u/Forty-Four_Flavor

Having some fun with my first tube preamp. It’s a whole new world to me since I’ve only ran SS gear before, and had the C28 and MC2105 since 2009.

So I’ve always wanted a tube preamp, and I finally got a McIntosh C220, which should be here soon. I’m the second owner of the C28 and MC2105 (bought together in 1976) which I’ve had since 2009 after a service and they are operating beautifully. I’d hate to get rid of the C28, but I’m looking to add an MC2205 and biamp these ADS L1590 speakers. What do you think is a fair market value I should be asking for this lovely preamp, if I decide to sell?

I designed a rack to go over my Kallax unit and had a friend who’s a cabinet maker build it. We finished sanding, staining, sealing, and hitting it with a 20-sheen lacquer on Saturday. Got it delivered and set up last night, and tonight the cats joined me for a listening session.

I visited some, not all, of my favorite coffee shops and roasters on a work trip. Hitting one cafe each day and grabbing some beans at four of the five locations. Coffees from Bird Rock in San Diego, Play in Orange (Sey and Nomad), The Boy & The Bear, and Kumquat in Highland Park (Lot 61). Today’s cafe in Palm Desert area was okay, but I wasn’t buying any more beans. Two are ready to brew, one is being vacuum sealed for a special occasion, and two get a rest.

So for years I’ve been considering adding some digital on the front end. I started in 2009 with only a C28, MC2105, Rega RP6 (new in 2012), Rega Planet 2000, REL Strata II, ADS L1590 speakers, free MIT Terminator 3 ICs, Transparent Musiclink Plus ICs (new in 2009), and had a local HiFi shop make me some inexpensive yet effective speaker cables. I’ve been listening and living like this for years. 
I got bit by the bug after reading forums and subreddits, and digging deep with AI chats, I started researching and allocating gear. I ended up contacting Patrick Cullen after settling on new-to-me components and ordered a round of six new PCs, a coax, one set of RCA ICs, and a P&S 8300 duplex. 
The only other things I bought new were Supra 8K HDMI for I2s (DDC to DAC), Supra USB for streamer to DDC, and a WiiM Ultra. Lightly used equipment is as follows: Furman Elite 15i, Richard Grey Power Company 400 Pro, Denafrips Hermes 12th DDC, and a Garlubidor Divinity R2R DAC. I’m still waiting for the Hermes and cords/cables to show up which shouldn’t be too long.
Then I needed a rack built, so I asked a friend who’s a cabinet maker to lend his expertise. He’s building me a custom two-shelf rack with 1.5” thick Baltic birch plywood about 60”x16”x47”H to fit over one of my 8-compartment IKEA Kallax record holders. 
All in I’m only at ~$5,200 for everything I just ordered. Once I recover a little bit, I plan on fully serving the RP6 and adding an ND9 cartridge, eventually taking both McIntosh components to the Audio Doctor for full service, and maybe get the speakers to Richard So for a refresh. Between then and now, I will get the rack and gear installed, start investigating room treatments more seriously, and just enjoy what I’ll have going on. Realistically, I will start with room treatments after I’m finished with this phase of acquisition and assembly. 
Input is welcome, but I’m not a lifelong student of HiFi, just an enjoyer looking for the next step forward—at least into the 21st Century.   

I picked up this Anova vacuum sealer for long-term storage of beans. I figure I can open one up, pour some out, and reseal the remainder for later use. I haven’t had bad luck just freezing beans in their bags in the past, but decided to take it step further.

I just couldn’t justify $118 for a 100g bag of Nomad SL34, but it didn’t stop me from trying a cup. Luckily if you by a bag of any of their beans you get a free (up to $9) drink or pay the difference. So I got this Apollon’s Gold Sydra Washed and paid $13 for the SL34.

Damn near half the weight!

SoSo Brothers 23oz Broken Twill:
About 90 wears, just did a 3,900 mile motorcycle trip last week and decided to give them their first wash afterwards. Washington earlier than usual in hopes of maintaining fabric integrity more easily.

Freenote Cloth Trabuco 12oz Broken Twill:
Just picked these up from Cave and Post today. They were kind enough to order them for me since they didn’t have my size in stock last time I visited.

Hanging the SoSo Brothers for the hot weather and won’t touch them until November, most likely. Luckily I have these new medium-blue beauties to work on for the time being.

I’ve had this matching 1976 set of a C28 and an MC2105 since 2010. When I bought it from an A/V guy in San Jose, he said he had them serviced by a McIntosh certified tech after acquiring them from a customer who had downsized. The C28 crackles and hums and makes for some annoying listening at times (more often than not). It’s sensitive to adjustments on the dials and can really cause some goofy sounds. I presume it’s the capacitors or just needs a complete restoration. Do I gain a bunch of sound quality if I look into a tube preamp? If so, what pairs well with the MC 2105? Or do I just get the C 28 serviced and be happy with what I have? Forgive my ignorance, I haven’t dove deep enough down the audiophile rabbit hole, because I would probably never surface again, knowing how I can get.