Mx120

[thughes]

Bass management is an issue. What I didn't say is that I have the Pioneer running in multi-channel analog, but I have it configured for only left and right speakers, and no subwoofer.

Bass management is less an issue there.

I too am waiting to see what the 150 and 881 have to offer. I am a theater guy at heart, and, if these measure up, the downstairs two channel room may become multi-channel-- wife permitting.

[Jimmy]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Yup, not too shabby for "Toslink"! Did you hear it again with my two Gotham's?

Ivan just curious, have you tried running the multi channel analog feeds from the Pio BR out into the MX136 and done some comparisons with your system?

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Jimmy

Ivan just curious, have you tried running the multi channel analog feeds from the Pio BR out into the MX136 and done some comparisons with your system?

Not in FL due to the cable routing difficulty; up here in the Cape it will be a breeze to experiment.

[1KW]

So begins the upgrade of the audio aspect of my home theater. Thanks for everyones input. My brand new MX120 is on its way . I should have it within the next week. I am not going to be able to use the MX120 until I get a 5 channel amp.


I am not sure if anyone knows the answer. Can I simultaneously run both the digital coax out as well as the analog outputs on from my blu ray player to both the digital and analog input on the MX120 so that I can use all the surround sound formats and the lossless codecs or do I have to use one or the other ?

[JJinID]

Originally Posted by 1KW

So begins the upgrade of the audio aspect of my home theater. Thanks for everyones input. My brand new MX120 is on its way . I should have it within the next week. I am not going to be able to use the MX120 until I get a 5 channel amp.


I am not sure if anyone knows the answer. Can I simultaneously run both the digital coax out as well as the analog outputs on from my blu ray player to both the digital and analog input on the MX120 so that I can use all the surround sound formats and the lossless codecs or do I have to use one or the other ?

Yes you can as long as the Blu-Ray player's outputs are all simultaneously active (most are).

Congratulations on your MX120 - look forward to your impressions

[JFR0317]

Originally Posted by 1KW

So begins the upgrade of the audio aspect of my home theater. Thanks for everyones input. My brand new MX120 is on its way . I should have it within the next week. I am not going to be able to use the MX120 until I get a 5 channel amp.


I am not sure if anyone knows the answer. Can I simultaneously run both the digital coax out as well as the analog outputs on from my blu ray player to both the digital and analog input on the MX120 so that I can use all the surround sound formats and the lossless codecs or do I have to use one or the other ?

Congratulations, David! As JJinID says, you can definitely send both digital and multi-channel analog outputs to your MX120. A slick way to do this is to assign the chosen digital input on the MX120 to one particular input (say VCR) and then use another input (say AUX) with its designated surround mode as "External" (which is the multi-channel physical input). You can connect an HDMI putput from the Blu-ray player to one of the HDMI inputs on the MX120 and then assign it as the designated video input for both of the two inputs (in this example, VCR and AUX). The MX120 also lets you rename those inputs as you may choose (for example, BRAY or something similar).

The MX120 owners manual (available for download at mcintoshlabs.com) explains how to do this sort of set-up on Page 25 of the manual. Also, please feel free to ask me any questions you may come up with about how to configure any other settings.

[1KW]

John that is great that the MX120 allows you to designate a video input to two different audio inputs. This way I can have all of the lossless codecs such as Dolby True HD or DTS Master Audio which my blu ray player provides and the ones included in the MX120. I am sure I will have some other questions after it is hooked up. I want to try and find a MC205 or a MC206; amp. upgrades can come later but this way I can atleast get the home theater working. By the way the dealer that sold me this unit said he bought all the remaining MX120's from Mcintosh, they are done making them. He said he is down to 2 new in the box.

[JFR0317]

Originally Posted by 1KW

John that is great that the MX120 allows you to designate a video input to two different audio inputs. This way I can have all of the lossless codecs such as Dolby True HD or DTS Master Audio which my blu ray player provides and the ones included in the MX120. I am sure I will have some other questions after it is hooked up. I want to try and find a MC205 or a MC206; amp. upgrades can come later but this way I can atleast get the home theater working. By the way the dealer that sold me this unit said he bought all the remaining MX120's from Mcintosh, they are done making them. He said he is down to 2 new in the box.

I would recommend focusing on an MC205 or MC207 which are rated at 200 wpc into either 4 or 8 ohms. The MC206 and MC7205 both offer 200 wpc into 4 ohms and if I recall correctly 120 wpc into 8 ohms. I use an MC207 in my downstairs system and still own a 7205 that was in the downstairs system prior to the 207.

[1KW]

I just read through the MX120 manual online and it is written well, very comprehensive. I was surprised at some of the cool functions this unit has. Another surprise was that zone A and B can be run simultaneously with different sources and at different surround or stereo modes all at discrete different volumes independent of each other. I can see how the keypad would be very handy here and it plugs in with just a phone plug style jack.

[JFR0317]

Originally Posted by 1KW

I just read through the MX120 manual online and it is written well, very comprehensive. I was surprised at some of the cool functions this unit has. Another surprise was that zone A and B can be run simultaneously with different sources and at different surround or stereo modes all at discrete different volumes independent of each other. I can see how the keypad would be very handy here and it plugs in with just a phone plug style jack.

The Zone B functionality is very useful indeed. I have Zone A of my MX120 set up for my den surround system and Zone B setup for my MC402 to drive my XR200's in the living room. I use a McIntosh WK2 keypad in my living room to either control Zone B directly or to receive IR signals from the remote control.

If you wind up with an MC207, you can even set it up where 5 channels are used for a surround setup in Zone A and the other two amp channels are used to drive the Zone B speakers. Very cool!