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McIntosh Labs

C49 2-Channel Solid State Preamplifier

SKU: MC-C49

$9,300.00
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Processing/Shipping Time

All online orders are typically processed within 1-2 business days. Orders received after 1pm EST or on weekends will be processed on the next business day.

Our business hours are Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm EST.

Due to our inventory management practices, we do not maintain a large stock of products; instead, most items are sourced from our suppliers upon order. We do focus on having a broad selection of brands and models for in store demo purposes. This may impact shipping times, as items are procured and prepared for shipment as soon as possible. If your item is not in stock, we will send you an email to update you on the status of your order. We appreciate your understanding and patience.

  • Standard Delivery for in stock items is between 2-3 business days within Ontario & Quebec, 3-5 business days for Eastern Canada and 4-7 business days for Western Canada. Northern or remote Canadian customers should contact us to confirm shipping availability and costs. During peak sales periods (for example Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Day/Week) up to an additional 5 (five) business days may be needed.
  • Items not in stock will be shipped to our Newmarket store and then shipped to you. Turnaround time may depend on the manufacturer/distributor. If a manufacturer or distributor has stock of the item, then we can normally expect to receive the product within 10 business days at which point we will immediately ship it to you.
  • If we become aware that delivery time to you will exceed 16 business days we will contact you to confirm the order or review options.

If your product is damaged, defective, or dead on arrival you are eligible for a refund or exchange within 15 days of the product being delivered to you.  

If you are not satisfied with your purchase and would like to request an exchange, please note the following:

  • All returns and exchanges will only be accepted on products with no damage due to misuse and have all original packaging, accessories, manuals and the original sales receipt.
  • Refunds paid by credit card/PayPal will be returned in the same method payment was received when possible. Wire Transfer payments will be refunded in the form of company check or E-Transfer. For exchanges with a difference in value, the balance will be charged or refunded in the same method as the original payment was received.
  • Liptons Audio Video reserves the right to assess whether the product is defective or not. Products with physical damage will not be accepted for refund or exchange.
  • Exchanges will be offered only on non-special order items with return shipping at the buyer's expense and must be shipped with insurance reflecting the transaction value and must ship via a trackable courier/delivery company. Exchanges will only apply to unopened products received in new condition
  • Products with non matching serial numbers to either the packaging or the recorded Serial number associated with the transaction are not eligible for refunds or exchanges
  • Products with modified or missing serial numbers/UPC codes or other identifying information are not eligible for refunds or exchanges
  • Products that are not returned with all original packaging, equipment, accessories, manuals and software will not be refunded or will be charged a restocking fee at the discretion of Liptons Audio Video.
  • Products must be new and show no signs of use. Any sign of use – Including installation, scratches or other signs of use such as physical marking, painted grills, screw holes, cut wires or similar would not be returnable
  • Equipment sustaining damage from operation or misuse will be deferred to the manufacturer's warranty and replacement policies. 
  • Replaced items will be exchanged for the same model
  • If a product you purchased from us proves to be defective within 15 days from purchase, we will replace it with an equivalent new unit at no charge. If the item is returned through shipping, the exchange will be processed once we receive the parcels & confirm that the product is not working. Exchange processing will take 10-20 business days from the day we receive the parcel.


Final Sale Items/Exclusions


  • Special order items including cut to length cabling and custom furniture
  • Headphones/earbuds/in-ear headphones for hygienic reasons
  • Turntable cartridges/styli
  • Projector lamps
  • Installed in-ceiling, in-wall speakers or subwoofers
  • No refunds or exchanges on products purchased for commercial use.
  • Clearance, consignment items.

Online Order Returns/Exchanges Process

Please contact us to begin our online return process at info@liptons.ca. Once we have received the details about your order, we will generate a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number and send you the RMA form to be completed and sent back with the parcel.

Pack the item back in its original packaging with all parts, accessories and manuals. We recommend packing the item into an additional box meant for shipping. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer. Any damages that incur during return shipping will also be the responsibility of the customer.

In the event the item was offered free shipping, the original shipping charges and handling fees, for the returned item(s), will be deducted from the refund. If the item is refused and returned to Liptons Audio Video without record of cause and evidence of damage any return freight costs will also be deducted from the refund.

In Store Returns & Exchanges

Returns on damaged, defective and DOA products, as well as exchanges can be made in store. Please note our store hours https://liptons.ca/pages/contact and be sure to bring your receipt or online order confirmation. 

Product Warranty

All new products carry full manufacturer warranty which varies for each product category and manufacturer. Refer to the manufacturer’s warranty information for exact details. 

Demo products come with either the full manufacturer warranty or the balance of manufacturer warranty unless otherwise specified.

Open Box products come with either the full manufacturer warranty or the balance of manufacturer warranty unless otherwise specified.

Used and Consignment pieces will have individually specified warranty.  If no warranty is listed, no warranty is available, but the unit has been tested in store and determined to be working properly unless otherwise specified.

Installation Warranty

All Liptons Audio Video installations come with a one-year warranty against workmanship performed by us. Defective equipment covered under manufacturer warranty is subject to a removal and reinstallation charge of one hour at our current installation rates. Installation warranty claims can be made within one year of installation date by phone at 905-898-7133 or email at info@liptons.ca

If you have any questions or concerns regarding product returns, exchanges and warranty claims, please call is at 905-898-7133 or email info@liptons.ca

Be prepared for future digital music technologies with the C49 Preamplifier. The C49 features our DA1 Digital Audio Module, which can be replaced by new modules as new digital audio technologies are developed. This will allow you to keep your C49 up to date with digital music formats and viable well into the future.

