McIntosh MX-121 - any thoughts?

post #541 of 554

2/7/13 at 7:02pm

500 Posts. Joined 6/2011
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookie b

No, should I???

I didn't realize you were in San Diego. If you are in Orange County I would, but that's pretty far from SD and there are several Non-Magnolia McIntosh dealers in San Diego county.

Reply

post #542 of 554

2/9/13 at 6:50am

528 Posts. Joined 10/2002
Location: Boston, MA
Select All Posts By This User

I am very happy with MX121. I also have the 8207. The combo sounds very nice together. No regrets. I am not concerned about 4K. I think it will be years before I am interested. By then it's possible that the current 4K units will be obsolete. Think about how HDMI has changed in a few years. Who knows what features will be available in 5 years. In technology future proofing is very difficult.

Reply

post #543 of 554

2/17/13 at 7:33am

5 Posts. Joined 2/2013
Location: NH
Select All Posts By This User

I use mc 452 for my b&w 802 diamonds and my old parrasound 5 channel for my b&w in wall center and surround. I just ordered my mc 303 to replace my parrasound. I had an older halo prepro and replaced it with the mx121

Reply

post #544 of 554

5/8/13 at 7:33pm

204 Posts. Joined 4/2008
Location: Fitchburg,MA
Select All Posts By This User

Hi,

I have reviewed the owner's manual for MX121. I couldn't find answers to some of my questions. Below is my setup,

Yamaha RX-A3000 (Burr-brown DSD1791 x2 + DSD1796 x4 for Dacs)

Martin Logan CLS II fronts
Martin Logan Stage X center
Martin Logan Descent I subwoofers(2 of them in front left and right)
Martin Logan Motion 4 rear and back surrounds( 4 of them)

Sources:
Oppo Bdp-105 universal player
Pro-ject Xperience limited edition turntable

I am going to purchase MC302 power amps(2x300watts) to power my CLS II towers and receiver to power center, side and rears. My dealer recommended a separate phono amp for the turntable.

Would I benefit from MX121?

I don't care for internet radio, airplay, dlna etc... I only listen to CDs, SACDs, DVD-A. I watch Blu-Ray discs.
I don't care for its video section as I have a dedicated video processor for legacy sources.
I don't care for 4k or 3d as my display is Pioneer Kuro.

If I get MX121 inplace of Yamaha RX-A3000, I will have to buy another power amp.

I could do MC207 (7x200watts) power all speakers with this amp
or
MC302 for fronts and MC205 for center, side and rears. I believe my current hungry CLSII's would like MC302 better(2ohm stable)

or
MC302 for fronts and MC207 for center, side, rears and heights. I don't know if MX121 supports 9.2?

If anyone can help, I will make purchase this week.

thank you

Reply

post #545 of 554

5/8/13 at 10:19pm

WestCoastD
Trader Feedback: 0
Electronics Enthusiast
offline

7,215 Posts. Joined 4/2006
Location: California
Select All Posts By This User

can't find the MX-151 thread?

Reply

post #546 of 554

5/8/13 at 11:22pm

699 Posts. Joined 7/2006
Location: San Diego
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by uderman

Hi,

I have reviewed the owner's manual for MX121. I couldn't find answers to some of my questions. Below is my setup,

Yamaha RX-A3000 (Burr-brown DSD1791 x2 + DSD1796 x4 for Dacs)

Martin Logan CLS II fronts
Martin Logan Stage X center
Martin Logan Descent I subwoofers(2 of them in front left and right)
Martin Logan Motion 4 rear and back surrounds( 4 of them)

Sources:
Oppo Bdp-105 universal player
Pro-ject Xperience limited edition turntable

I am going to purchase MC302 power amps(2x300watts) to power my CLS II towers and receiver to power center, side and rears. My dealer recommended a separate phono amp for the turntable.

Would I benefit from MX121?

