When it hit the market in 1968, the McIntosh C26 preamplifier was a truly high-end device. It features a stunning black glass front panel with green backlighting and chromed aluminum knobs. Well-equipped, it offers two phono inputs, a tuner input, an auxiliary input, and two tape inputs.

The C26 is a high-quality stereo preamplifier, with outstanding technical design. It is regarded by McIntosh enthusiasts as the best solid-state preamplifier the brand ever produced, designed by Roger Russell in the late 1960s.

When paired with a MC 2505 power amplifier, the listening experience lives up to the reputation: highly musical across the entire frequency range, the C26 combines neutrality, tonal accuracy, and dynamic range. The sound reproduction is rich, full of detail, and strikingly natural.