integration buyers.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviews portray the C22 Mk V as a highly engaging tube preamplifier that combines notably low noise and clear detail with warmth, tonal color, and convincing spatial scale. It is not presented as strictly neutral, but reviewers consistently found its character natural, vivid, and musically involving.
Transparency Resolution
92/100
Adrian heard beautiful clarity alongside the C22's warmth, saying it imposed less of its own character than older McIntosh designs and made it easier to hear the music itself. Tech Reviews also reports exceptionally quiet line and phono inputs, with no apparent rise in noise when the volume is increased.
Tonal Balance Musicality
94/100
Tech Reviews describes a glowing, warm presentation that is not fully neutral but is thoroughly engaging, with vinyl benefiting from depth, timbre, and dynamics. Adrian similarly praises its natural, realistic instrumental tone, including convincing bite and ample bass without sacrificing detail.
Dynamics
92/100
Tech Reviews specifically credits the phono section with bringing dynamics to vinyl in a manner usually associated with costly standalone stages. Adrian found bass plentiful and the overall presentation energetic and pleasurable with both a McIntosh power amplifier and Wilson SabrinaX loudspeakers.
Soundstage Imaging
93/100
Tech Reviews heard a concert-like soundscape with orchestral space, greater fullness, and more depth in the sound image. Adrian reports a precisely locked center image and distinctly placed instruments across the left-right stage.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
87/100
The C22 Mk V uses a substantial two-layer chassis and premium gold-plated brass unbalanced connectors. Adrian particularly praises the feel and quiet operation of the physical controls, expecting the knobs to remain quiet over the product's lifetime; reviewers say little about longer-term reliability beyond this.
Features Connectivity
89/100
This is an unusually comprehensive analog preamplifier, with two balanced and three unbalanced line inputs, adjustable MM and MC phono inputs, two balanced and two unbalanced variable output pairs, and a high-drive HXD headphone output. Bass and treble controls are bypassable, while the main omissions are digital inputs and home-theater pass-through.
Value for Money
85/100
The reported pricing ranges from about US$6,000 in Adrian's review to a suggested €8,700 in the Tech Reviews listing. Adrian notes that it costs less than McIntosh's C2700 for listeners who do not need digital capability, but neither review offers a strong broader verdict on value against competing analog preamplifiers.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Number of Channels
- 2
- Total Harmonic Distortion
- 0.08%
- Frequency Response
- +0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20kHz+0, -3dB from 15Hz to 100kHz
- Maximum Volts Out (Balanced / Unbalanced)
- 16V RMS / 8V RMS
- Sensitivity High Level (Balanced / Unbalanced)
- 900mV / 450mV
- Sensitivity Phono (Moving Coil)
- 0.45mV
- Sensitivity Phono (Moving Magnet)
- 4.5mV
- Signal To Noise Ratio (High Level)
- 100dB
- Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Coil)
- 75dB
- Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Magnet)
- 75dB
- Voltage Gain (High Level)
- 15dB
- Voltage Gain (Moving Coil)
- 60dB
- Voltage Gain (Moving Magnet)
- 40dB
- Input Impedance (Balanced / Unbalanced)
- 44K ohm, 22K ohm
- Balanced Input
- 2
- Unbalanced Input
- 3
- Phono Input Moving Coil
- 1 (adjustable)
- Phono Input Moving Magnet
- 1 (adjustable)
- Upgradeable Digital Audio Module
- No
- Digital Coaxial Inputs
- 0
- Digital Optical Inputs
- 0
- Digital MCT Inputs
- 0
- Digital USB Input
- 0
- HDMI (ARC) Input
- 0
- Digital AES/EBU Input
- 0
- Balanced Fixed Output
- 0
- Balanced Variable Output
- 2
- Unbalanced Fixed Output
- 0
- Unbalanced Variable Output
- 2
- Headphone Output
- 1/4" High Drive with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®)
- Input Level Match
- No
- Home Theater PassThru
- No
- Unbalanced Analog Connector Type
- Premium gold-plated solid brass
- Service Port
- 0
- Network Connections
- 0
- Tone Controls
- Bass and Treble
- Tone Bypass and Input Assign
- Tone Bypass: YesInput Assign: No
- RS232 Control Inputs
- No
- Power Control Outputs
- 2 Main, 2 Switched
- Rear Panel Data Ports
- 5
- Rear Panel IR Sensor Inputs
- Yes
- Multi-Chassis or Single
- Single, two layer
- Output Meters
- No
- Vacuum Tube or Solid State
- Vacuum Tube: (5) 12AX7A and (1) 12AT7
- Power Consumption (On)
- 50 Watts
- Unit Dimensions (W x H x D)
- 17.5" (44.45cm) x 6" (15.24cm) x 18" (45.72cm)
- Unit Weight
- 25 lbs (11.3kg)
- Shipping Weight
- 41.4 lbs (18.8kg)
Manufacturer's Description — McIntosh Labs
- Type: Vacuum Tube
- 7 analog inputs
- Bass and Treble tone controls
- Retro styled glass and aluminum front panel
This newest version of our C22 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier – the Mk V – is the direct replacement to our highly regarded C70 Limited Edition 70th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Preamplifier, which commemorated our 70th Anniversary that took place in 2019. The new C22 Mk V is the latest McIntosh vacuum tube preamplifier to carry the cherished C22 model number. It has all the performance of the acclaimed C70 but with the hallowed C22 moniker and its signature glass and aluminum front panel design.
The C22 Mk V uses one 12AT7 and five 12AX7A vacuum tubes which can be seen through a glass panel located on the top of the preamp. Knobs and rocker switches operate all control functions while modern LED lights indicate input selection and volume level. The C22 Mk V has two balanced inputs, three unbalanced inputs, one Moving Coil and one Moving Magnet phono inputs, for a total of seven inputs. There are two pairs each of balanced and unbalanced output connections; the two outputs allow sending signals to two separate power amplifiers.
Bypassable bass and treble tone controls are located on the front panel and can be adjusted in 2dB increments via rotary knobs. Impedance and capacitance for the phono inputs can also be adjusted via separate rotary knobs. In addition to setting the listening level, the volume knob can also be used to adjust the relative volume balance between the left and right audio channels. The ¼” headphone jack is powered by our High Drive headphone amplifier and features our Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD) technology. HXD improves the sound localization for headphone listening by restoring the directionality component of the sound stage that's normally only heard from loudspeakers.
Our Power Control technology is included with four ports that can automatically turn other connected McIntosh components such as amplifiersCD players or turntables, on and off. Data ports are also present and can control basic functions of connected McIntosh source components via the included remote control.
The C22 Mk V sits atop a stunning polished stainless steel chassis and features the timeless McIntosh illuminated logo, control knobs, and aluminum end caps. With its retro black glass and aluminum front panel design, the C22 Mk V will fit right in with McIntosh home audio systems of any era – from the 1950s to current day. Contact your local dealer to learn more.
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Authorized dealers for McIntosh Labs C22 2-Channel Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Mk V
- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- Holt Hill — online and in-store — Andover, Massachusetts, United States (website)
- Resolution A/V — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- A Tube High Fidelity — online and in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Acoustic Designs Inc. — in-store — Scottsdale, Arizona, United States (website)
- Advance Audio — in-store — Wichita, Kansas, United States (website)
- Ahead Stereo — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- Ajasom — online and in-store — Amadora, Lisboa, Portugal (website)
- Alen Audio — in-store — Extramurs, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
and 225 more verified dealers