I don't care for internet radio, airplay, dlna etc... I only listen to CDs, SACDs, DVD-A. I watch Blu-Ray discs.
I don't care for its video section as I have a dedicated video processor for legacy sources.
I don't care for 4k or 3d as my display is Pioneer Kuro.

If I get MX121 inplace of Yamaha RX-A3000, I will have to buy another power amp.

I could do MC207 (7x200watts) power all speakers with this amp
or
MC302 for fronts and MC205 for center, side and rears. I believe my current hungry CLSII's would like MC302 better(2ohm stable)

or
MC302 for fronts and MC207 for center, side, rears and heights. I don't know if MX121 supports 9.2?

If anyone can help, I will make purchase this week.

thank you

121 is only 7.2.

It's also in a different league than that Yamaha receiver. If you can afford it I don't think you'd regret it.

Reply

post #547 of 554

5/9/13 at 3:13am

204 Posts. Joined 4/2008
Location: Fitchburg,MA
Select All Posts By This User

I understand MX121 is on a different league than Yamaha. However is MX121 a true balanced/analog pre-amp? I really cant any info on its analog section. I read that it might be a just re-badged Marantz 7005?

I am not familiar with Audysey room correction. Is Audysey in MX121 equal or better than YPAO in Yamaha? MX121 room correction is already 1 generation behind, should I care?

If I can match Yamaha for Blu-ray HD audio play back and do much better in analog section, I will buy MX121. How is its phono amp section?

Reply

post #548 of 554

5/9/13 at 9:43am

41 Posts. Joined 1/2013
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by uderman

I understand MX121 is on a different league than Yamaha. However is MX121 a true balanced/analog pre-amp? I really cant any info on its analog section. I read that it might be a just re-badged Marantz 7005?

I am not familiar with Audysey room correction. Is Audysey in MX121 equal or better than YPAO in Yamaha? MX121 room correction is already 1 generation behind, should I care?

If I can match Yamaha for Blu-ray HD audio play back and do much better in analog section, I will buy MX121. How is its phono amp section?

I have MC 8207 hooked up with Marantz AV8801 ...I'm super happy so far...

Reply

post #549 of 554

5/10/13 at 7:12am

204 Posts. Joined 4/2008
Location: Fitchburg,MA
Select All Posts By This User

one of my CLS II died yesterday. I called Martin Logan they still service these. Electronics box repair for $150+shipping(they are heavy). They decoded my serial numbers mine are very early CLS II from 1991. Brand new Stators are $2500+$125 for shipping. I don't know for long my stators will last. I decided to replace them with brand new towers. I can't afford CLX so I decided to go with Martin Logan Theos Hybrids. This made my decision easy on the power amp.

I placed my order for MX121 + MC207 to power below

Martin Logan Theos fronts, Stage X center, Motion 4 rear and sides + 2 descent I subwoofers.

My sources are Oppo BDP-105 and Pro-ject Xperience with ortofon mc25e cartridge.

Once I have everything in and properly broken in, I will report my opinion.

Reply

post #550 of 554

5/11/13 at 6:54am

126 Posts. Joined 1/2009
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by uderman

I understand MX121 is on a different league than Yamaha. However is MX121 a true balanced/analog pre-amp? I really cant any info on its analog section. I read that it might be a just re-badged Marantz 7005?

I also heard it is built on a marantz platform, but has mcintosh magic added ... It would be good if it was 4k pass thru capable. Also looking for a 151 thread I can't find

Reply

post #551 of 554

5/11/13 at 7:32am

699 Posts. Joined 7/2006
Location: San Diego
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewa

I also heard it is built on a marantz platform, but has mcintosh magic added ... It would be good if it was 4k pass thru capable. Also looking for a 151 thread I can't find

It uses the same HDMI chipset as the marantz. The rest is different. I had one before my marantz 8801 and they sound very different.

Reply

post #552 of 554

5/11/13 at 11:01am