The McIntosh C49 is a versatile, high-performance preamplifier that offers both analogue and digital capabilities, built into a unit with McIntosh’s signature design and engineering. With its modular digital section, rich input/output options, and quality signal path, it’s well suited for systems that combine vinyl, high-resolution streaming, headphone listening and multi-zone or bi-amp output configurations. If you’re building a high-fidelity two-channel system and want a preamp that can keep up now—and into the future—the C49 is a strong contender.

For connecting to your amplifier and the rest of your home audio system, the C49 has 2 balanced variable outputs, 2 unbalanced variable outputs, and 1 unbalanced fixed output. The outputs are designed for easy use when bi-amping your speakers so that neither your highs or lows are inadvertently turned off. Your audio sources can be fine tuned via the bass and treble tone controls. The C49 can be seamlessly integrated into your home theater system via Home Theater Pass Through. Power Control ports allow for the easy turn on/turn off of other connected McIntosh components, while the Data Ports can send remote control commands to connected source components. Our High Drive headphone amplifier with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®) is also included.

McIntosh C49 Stereo Preamplifier

Key Features & Highlights

  • Modular Digital Audio Module (DA1): The C49 comes with McIntosh’s DA1 Digital Audio Module, which houses a high-performance 32-bit DAC working in quad-balanced mode and supports high-resolution formats (including DSD256 and DXD 384 kHz) — making the unit fairly future-proof. 

  • Wide Input Flexibility: Analogue side includes multiple line‐level inputs and phono inputs (both MM and MC). Digital side incorporates USB, optical, coaxial, and an MCT (for SACD/CD transport) input. 

  • Multiple Outputs & Bi-amping Support: The unit features variable balanced and unbalanced outputs plus a fixed output, designed to support bi-amping or multiple amplifier zones.

  • Tone Controls & Headphone Amplifier: Bass and treble tone controls allow tonal fine-tuning, and a high-drive headphone amplifier with McIntosh’s HXD® (Headphone Crossfeed Director) is built in for private listening. 

  • Home Theatre Integration: Includes Home Theatre Pass-Through and data & power control ports to integrate with McIntosh system elements and control them in a unified manner.

 

 

 

McIntosh C49 Preamplifier

 

Key Specifications

  • Number of channels: 2 (stereo) 

  • Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): 0.005% (20 Hz-20 kHz) 

  • Frequency Response: +0 / -0.5 dB from 20Hz to 20kHz; +0 / -3 dB from ~15Hz to ~100kHz 

  • Maximum Output Voltage (Balanced / Unbalanced): 16 V RMS / 8 V RMS 

  • Input Sensitivity High Level (Balanced / Unbalanced): 900 mV / 450 mV 

  • Input Sensitivity Phono: MC = 0.45 mV; MM = 4.5 mV 

  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N): High Level ~100 dB; MC Phono ~80 dB; MM Phono ~82 dB 

  • Input Impedance (High Level): Balanced ~44 kΩ; Unbalanced ~22 kΩ 

  • Number of Inputs: 13 total inputs (7 analog + 6 digital) 

  • Dimension (W × H × D): 17.5″ × 6″ × 18″ (~44.45 cm × 15.2 cm × 45.7 cm) 

  • Weight: ~23 lbs (≈10.4 kg)

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