MX150, so frustrated....its just a paper weight, 4th update, 29 Dec

[audioguy3107]

Originally Posted by xconcepts

Buck,

HDMI is no going through to the TV only, optical to the mx150.

OK, so next thing is does it do this when you connect other audio sources, say, a CD player with an analog out or even your TV with the analog outputs or does this just happen with the optical link?

- Buck

[xconcepts]

Originally Posted by audioguy3107

OK, so next thing is does it do this when you connect other audio sources, say, a CD player with an analog out or even your TV with the analog outputs or does this just happen with the optical link?

- Buck

I have not tried analog, just hdmi and optical

[W9TR]

xconcepts and SuperDave - bummer that you are having trouble with your units. I feel your pain. Not good.

I've had my MX 151 for awhile, it is an amazing sounding pre/pro - top shelf and super flexible. I love it.

The MX 150/151 is not a rebadged Denon AVP. A look at the back panels of each unit will confirm this, as will a look inside.
For example the room correction systems are totally different.
The two businesses were owned by Bain Capital a few year back, but operated independently.
There were some shared components with Denon, but the design teams were independent. The same thing is happening with Audio Research and McIntosh today, as they are both owned by Fine Sounds.

Now on to what these are so problematic to repair. I'm not defending McIntosh, far from it. Just providing some info.

Unlike McIntosh amplifiers, a lot of the MX 150/151 circuitry is designed by other companies.
For example the DD/DTS decoders are designed and sourced from Momentum Data Systems.
The HDMI switcher is from another third party - not sure who did that one.
The web server and IP interface is by yet another company.
Lyngdorf did all the room correction design.
You get the picture. McIntosh is not alone in all this - most pre/pro companies do not have all the resources in house to design one of these beasts from scratch. It's a momentous task- these pre/PRO's have all kinds of specialty electronics in them - NIC's, web servers, HDMI switchers and processors, multichannel high performance a/d and d/a converters, ultra high performance analog - the list is very large.

So when something goes Tango Uniform McIntosh has to do a board level replacement, which can be very expensive and time consuming.

I've got a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order out on my MX 151 - it will be a tough decision made easier with the passing of time.
Knocking on wood.......

Tom

[SuperD]

Originally Posted by W9TR

xconcepts and SuperDave - bummer that you are having trouble with your units. I feel your pain. Not good.

I've had my MX 151 for awhile, it is an amazing sounding pre/pro - top shelf and super flexible. I love it.

The MX 150/151 is not a rebadged Denon AVP. A look at the back panels of each unit will confirm this, as will a look inside.
For example the room correction systems are totally different.
The two businesses were owned by Bain Capital a few year back, but operated independently.
There were some shared components with Denon, but the design teams were independent. The same thing is happening with Audio Research and McIntosh today, as they are both owned by Fine Sounds.

Now on to what these are so problematic to repair. I'm not defending McIntosh, far from it. Just providing some info.

Unlike McIntosh amplifiers, a lot of the MX 150/151 circuitry is designed by other companies.
For example the DD/DTS decoders are designed and sourced from Momentum Data Systems.
The HDMI switcher is from another third party - not sure who did that one.
The web server and IP interface is by yet another company.
Lyngdorf did all the room correction design.
You get the picture. McIntosh is not alone in all this - most pre/pro companies do not have all the resources in house to design one of these beasts from scratch. It's a momentous task- these pre/PRO's have all kinds of specialty electronics in them - NIC's, web servers, HDMI switchers and processors, multichannel high performance a/d and d/a converters, ultra high performance analog - the list is very large.

So when something goes Tango Uniform McIntosh has to do a board level replacement, which can be very expensive and time consuming.

I've got a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order out on my MX 151 - it will be a tough decision made easier with the passing of time.
Knocking on wood.......

Tom

Tom,
Thanks for all of the information. I knew some pieces were outsourced and it makes sense why repairs would take longer but 6, 8, 12 months is hilarious for a flagship product. I cringe to think of the people with an MX160 in for repair! By the time they get it back after thousands on repair costs, they'll have introduced an MX161 and you'll have spent more on a repair than the actual unit is now worth. At least that has been my experience. All complaints aside, when the MX150 was working, I loved it. At the time mine smoked, I did not have a pre and was using the MX150s pure stereo for 2 ch listening. It wasn't ideal as the unit digitizes everything coming in but I still enjoyed the sound. I never updated firmware for the MX150 as many said pure stereo went away as well as causing aux input issues and the MX160 has no pure stereo option, so i'd be forced to add a pre with the cost of the 160. I decided to get the Bryston with no room correction or Atmos and add a Nagra pre for 2 ch. Are you going to replace the MX151? What else have you looked at? Just curious.

Dave

[Blueoak]

I'm really sorry the OP is having such major issues. I find it completely unacceptable.

This is one of the big reasons why it's very attractive to go with the Anthem AVM-60 for a fraction of the cost. The entire business of video and encoding change a lot. Once you buy a system, it's outdated within 24 months, because of a new encoding. Dual subs .. ATMOS .. HDMI 2.2 .. 3D .. DTX. List goes on and on.

In any business where there is a lot of change, it is beneficial to look for and want to take advantage of network effects. The more units produced means cheaper price, more support, and being connecting with other people who have the same unit as you on forums. Obviously there's an entire bellcurve of hardware out there in terms of quality and price. No need to push to the far left (cheapest price, most features), but somewhere in the middle or slightly to the right (more expensive, lots of units, but not mass-produced) renders the best priceerformance ratios. Most of us generally want great sound (excellent sound isn't required all the time, especially for HT), 4K support, ATMOS support, and etc. Some of the units that fall into this category are the Anthem AVM60 and MRX series; Emotiva; Maratnz; and even Yamaha and Denon towards the lower end.

I wish McIntosh would fix their MX-series products or just drop the entire product line. As it stands today, it's just a bad scenario for anyone involved.

I hope that the OP is able to get it repaired/sold quickly; or able to use it as a trade-in credit towards something else.

[W9TR]

Dave,
I agree 100% - it's just beyond bad for McIntosh to take that long to service their own gear.
I am not actively looking at new pre/pro's right now. The MX 151 just does so many things so well.
For 4K I'll add a video processor or an HDMI switch. It would be nice to have auto cal for my PJ, so probably a Lumagen.
Ultimately I'd love to have an Atmos system as the demo's I've heard are really outstanding.
That decision will drive a pre/pro replacement and a lot of other work.
While I'd love to have an MX 160, I'll be looking across brands when the time comes.
Tom

[W9TR]

If my MX 151 were to go TU, I'd seriously consider the AVM-60. For 3 large it looks to be very capable.
I wonder who designed it? Anthem used to use Eastech for all their pre/pro's - not sure who they use now.

[62caddy]

Since the beginning, one of the dominant characteristics of McIntosh products had always been of reliability and unimpeachable build quality.

The alarming increase in QC issues - both cataloged here and elsewhere - is very disconcerting to say the least.

[xconcepts]

So quick update, final got a reply call back from mcintosh. This is the 1st ever with this issue with either the 150/151. I have to ship the unit from Japan to Cali for repair. I'm on a military base so I can use usps and I've shipped a unit back before so it's not going to be too much to ship. They are more than likely going to eat much of the parts cost, I'll just be liable for the labor. So we'll see how long repair takes.

[Masterlu]

I have never relied on my MX-xxx processors to do video, which is sad. I use the top of the line Lumagen Scalers, they are amazing and provide constant support via user friendly firmware upgrades.