Looking for fresh thoughts on the MX-150

[70sMac]

Mac Board..... My wife has her eye on a clean McIntosh MX-150 AVP. At this point, we're making an effort to put together a [modest] 5.1 surround system, but we're going to stick with our MX-130 to MC-300 combination for our stereo listening.

Any thoughts on the usefulness -- or other pros and cons -- of the Mac MX-150 A/V pre-pro would be most greatly appreciated.

ADDENDUM: Thoughts and comments on "pass-through" would be very helpful, as well.

Thank you for your time.

[W9TR]

Bill,
I have an MX 151, which is just an MX 150 with updated software.
Pros: Sounds fantastic. My C1100 ($12k) does sound better, but my C2300 ($6k) does not, very capable room correction - the best I’ve heard, lots of balanced inputs, HDMI that works for most of my sources (no 4K), excellent Dolby digital and DTS implementation.

Cons: very complex to set up properly. Complicated remote. You really must use a computer with a good web browser to set it up. If you don’t follow a specific sequence of setup steps you will not get it to work properly.

Pass through - for people like me that use a separate stereo preamplifier, pass through allows you to seamlessly integrate your two channel system with your home theater system.

A pass through control output from the pre/pro connects to a pass through control input on the stereo preamplifier. The stereo preamplifier L and R audio outputs connect to your stereo power amplifier to drive the front L and R speakers. The pre/pro front L and R outputs connect to a specific input on your stereo preamplifier .

When you turn on the pre/pro, the stereo preamplifier turns on, sets it gain to 0 dB (unity- no amplification) and selects the input that the pre/pro front L and R outputs are connected to.

Voilà separate two channel and HT systems.

Now here comes captain bring-down. Your MX 130 does not have a pass through input. Bummer.

That doesn’t mean you can’t use it - but you’ll have to do everything I mentioned above by hand. That has proven to be frustrating over time. You’ll forget to do something, maybe the volume is set wrong, you’ll get no fronts or they will be too loud. At best it’s fiddly.

I can’t tell you if the MC 150 will sound as good as or better than your MX 130. I’m guessing it will sound great. Unlike McIntosh amplifiers which are never obsolete, the pre/pros do become obsolete and that is what you are facing with the MX 130, like it or not.

[Yamaki]

Bill... Listen to ^^^that guy^^^ 'cause he knows them MX-150/MX-151 units.

He provided me with a lot of good information as I was setting up my MX-151.

[McGuyDLF]

If you are going to listen to 2 channel as well as an A/V setup, like I do, I'd say get the MX150 and sell the MX130 to get into a good preamp and amp for your 2 channel. And passthru works great for me - I hae a c2500/MC402 for 2 channel and the MX121 and MC7106 for the A/V. 7106 runs the center and rears in bridged mode. Seamless. And yes, takes a bit to set it up correctly with my gear - I just called McIntosh and they walked me through it.

[edward3132]

Bill

MX150 would be a good choice but you will then have to make due with lack of 4k video support thru its HDMI inputs.

[PMCH]

Bill, since you already have a 203, why not just use HDMI to your TV for video and use the RCA outputs from the 203 to a MXxxx processor for your audio. That way you have a very new DAC in the 203 for your stereo and surround sound. You can use a MX120, MX121, MX122, MX136, MX150, MX151 and still have great surround sound and still have 4K for the video portion if your TV is compatible.

[SuperD]

Ive had an MX-150 in my system since it was introduced years ago. It is great for home theater and I used it for a long time as a pre in pure stereo mode although a dedicated preamp will be better IME. If it works the way you want when you get it, you may want to leave it alone. I never upgraded the firmware to the MX-150 because it seemed to cause problems with the unit based on my research at the time. Still using it today after a $3500 repair when it smoked. I used a Bryston during repair which I liked but felt synergy was better with a Mac processor and Mac amps. Enjoy the theater!

Dave

Edit: If 4k is necessary, you can look at a video processor like Lumagen that does a much better job of video processing. Mac is for sound not so much video IMO.

[70sMac]

Originally Posted by SuperDave

Ive had an MX-150 in my system since it was introduced years ago. It is great for home theater and I used it for a long time as a pre in pure stereo mode although a dedicated preamp will be better IME. If it works the way you want when you get it, you may want to leave it alone. I never upgraded the firmware to the MX-150 because it seemed to cause problems with the unit based on my research at the time. Still using it today after a $3500 repair when it smoked. I used a Bryston during repair which I liked but felt synergy was better with a Mac processor and Mac amps. Enjoy the theater!

Dave

Edit: If 4k is necessary, you can look at a video processor like Lumagen that does a much better job of video processing. Mac is for sound not so much video IMO.

Welcome to the McChat, Super Dave! First, thanks for the post. We had a shot at an MX-150, but we waited too long and it was sold to some [other] lucky soul.

Best I can tell, it looks like you have (7) seven channels of amplification in your rack: (1) big Mac mono, a Mac 3-channel and a couple of Nagra HD mono amps...Wow! Vertical solid state power amps! I'm looking at one for the first time and, for one thing, it looks like a real space saver. I'm not really sure how you use them, but how do they sound when combined with Mac power amps?

Hope all is well back home (in the South)

[70sMac]

Originally Posted by PMCH

Bill, since you already have a 203, why not just use HDMI to your TV for video and use the RCA outputs from the 203 to a MXxxx processor for your audio. That way you have a very new DAC in the 203 for your stereo and surround sound. You can use a MX120, MX121, MX122, MX136, MX150, MX151 and still have great surround sound and still have 4K for the video portion if your TV is compatible.

Paul..... Yes, we have a plan in the works that seems pretty close to the one you described herein.

You're probably going to laugh at this, but we just unboxed the sound bar we purchased with our LG OLED TV...and, after the dust settled, we used the new-fangled "optical" cable -- yep, it's the first one I've ever used -- to hook the contraption up. Well, let's put it this way: I'll never go back to a TV speaker again! Man, what a difference that thing makes! In fact, we're scratching our heads now...wondering what that new center we just brought home might sound like!?! Hmmmmm...

By the way, thanks for throwing those Mac MX numbers out there -- that really helps the cause. Now, go check your inbox, sir.

[70sMac]

Originally Posted by McGuyDLF

If you are going to listen to 2 channel as well as an A/V setup, like I do, I'd say get the MX150 and sell the MX130 to get into a good preamp and amp for your 2 channel. And passthru works great for me - I hae a c2500/MC402 for 2 channel and the MX121 and MC7106 for the A/V. 7106 runs the center and rears in bridged mode. Seamless. And yes, takes a bit to set it up correctly with my gear - I just called McIntosh and they walked me through it.

Hey, McGuy, welcome to the McChat!

Thanks for the good words on the MX150. Unfortunately, some else beat us to the punch. Man, that was a good looking unit...but, as they say in the Great White North, c'est la vie, aye?