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

[ChicagoDog]

Originally Posted by rnrmf1971

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.

IF IN FACT the analog input goes through the D/A converter then it is going straight back to AC for a refund in a hurry.

[W9TR]

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

Ha! OK, I'll admit my post was a little harsh. I apologize for that. Your vintage McGear is just fine of course, as is the MAC 3 for what it does. But there is a big difference between the utility of a vintage McIntosh amp and a vintage surround decoder, in my opinion.

I looked at the manual for the MAC-3 on Berner's site and found this little tidbit:

"20 Bit Conversion
Three 20 bit stereo digital to analog (D/A) converters are used to reproduce the six decoded Dolby Digital audio channels, and one 20 bit stereo analog to digital, (A/D) converter is for signals fed into the analog inputs. "

The service manual on the same site confirms it. The analog inputs go directly to the A/D converter.

Tom




[ChicagoDog]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Ha! OK, I'll admit my post was a little harsh. I apologize for that. Your vintage McGear is just fine of course, as is the MAC 3 for what it does. But there is a big difference between the utility of a vintage McIntosh amp and a vintage surround decoder, in my opinion.

I looked at the manual for the MAC-3 on Berner's site and found this little tidbit:

"20 Bit Conversion
Three 20 bit stereo digital to analog (D/A) converters are used to reproduce the six decoded Dolby Digital audio channels, and one 20 bit stereo analog to digital, (A/D) converter is for signals fed into the analog inputs. "

The service manual on the same site confirms it. The analog inputs go directly to the A/D converter.

Tom




Well, it's back to saving $ for a MX121 I guess. The MAC3 hasn't even arrived yet (UPS changed the delivery date to tomorrow) but it's going back for a refund. Obviously there is no point in me having a MDA1000 and then running it into the MAC3 for redundant and less superior conversion. I don't know how I or AC missed this detail when I stressed the critical importance of analog pass through.

[W9TR]

This is a really hard problem. I'm pretty sure my MX 151 will be my last McIntosh pre/pro, but I said that with my MX135. I guess I'd look for a Marantz or Denon pre/pro or receiver with pre amp outputs that is a generation behind (no Atmos or 4K). Still perfectly good for what you need. That breaks up the team though, no McIntosh.

But speaking of the MX-135 - it does have a pure stereo direct mode that is essentially a C46 analog section. It bypasses all the digital A/D and D/A, so it would meet your needs. It also has a 7.1 channel analog input so you can hook up the latest and greatest BluRay player and have it decode all the new formats for you. Might be worth looking into.

Also it has balanced XLR ins and outs for stereo, if that matters to you.

Tom

[ChicagoDog]

Well.....screw the "all Mc" system. For a couple /few hundred bucks an old Proceed AVP has balanced inputs, 7.1 decoding and MOST important...analog pass through. Serves the same basic purpose an MX121 would for 2k less$$ Maybe I'll slip that into my system for now.

[ChicagoDog]

Originally Posted by W9TR

This is a really hard problem. I'm pretty sure my MX 151 will be my last McIntosh pre/pro, but I said that with my MX135. I guess I'd look for a Marantz or Denon pre/pro or receiver with pre amp outputs that is a generation behind (no Atmos or 4K). Still perfectly good for what you need. That breaks up the team though, no McIntosh.

But speaking of the MX-135 - it does have a pure stereo direct mode that is essentially a C46 analog section. It bypasses all the digital A/D and D/A, so it would meet your needs. It also has a 7.1 channel analog input so you can hook up the latest and greatest BluRay player and have it decode all the new formats for you. Might be worth looking into.

Also it has balanced XLR ins and outs for stereo, if that matters to you.

Tom

Thanks Tom. I plan to run hdmi into my tv from a Amazon Fire TV box, a blu ray dvd player (dennon transport) and a DirecTv box. I guess a MX135 would work just as well as a MX121 at a lower cost since all the HDMI will go directly to the tv with a digital cable running out of the tv into the MX? for the audio??? So, I still get pure analog pass through on either unit, I won't make use of HDMI because it goes to the tv. Am I missing anything?

[damacman]

Seems like you're in a hurry to find a solution here. Investing in antiquated surround sound gear won't be an investment you'll look back on fondly.

Given the gear you currently own, the path you'll travel to get similar performance won't be an inexpensive one.

[Vmax]

I never fed anything but digtal into my MAC-3 on regular basis. I did try a ipod direct to analog. It was just as crappy there as any other analog. If you are looking for vinyl analog it has no ground. I would try digital and analog sources from your MCD or MDA for grins but you probably want a better Mc Pre down the road.

[leftside]

Get the MX121 and be done. The analog passthru works great and it's what I use with my DAC. The 5.1 sound is also an improvement over my previous Marantz. And the system now gets the WAF.

[W9TR]

I plan to run hdmi into my tv from a Amazon Fire TV box, a blu ray dvd player (dennon transport) and a DirecTv box. I guess a MX135 would work just as well as a MX121 at a lower cost since all the HDMI will go directly to the tv with a digital cable running out of the tv into the MX? for the audio??? So, I still get pure analog pass through on either unit, I won't make use of HDMI because it goes to the tv. Am I missing anything?

No, I think you've got it. I'd run the digital audio out of the sources via coax or optical to the MX 135 because the TV might be doing some processing of its own. Since 5.1 is not your main focus, this would be a good solution.

There are a bunch of MX 135's on the bay and the 'gon right now. I sold my MX 135 to a gentleman who was going to use it as a straight stereo preamp.

If I remember correctly the 135 sounded just fine in pure stereo direct. I used an OppO BDP95 as the source and MC 601 amps.

Tom