McIntosh C8 Tube Pre-amplifier
- Free Mainland UK Shipping on orders over £100
- Official Hi-Fi Retailer since 1973
- Usually in stock and dispatched in 1-5 working days
We offer free delivery on all orders over £100 to mainland UK. Orders under £100 are subject to a £6.50 shipping charge.
Delivery is available across mainland UK. If you are located outside mainland UK and would like a shipping quote, please get in touch before placing your order.
We aim to dispatch in-stock items as soon as possible provided that we physically have the stock - but please note that sometimes we have to order from our supplier for certain products, in which case delivery should take place within 1-5 working days of the order being placed.
Tracking details or estimated delivery timescales will be provided once your order has been processed. If there are any delays due to stock availability, we will contact you as soon as possible with the option to wait or receive a full refund.
Please note that certain products may be subject to specific distance selling or delivery regulations. If you are unsure about a product or its delivery terms, we recommend contacting us before purchase.
You can cancel your order within 14 days of receiving your goods, in line with UK distance selling regulations. Once you’ve notified us, you have a further 14 days to return the item. Please contact us by email, phone or in writing before sending anything back.
Items must be returned in original condition and packaging, including all accessories, manuals and any promotional items. The cost of return is your responsibility and we strongly recommend insuring the goods, as refunds cannot be issued for damaged or incomplete returns. If items show excessive handling, are missing components, or cannot be resold as new, a reasonable deduction may be made.
Please note that used headphones (for hygiene reasons) and custom or special-order items cannot be returned. If you need assistance arranging a return, we’re always happy to help.
Product Summary
The McIntosh C8 is a premium vacuum tube pre-amplifier designed for customers who want a more involving, more tactile and more characterful route into serious two-channel listening. Styled to match McIntosh’s compact valve and solid-state components, it brings together classic valve appeal, flexible analogue connectivity and the brand’s unmistakable visual presence in a chassis that is easier to place than many full-width high-end preamps.
A big part of the C8’s appeal is how well it suits a modern analogue-led hi-fi system. It offers balanced and unbalanced line inputs alongside both moving magnet and moving coil phono stages, with adjustable loading for vinyl replay. That gives customers the flexibility to partner multiple sources while getting more out of a quality turntable setup, all without immediately needing extra boxes.
The C8 is also designed to be rewarding to live with over the long term. Bass and treble controls allow easy fine tuning, the headphone output adds private listening convenience, and one of the unbalanced outputs can be configured for subwoofer use. There is even an upgrade path for digital audio via the optional dealer-installed DA2 module. For customers who want a luxurious valve pre-amplifier with strong system flexibility, premium build and the unmistakable feel of McIntosh ownership, the C8 is a very compelling choice.
Key Benefits
- Vacuum tube design can bring a more engaging, spacious and expressive character to your music system
- Moving magnet and moving coil phono inputs make it easier to build a serious vinyl system around one elegant pre-amplifier
- Adjustable phono loading helps you get better performance and system matching from your cartridge
- Balanced and unbalanced inputs give you the flexibility to connect a wider range of source components
- Bass and treble tone controls let you fine tune the sound to better suit your room, speakers and personal taste
- Configurable subwoofer output makes it easier to add greater low-frequency weight and scale to a two-channel setup
- High Drive headphone output supports satisfying private listening without needing a separate headphone amplifier
- Optional DA2 digital module upgrade gives the C8 a useful path into modern digital audio if your system grows later on
- Compact McIntosh styling with open chassis valve design delivers real visual appeal as well as long-term ownership pride
- 3 years manufacturers' warranty
Technical Specifications
Pre-Amplifier Section
- Product Type: 2-channel vacuum tube pre-amplifier
- Valve Complement: 4 x 12AX7A vacuum tubes
- 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 Output Voltage: 16V RMS balanced, 8V RMS unbalanced
- Signal to Noise Ratio: 95dB high level, 80dB moving magnet, 75dB moving coil
- Voltage Gain: 15dB high level, 55dB moving magnet, 75dB moving coil
Inputs & Outputs
- Analogue Inputs: 1 balanced, 2 unbalanced, 1 moving magnet phono, 1 moving coil phono
- Phono Loading: Adjustable for moving magnet and moving coil inputs
- Outputs: 1 balanced variable, 2 unbalanced variable
- Subwoofer Output: 1 unbalanced output configurable for subwoofer use
- Headphone Output: 1/4 inch High Drive
- Input Level Match: Yes, +/- 6dB
- Home Theater PassThru: Yes
Control & Upgrade Features
- Tone Controls: Bass and treble
- Other Control Features: Tone bypass, input assign, RS232, rear panel data ports, rear panel IR input, power control outputs
- Upgradeable Digital Audio Module: Yes, optional dealer-installed DA2 module
- Optional DA2 Inputs: 2 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 USB, 1 MCT, 1 HDMI ARC
Weight & Dimensions
- Dimensions: 31.2 x 19.4 x 41.3 cm (W x H x D)
- Weight: 8.2 kg net
- Shipping Weight: 11.3 kg
What’s in the Box
- McIntosh C8 Tube Pre-amplifier
- Remote control
- AC power cord
- Four vacuum tube shield covers
- Owner’s manual and product documentation
