McIntosh Laboratory has launched the new C47, a flexible 12-input digital preamp that combines contemporary technology with the core values of the brand. The C47 has been designed to offer huge flexibility with both digital and analogue source components.

It offers a high-quality built-in phono stage for the direct connection of turntables, an advanced headphone stage with McIntosh’s proprietary Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®), plus four digital inputs.

The C47 is compatible with the latest high-resolution audio formats via its USB input, including DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256 along with DXD 352.8kHz; its twin optical and single coaxial inputs can decode at up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution. For optimum SACD playback, the C47 preamp can also connect digitally to McIntosh’s recently launched  MCT450  SACD/CD transport via its ‘MCT input’, creating a secure, custom DSD connection.

For analogue sources, the C47 includes two balanced and three unbalanced (fully assignable) inputs, plus Moving Coil and Moving Magnet phono inputs. All inputs are available all of the time – even those that have been assigned to individual devices, giving genuine flexibility of configuration.

With such a wide variety of source component connectivity, the C47 sensibly offers bass and treble tone controls for fine tuning. Further features include the aforementioned Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®), which brings an added dimension to headphone listening, while the C47’s Home Theatre Pass Through feature permits seamless integration into multichannel A/V systems.

The C47 incorporates classic McIntosh design cues, including a black glass front panel, an illuminated logo and brushed-aluminium end caps. It combines McIntosh’s contemporary solid-state preamplifier circuitry with a full complement of inputs and is perfectly suited to exploiting the full potential of today’s digital devices, while delivering the legendary McIntosh sound quality. Like all McIntosh products, the C47 is handcrafted in the Binghamton factory (New York) and boasts classic 1950s styling with contemporary features and technology.