Mx 121 or mx 122 Help!

[ChicagoDog]

Any experiences with mx121 versus mx122? I'm guessing the 122 is a better long term sonic and financial decision? There is a $1,400 price difference. Would love to hear what people have experienced.

[Mouse]

I only have MX122, but I'd look into the 4K capability of the MX121 before buying one.

[edward3132]

The Mx121 only does 1080p as the HDMI inputs are only 1.4 standard

[leftside]

If you want 4K and Atmos go with the MX122. I'm quite happy with DTS-HD, etc and the wife would kill me if I attempted to put any more speakers in the living room (for Atmos). The PURE DIRECT feature (analog passthru) was the reason I considered the MX121/MX122 in the first place - and the sound quality using that feature and an external DAC is very good.

[silversurfer6]

Dont kill me about the question: are these based on Marantz Receivers/Processors?

If not do they handle HDMI video well without problems?

[ChicagoDog]

I thought 4k would be nice...considering the fact I'm bringing home a 4k tv in the next week or two. My sources are the just released 4k capable Amazon Fire TV and a DirecTv box (not the 4k version, YET but within the next few months we will change to the 4k capable boxes) So, my only 4k content now will come from streaming Netflix or whatever else 4k is available through he 4k Fire Tv. I don't have enough room or funds for any additional speakers, the 5.1 worth of speakers are all I can handle, the room just won't work (way too narrow, long, low ceiling, etc) I know these processers don't hold value but I thought someone might share their experience with using a 121 versus a 122 and chime in on the investment side of things. $2,400 for a one owner 121 or $3,800 for a mint dealer demo 122. On one hand the 122 seems like overkill if I don't have the room and the extra speakers but on the other, since the 121 doesn't do 4k and is a little older in the tooth...? Decisions, decisions.

[1KW]

Mx122 between the two, why buy something that limits you to 1080p ?

[ChicagoDog]

I may have mentioned that my local dealer is worthless, rude and many other negative things. I swore to God I would never walk in there again but broke that promise to myself today. It was just as cringe worthy and aggravating as any of my previous visits. They had brand new, factory sealed MX 122's readily available "on sale" for $6k plus tax but none open and none available to demo. When I asked a sales jerk about them he offered to bring the box, yes, the HUGE factory sealed box up to the front of the store so I could see one...but a demo was a no go. I politely explained that I have 6 huge McIntosh boxes at home, I didn't need to see a sealed box as it wouldn't answer my questions or provide any guidance. They didn't have any 121's in store at all. They had an MEN220 on a folding table (clearance bin style) with no price tag and an open mx151 on the same table "on clearance" for $5,999.99 which is funny because one of their ass clown sales jerks called me a month ago begging me to buy it for $5k. Another sales jerk saw me glance at the 151 on the table and extoled it's virtues then immediately told me, for no reason at all, I'd be MUCH better off buying a mx160 (again, I never mentioned my existing system , desires, questions or anything). I left the store unable to audition a 121 or a 122. I also left with the advice of one sales jerk saying to me after ALL I said to him was "I'm considering the 121 or the 122 and need some help" his response "oh, you definitely need the 121" which is strange, considering I again didn't mention anything else regarding budget, sources, room speakers, etc. and the fact that they didn't have mx 121's in store for sale. Another sales jerk simply shrugged his shoulders and nodded at my questions and repeated the words "the 122 is 4k" with a deer in headlights gaze. I'm about to either A. forget the whole damn thing for quite a while or B. flip a freaking coin. Heads 121 and tails 122.

[ChicagoDog]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Mx122 between the two, why buy something that limits you to 1080p ?

You're right. I guess it would just be tossing $ out the window in a different sort of way by limiting myself to 1080P than just paying 1.4k more now for the 122. Yes, I'd be somewhat more future proof with a 122. Guess I just need to decide if 3.8k out the door is a good price on a 122and will hold up long enough to not get hurt too bad down the road. I haven't seen any 122's for sale in the used market so I don't know the current market value for a dealer demo or used unit???? I guess another benefit is the 122 will upscale...wonder how that looks compared to letting the 4k tv upscale for me. Anyway, I'll figure out what to do this weekend I guess.

[ChicagoDog]

UPDATE: I just bought a MX-135, it has not arrived yet. QUESTION: I will route hdmi from my directv box to my new 4k tv and use the TV's digital output into the MX-135. I will plug the Amazon Fire 4k box directly into the back of the 4k tv as well, also using the same single digital audio out cable from the tv into the back of the MX-135 to decode the surround sound. I guess I must also run HDMI from my Dennon blu ray transport into the back of the 4k tv and again, use that single digital output from the tv into the back of the MX-135 to do the sound. DO I HAVE ALL THIS RIGHT??? I don't have the room for additional speakers to fully utilize all the capabilities of an MX-122 right now and I guess switching 4k and pass through 4k isn't that big of a deal to me so I just on a very quick whim bought the MX-135 for $1,250 (yeah, probably paid too much but I can get most of it back in the future I hope) and I saved myself $2,550 versus buying the MX-122, which will go a long way towards the $4k I'm about to drop on the 85 inch 4k television. The 135 has all balanced outputs and a "pure" 2 channel pass through with no additional D/A or A/D conversions so I guess it should serve my current needs of basic 5.1 sound along side great 2 channel pass through.
Anyone foresee if I'm going to run into connection problems or have regrets?I can back out if I'm missing something here as the item has not shipped