McIntosh C22 Mk V - Black glass

Description

The C22 Lineage: From 1963 to the Mk V

The C22 is one of the most storied model numbers at McIntosh — the original C22 dates to 1963, at a time when vinyl was the main source and the preamplifier had to deliver both input flexibility and tonal balance. The C22 Mk V is the fifth iteration of that lineage and the direct successor to the C70, the limited-edition 70th Anniversary preamplifier of McIntosh (2019), whose circuit it carries over into the standard catalog. Visually, the Mk V respects the design language of the family: black glass front panel with a green illuminated McIntosh logo, machined aluminum knobs, rocker switches, and modern LEDs for input selection and volume level. A glass panel on the top of the chassis lets the six tubes glow through during operation — an aesthetic signature that recalls McIntosh's origins as a builder of vacuum tube amplifiers. The chassis is polished mirror stainless steel with brushed aluminum end caps. Standard McIntosh footprint: 17.5 × 6 × 18 in. (44.45 × 15.24 × 45.72 cm), 25 lb (11.3 kg).

A Six-Tube, Fully Analog Signal Path

The C22 Mk V is built around six vacuum tubes: one 12AT7 in the input stage and five 12AX7A tubes shared between the phono stage and the line stage. This is deliberately a no-digital design — no built-in DAC, no digital inputs (coaxial, optical, USB, HDMI, AES/EBU: all zero), and no internal digital clock that could radiate into low-level audio circuits. This purist approach positions the C22 Mk V for the listener who favours the analog source and prefers to place the digital-to-analog conversion in a dedicated enclosure rather than share the chassis with the phono stage. Measured performance: frequency response +0 / -0.5 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz (+0 / -3 dB from 15 Hz to 100 kHz), total harmonic distortion 0.08%, signal-to-noise ratio 100 dB high level, maximum output 16 V RMS balanced and 8 V RMS unbalanced. Input impedance 44 kΩ balanced and 22 kΩ unbalanced.

MM and MC Phono Stage With Full Front-Panel Adjustment

The C22 Mk V carries two dedicated phono inputs — one for moving magnet (MM) cartridges and one for moving coil (MC) cartridges. Two rotary knobs on the front panel let you adjust the MC loading resistance and the MM loading capacitance while listening, without going into a menu or opening the chassis. MC sensitivity is 0.45 mV with 60 dB of gain; MM sensitivity is 4.5 mV with 40 dB of gain. Front-panel loading is the most direct way to match the load to the cartridge spec sheet — especially for a low-output MC that responds noticeably to loading changes. Simply turn the knob to compare several values by ear before locking in the load, without lifting the cartridge off the tonearm. Bass and treble tone controls in 2 dB steps with a full bypass switch, so the tone stage can be removed from the signal path when it is not needed.

Seven Inputs, Four Variable Outputs: Analog Connectivity

Seven analog inputs in total: two balanced XLR, three unbalanced RCA, and two phono. Four variable outputs — two balanced XLR pairs and two unbalanced RCA pairs — drive up to two power amplifiers at the same time, for example a tube amp for stereo and a solid-state amp for an active subwoofer or a second listening room. The RCA connectors are premium gold-plated solid brass, chosen for mechanical integrity and long-term oxidation resistance. The volume knob doubles as an L/R channel balance control — a useful shortcut to correct a small placement offset between speakers without going into a menu. Each input can be renamed on screen for day-to-day selection (MC Turntable, MM Turntable, Streamer, SACD, etc.).

High Drive Headphone Amplifier With HXD® and Multi-Component Control

The 1/4-inch headphone output is handled by a discrete High Drive amplifier with the HXD® (Headphone Crossfeed Director) circuit. HXD® restores spatial imaging on headphones by simulating the inter-ear crosstalk that is present when listening on speakers, without changing the tonal balance — the listener regains a depth of image closer to a room listen without the compromises of speaker placement. Five 3.5 mm data ports on the rear panel and two Power Control outputs automate power on/off across a McIntosh stack from the supplied HR085 remote, which simplifies day-to-day use of a multi-box system.

A Preamplifier Hand-Assembled in Binghamton

McIntosh Laboratory shipped its first amplifier in 1949 from Binghamton, New York, and still builds every product by hand at the same site today. The C22 Mk V carries that tradition forward with hand soldering, polished mirror stainless steel chassis machined locally, and point-by-point testing on every unit before it leaves the factory. It ships with a 3-year limited warranty backed by the authorized McIntosh service network and has been named Winner of the Reference Award by Haute Fidélité and 2020 Editors' Choice by Nghe Nhin Magazine — a preamplifier built to stay at the heart of an analog system for several decades.

Common Questions

Where does the C22 Mk V sit in the McIntosh tube preamplifier lineup?

It sits alongside the C8 and the C2800 as the current tube stereo preamps. The C8 is the entry tube preamplifier (5 inputs, optional DA2 module). The C22 Mk V is the purely analog model in the C22 lineage, with 7 inputs and two adjustable phono. The C2800 adds a built-in DA2 DAC (24-bit/192 kHz, DSD512), a subwoofer output, and Roon Tested certification — this is the pick when the system includes streaming. Above them, the C12000 is a reference two-chassis preamplifier with Hybrid Drive™ (tube + solid-state).

Does the C22 Mk V have a built-in DAC or digital inputs?

No — the C22 Mk V is deliberately a 100% analog design. It has no optional DAC module, no digital inputs (coaxial, optical, USB, HDMI, AES/EBU), and no network connection. This purist approach avoids having a digital clock radiate into low-level audio circuits inside the chassis. For a McIntosh tube preamplifier with a built-in DAC and Roon Tested streaming, the C2800 is the direct alternative.

Which McIntosh amplifier is intended to pair with the C22 Mk V?

McIntosh presents the C22 Mk V in a system with the MC1502, a stereo vacuum tube power amplifier delivering 2 × 70 W with switchable 8, 4, or 2 Ω autoformer taps — the pair has been jointly awarded by Haute Fidélité and other press. Two other natural matches: the MC275 (stereo tube amp, 2 × 75 W, the reference of the line), and the MC312 (stereo solid-state amp, 2 × 300 W with Autoformer®) for a more controlled sound. The C22 Mk V's four variable outputs also let you drive two amplifiers at once.

How do the front-panel phono adjustments work?

Two rotary knobs on the front of the C22 Mk V let you adjust the loading resistance (for MC) and the loading capacitance (for MM) while listening. No demounting the cartridge, no menu diving — turn the knob to compare several values by ear before locking in the load that matches the cartridge maker's spec sheet. Front-panel access is the fastest way to tune the load for a low-output MC that is particularly sensitive to loading.

What's in the Box

McIntosh C22 Mk V vacuum tube preamplifier

McIntosh HR085 remote control

AC power cord

Documentation and owner's manual