Mx 121 or mx 122 Help!

[ChicagoDog]

The Mc dealer just talked some sense into me..or talked some dollars out of me is more like it...I'm going to utilize the 7.1 capability of the MX122 instead of just 5.1 and therefore my amp direction must change. Simple solution they offered was a pre-owned (they sold new) 5 channel MC7205 at a pretty attractive price. Anyone have experience with these? Not what I envisioned but I'm in deep already, still need 2 more Legacy Skyline speakers on the sides now so it seems to me that a one box solution has $ benefits for sure, even though I don't need to save space in my rack. 7205 any good? I was originally considering a combination of older Mc amps in various states of bridge.

[W9TR]

3 MC 501's for L,C,R and this 5 channel amp handling the surrounds would be a good combo. Like all McIntosh amps with more than three channels, this amp doesn't use the output autoformers which are, at least to me, a key part of the McIntosh sound. That's not a bad thing - just different.

[ChicagoDog]

Originally Posted by W9TR

3 MC 501's for L,C,R and this 5 channel amp handling the surrounds would be a good combo. Like all McIntosh amps with more than three channels, this amp doesn't use the output autoformers which are, at least to me, a key part of the McIntosh sound. That's not a bad thing - just different.

My sub is powered, I just need 5 more channels of amp.

[W9TR]

I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't just keep your three 501's for L,C, R and then get a lesser amp for the surrounds? It's important to have the fronts as similar as possible. The surrounds are just not as critical, and you could use 4 channels of the 7205 for surround duty. Or get an Emotiva or a Parasound and save some coin. What am I missing?

[ChicagoDog]

Originally Posted by W9TR

I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't just keep your three 501's for L,C, R and then get a lesser amp for the surrounds? It's important to have the fronts as similar as possible. The surrounds are just not as critical, and you could use 4 channels of the 7205 for surround duty. Or get an Emotiva or a Parasound and save some coin. What am I missing?

I currently own 2 MC501 that are in my possession. I want to sell one of them....only just to turn around and immediately buy a pair of 501 from a guy I know outside of this forum, that way I'll then have 3. I waited to long and AC sold the single 501 they had available and all other searching for a single 501 I've done has came up empty.

[W9TR]

Ahhh......got it! I've been in that exact position, but with MC 2301's. Hard to find as a pair, pretty much impossible as a single unit. Sold one, bought another pair. Good luck!