The C49 comes with a multitude of inputs. For analog, it has 2 balanced and 3 unbalanced, along with 2 phono inputs (comprised of 1 Moving Coil and 1 Moving Magnet) for connecting turntables. On the digital side, it has 6 inputs housed in the DA1 module. The inputs are: 2 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 USB and 1 proprietary MCT (for use with our MCT series of SACD/CD Transports). The DA1 is powered by an 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) that is used in Quad Balanced mode; it supports up to DSD256 and DXD 384kHz for playback of high resolution audio. (NOW AVAILABLE: Optional dealer installed upgrade to the DA2 Digital Audio Module.) In total, the C49 has 13 inputs, and each can be given user-friendly names to simplify system setup and control.

"Digital was clean, but not harsh, imaging and soundstage were good, and after a download of McIntosh USB drivers the DA1 ran with no issues. You would have to buy a pretty stellar stand alone DAC to outperform the DA1, in my opinion. Maybe you'd even pay prices that would rival the cost of the entire C49 before getting something well above what it can do." Winner of 2021 Editors Choice Award for Preamplifiers. - Part-Time Audiophile

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.

"Better detail, better soundstage, better coherence... Whether I was listening to my CD collection or some hi-res, the music sounded much more lush and full of body than my current setup. It was more organic and more real." - Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity

The C49 is one of many McIntosh products to receive Roon Tested designation from Roon Labs. As a Roon Tested partner, McIntosh has provided equipment to Roon for testing with a variety of different operating systems and computers, and shared information about its design and capabilities.

The C49 comes complete with classic McIntosh design staples such as a black glass front panel, knobs, an illuminated logo and aluminum end caps. Pair it with a variety of amplifiers, turntables, CD players, tuners, speakers, power controllers and room correction devices to make a complete home audio system. Contact us at Liptons Audio Video to learn more.

Power & Performance

  • Frequency Response: +0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz; +0, -3dB from 15Hz to 100,000Hz
  • Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.005% maximum (from 20Hz to 20,000Hz)
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 100dB (High Level); 82dB (Phono MM); 80dB (Phono MC)
  • Maximum Voltage Output: 16V RMS Balanced / 8V RMS Unbalanced
  • Input Sensitivity: 900mV (Balanced); 450mV (Unbalanced); 4.5mV (Phono MM); 0.45mV (Phono MC)
  • Power Consumption: 30 Watts (On) / <0.5 Watts (Standby)

Audio Features & Drivers

  • DAC Architecture: Includes the replaceable DA1 Digital Audio Module (Upgradeable to DA2)
  • DAC Performance: 8-channel, 32-bit DAC used in Quad Balanced mode
  • High-Res Support: Native playback up to DSD256 and DXD 384kHz via USB
  • Tone Controls: Bass and Treble controls (adjustable in 2dB steps); settings can be saved per input
  • Headphone Amplifier: High Drive 1/4" jack with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®)
  • Input Matching: ±6dB of adjustment for each input to ensure consistent volume across sources
  • Phono Section: Discrete inputs for Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) with adjustable loading

Streaming & Connectivity

  • Analog Inputs: 2 x Balanced (XLR), 3 x Unbalanced (RCA), 1 x MM Phono, 1 x MC Phono
  • Digital Inputs: 6 Total (housed in the DA1 module)2 x Coaxial2 x Optical1 x USB (Type B)1 x MCT (Proprietary McIntosh DIN for SACD/CD Transports)
  • Analog Outputs: 2 x Balanced Variable (XLR), 2 x Unbalanced Variable (RCA), 1 x Unbalanced Fixed (RCA)
  • Control Ports: 1 x Main Power Control, 2 x Triggers, 4 x Data Ports, 1 x RS232 Control, 1 x IR Sensor Input
  • Smart Ecosystem: Roon Tested designation for seamless high-res streaming integration

Installation & Dimensions

  • Unit Dimensions (W x H x D): 17-1/2" x 6" x 18" (44.45cm x 15.2cm x 45.72cm)
  • Unit Weight: 23 lbs (10.4 kg)
  • Shipping Weight: 37.5 lbs (17 kg)
  • Chassis Design: Single-chassis, two-layer construction
  • Home Theater Integration: Selectable Home Theater PassThru for easy pairing with surround sound systems

Design & Build

  • Front Panel: Signature black glass with illuminated logo, aluminum end caps, and status display
  • Chassis Finish: Polished stainless steel
  • Power Supply: Precision-wound R-Core power transformer for stable, noise-free operation
  • User Interface: Classic tactile rotary control knobs for volume and input selection
  • Backlighting: Long-lasting, direct LED fiber optic lighting for a consistent McIntosh glow
  • Manufacturing: Hand-built in Binghamton, New York

3 Years Limited Manufacturer Warranty

Scope and Duration of Warranty

Subject to the terms and conditions stated below, McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. (“McIntosh”) warrants to the original owner that this Product shall be free from defects in workmanship or materials for a term of three (3) years from the date when it was purchased from an Authorized McIntosh Dealer. Provided, however, that rather than the three (3) years of coverage afforded the Product generally, where applicable, vacuum tubes contained in our Products are warranted for 90 days from the date of purchase, hard disc drives and projector lamps contained in our Products are warranted for one (1) year from the date of purchase. Provided, further, that where required by state law applicable at the time of purchase, instead of commencing on the date of purchase the foregoing warranties shall commence on the date specified in such law.

Click Here To View Mcintosh Warranty Info

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