Elementary

The scene

In CBS's Elementary, Sherlock Holmes lives in a New York brownstone that reflects his mind: organized chaos, Victorian architecture housing modern technology, and an obsessive attention to detail that extends to every object in the space.

Among the chemistry equipment, scattered case files, violin, and evidence boards sits a McIntosh C2300 preamplifier — its iconic black glass faceplate, green logo, and blue VU meters glowing quietly among the detective's tools. Because of course Sherlock Holmes is an audiophile.

The gear

The McIntosh C2300 is a vacuum tube preamplifier built in Binghamton, New York. It features McIntosh's signature glass faceplate with the illuminated green logo and blue VU meters — design elements that have been consistent since the 1960s and are instantly recognizable to any audio enthusiast.

The C2300 is a serious piece of equipment: balanced and unbalanced inputs, tube-driven phono stage, and the kind of build quality that McIntosh is famous for. It's the nerve center of a high-end audio system, controlling what gets played and how it gets amplified.

The ear perceives what the eye overlooks.

Why it matters

McIntosh in a Sherlock Holmes setting is inspired casting. McIntosh equipment is about precision and analysis — hearing exactly what's in a recording, without coloration or distortion. For a character whose entire method is based on perceiving what others miss, the most transparent audio equipment available is a logical choice.

The McIntosh C2300 trades for $3,000 to $5,000 on the secondary market. It's a component that holds its value exceptionally well — McIntosh gear depreciates slowly because the brand's reputation and build quality inspire long-term confidence.

The blue meters and green logo also serve a visual purpose in the show: they provide a distinctive accent color in the brownstone's warm, wood-toned interior, marking the preamplifier as something special even for viewers who don't know what it is.