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McIntosh Labs

C8 2-Channel Vacuum Tube Preamplifier

SKU: MC-C8

$6,400.00
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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

A pair of MC830 Amplifiers with the matching C8 Preamplifier, MCD85 SACD/CD Player, and XR100 Speakers. All units sold separately.

The C8 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier has an open chassis industrial design similar to our popular MC275 Vacuum Tube Amplifier, and MA252 and MA352 Integrated Amplifiers. When combined with an amplifier (like the matching MC830 Amplifier), source components such as a turntable, CD player (see the matching MCD85 SACD/CD Player) or streaming music player, and a pair of speakers, it can help deliver a lifelike audio experience in your home.

Similarly sized to our MA252 Integrated Amplifier, the C8 is powered by four 12AX7a vacuum tubes housed inside stylish protective cages. For inputs, the C8 comes with 1 balanced and 2 unbalanced analog inputs, plus 1 Moving Coil and 1 Moving Magnet phono inputs with adjustable loading to play cherished vinyl collections. All inputs can be given user-friendly names in order to simplify user control. Bass and treble tone controls help fine tune your music to your personal preferences. For outputs, it has 1 balanced and 2 unbalanced; 1 of the unbalanced outputs can be configured as a subwoofer output for use with a powered subwoofer to further enhance low frequencies.

While the C8 does not come equipped with any digital inputs, it is digital-audio-ready as our DA2 Digital Audio Module can be installed in it. Adding the DA2 is an optional dealer installed upgrade. The DA2 has 7 digital inputs: 2 coax, 2 optical, 1 USB, 1 MCT (for use with our MCT500 or MCT80 SACD/CD Transport), and 1 audio-only HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC)1 connection. The DA2 is powered by a next generation, Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). Its audiophile-grade DAC is highlighted by improved dynamic range and improved total harmonic distortion. For high resolution audio playback, the USB input can support native playback of up to DSD512 and DXD up to 384kHz, and the coax and optical inputs can decode digital music up to 24-bit/192kHz.

The DA2 would be installed on the left side of the C8 back panel where the blank cover plate is located. Adding the DA2 to the C8 is an optional upgrade and installation must be performed by the dealer.

For personal listening, the C8 comes with our High Drive headphone amplifier that has plenty of power and flexibility to drive a wide range of headphones. Power Control ports allow for easy system power up and shutdown by sending power on/off signals to other connected McIntosh components. The user selectable Auto Off feature will turn the C8 off after 30 minutes when there's been no user input or if no audio signal has been detected. Home Theater Pass Through allows the C8 to be seamlessly integrated into your home theater system, and Data Ports can send remote control commands to connected source components.

Input selection, bass, treble, tone bypass, balance and input offset levels can be adjusted using the front panel knobs or the included remote control; all settings, volume level, and input selection will be shown on the front panel display. The C8 sits atop a stainless steel chassis that's polished to a mirror finish; classic McIntosh-styled die cast aluminum name badges are attached to each side. It has a black glass front panel with silver trim, an illuminated logo, and rotary control knobs. Contact us at Liptons Audio Video to learn more.

1) The HDMI ARC input will only play audio from a compatible TV. It will not pass video to or from a TV, or play audio from any non-TV source.

Power & Performance

  • Frequency Response: +0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20kHz; +0, -3dB from 15Hz to 100kHz
  • Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.08% maximum (from 20Hz to 20kHz)
  • Signal to Noise Ratio: 95dB (High Level); 80dB (Phono MM); 75dB (Phono MC)
  • Maximum Voltage Output: 16V RMS Balanced / 8V RMS Unbalanced
  • Voltage Gain: 15dB (High Level); 55dB (Phono MM); 75dB (Phono MC)
  • Power Consumption: 50 Watts

Audio Features & Drivers

  • Vacuum Tube Complement: 4 x 12AX7a Dual Triodes (housed in protective cages)
  • Tone Controls: Bass and Treble (adjustable in 2dB steps)
  • Phono Section: Separate dedicated inputs for Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC)
  • Phono Loading: Adjustable resistance and capacitance to match specific cartridge requirements
  • Headphone Amplifier: High Drive headphone jack with 1/4" output
  • Subwoofer Support: One set of unbalanced outputs can be configured for a powered subwoofer

Streaming & Connectivity

  • Analog Inputs: 1 x Balanced (XLR), 2 x Unbalanced (RCA), 1 x MM Phono, 1 x MC Phono
  • Analog Outputs: 1 x Balanced (XLR), 2 x Unbalanced (RCA)
  • Digital Readiness: No internal DAC; however, it is "Digital-Audio-Ready" via the optional dealer-installed DA2 Digital Audio Module
  • Control Ports: 1 x Main Power Control, 2 x Triggers, 2 x Data Ports, 1 x RS232 Control, 1 x IR Sensor Input
  • Home Theater PassThru: Allows seamless integration into a multi-channel home cinema system

Installation & Dimensions

  • Unit Dimensions (W x H x D): 12-9/32" x 7-5/8" x 16-1/4" (31.2cm x 19.4cm x 41.3cm)
  • Unit Weight: 18 lbs (8.2 kg)
  • Shipping Weight: 25 lbs (11.3 kg)
  • Chassis Design: Single-chassis "Open Design" matching the footprint of the MA252 and MC830
  • Ventilation: Requires open-air placement for vacuum tube heat dissipation

Design & Build

  • Chassis Finish: Polished mirror-finish stainless steel
  • Front Panel: Signature black glass with an illuminated McIntosh logo and rotary control knobs
  • Badging: Classic die-cast aluminum name badges on the sides
  • Display: Front-panel screen for input names, volume levels, and menu settings
  • Tube Protection: Includes striking, removable wire-mesh cages for the 12AX7a valves
  • 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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