McIntosh MAC 3 (my last dumb qustion, I promise)
 

So, instead of a MX 121 for basic 5.1 surround sound needs in my 2 channel rig, is a MAC 3 the better choice?? Remember, I want nothing else but #1 pure 2 channel pass through and #2 the ability to use simple 5.1 for an occasional movie and tv. I'd save $2k which would go a long way towards fancy cables (LOL) ;) But seriously, if I run stereo RCA cables out from my MDA 1000 (and hopefully later from my C1000 or C500) into the analog input of the MAC 3 is that then acting a pure pass through when the input/mode select knob on the front of the MAC 3 is set to analog? Is it then just "pure direct" 2 channel with NO extra A to D and then D to A conversion with that hook up and setting? I can run my hdmi from the direct tv box, amazon fire tv box and dvd player into my television and optical into the back of the tv into the MAC 3, turn the knob on the front to surround, turn on the other 3 amps and I'm in basic, no frills, low cost 5.1 business right? An at the same time, no compromises to my 2 channel system, the MAC 3 would just act as a pass through, pure ad simple in analog mode with volume control?

I believe you are correct. Connect all of your HDMI sources to the TV and then from their go optical to the MAC3. The MAC3 has trigger outs which you can use to turn on other amps and put your main 2-channel preamp into 'bypass' mode. Should work great!

I bought a MAC3 a while back to do exactly the same thing using a C52 as my primary 2-channel preamp. Unfortunately I've been using the MAC3 in another system and never got around to hooking it up to the C52. I've been listening to movies in stereo with the C52 and it's been good enough.

-Matt

The MAC-3 was last produced in 1989. 18 years ago. In dog years, it would already be dead. In Pre/Pro years, it would be double dead.

Tom

^^Yes but... it does function to simply produce 5.1 sound for movies and casual television viewing, it only cost a couple/few hundred bucks instead of a couple/few thousand bucks, it's McIntosh brand full width chassis and therefore(somewhat) fits the aesthetics of all my other McIntosh gear, it is available with a DTS upgrade (not that it matters to me) it won't add or more importantly subtract anything from my 2 channel system listening. How is that not a win? Am I missing something? I'm starting to think that this MAC 3 thing is a dirt cheap, simple, functional yet dated solution until I'm ready to cough up the $ for a MX 160 type unit in a couple/few years.

Pulled the trigger and now AC is sending a MAC3 w/DTS upgrade my way. Should be here on Wednesday. Couple hundred dollar gamble is a win for me I think. Thanks for everyone's input. Now, just need to find 3 more channels of Mc amp and I'll be in the 5.1 business.

I believe you have made a good choice with the MAC3. I have one and it works beautifully.
The MAC3 came out initially as an accessory for the MX130/MP39. The MX130 was basically the MP39 with a tuner module installed. It was first marketed as an A/V unit. But the audio and video were all analog (Composite, Component, S-Video). They would come up with 5.1 THX outputs from the two channel analog inputs with selectable varying amounts of delay for the surrounds (depending on your room size, placement of surrounds, and whether you wanted an intimate "supper club" sound or a large "concert stadium" effect). When digital A/V came out, all of a sudden the MX130/MP39 lost a lot of appeal since there was no DAC in the units.
However, just ignore the video stuff. The MAC3 enabled toslink audio to convert to 5.1 analog. The later MX130/MP39 units covered up the balanced front stereo outputs with 6 RCA inputs to accept the 5.1 from the MAC3. The MAC3 with the MX130 is a VERY flexible combination, allowing at least a dozen input sources to go to any of four tape decks (or digital recorders as you prefer), as well as 5.1 outputs to power amps. The MC130/MP39 also featured dual input selectors. You could listen to one source, while recording from another source simultaneously. I digitized about 200 LPs to 192k/24bit through the MX130 while my wife was also using the MAC3-MX130 combo to watch Oprah and Dr. Phil on TV. ABSOLUTELY NO cross talk between the two operations.
MAC3 has been used by many as a pre-amp for a simplified system. As long as you do not need phono inputs, and do not not need a lot of other compensation, it works great.
If you want compensation, get a MEN220 and put it between the two front channels and the power amps.
I would not worry about age. Mine still works like a champ!
Those who are concerned about having the "newest and greatest" remind me of European endurance Grand Touring (GT) auto racing in the early 1960s when Ferrari always dominated the 24 hours of LeMans. Some auto commentators at the time observed that the Ferrari designs were "outdated" compared to some of the other manufacturers, but their "outdated" status had allowed Ferrari work out all of the "bugs" in the vehicles, so they would run flat out for 24 hours without breaking.
To me, vintage McIntosh units are in that category. They have been around enough that people like Terry DeWick and Audio Classics have figured out how to fix any problems.
Also, I like older McIntosh units where each switch has a single function. None of the "getting lost in the menus" of the new computer driven systems. I have two MEN220s (at home and at office), and I think they made the most improvement in my systems. But, getting them set up through the menu system is a royal pita!

I'd hate to think where that puts my 1960s McIntosh gear...:scratch2:

I dit not know DTS upgrade was possible. Did AC share what upgrade entails?

Every once in a while mine can glitch making snapping noises on some newer DTS movie CODECS especially noticeable noise selecting netflix movies but settles down. Interested in your experience and whether worth a DTS tune up.

Mike at AC said that the unit I bought is the only one of its type that they had and that it was mint, in box, with all the original packaging. He said it was a factory original they had laying around boxed up in back for a long time BUT that it had DTS capability and the other two MAC3 that they have for sale were regular stock MAC3's and do not have DTS....so my guess is that it was some type of a "one off" since DTS capability wasn't officially added until the release of the MSD4. I hope I don't have snapping noises during DTS encoded movie/tv show playback and I really, really hope that AC is correct in telling me that the 1 analog input will remain analog as a pass through and won't send a signal to the dac, considering I have a MDA1000 for 2 channel dac duties...otherwise it's going back! As soon as I can find and purchase 3 more channels of Mc amplification I'll get it hooked up and report back if I hear any pops/cracks.

I had the MSD4 and if I recall correctly, the analog input goes through the DAC and isn't a pass through. I believe I had emailed McIntosh with that question when I was considering the purchase of either the MAC3 or MSD4.
In the end, I opted for the better 24 bit converters in the MSD4, but the analog input was perfectly serviceable in either case.