Looking for fresh thoughts on the MX-150

[SuperD]

Originally Posted by 70sMac

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)

I am still running 5.2 surround. When I got the Nagra towers, they replaced the 601s on the front speakers and I put a 601 on the center channel. Now I use 2/3 channels on the MC303 for rear. I used the 601's for a few years and enjoyed them but it's not an apples to apples comparison to the Nagra amps. Matching amps up front would be a benefit but it's more important to me to focus on stereo music and try to maintain some level of practicality in this costly passion. All is well here, stay safe.

Dave

[C4STR0]

Sorry for the bump, i'm in a similar dilemma with regards to separate preamp with pasthru and using the MX150/151 for movies or not. I use an MC202 for my mains and a bridged MC7106 for the center and surrounds(the 7106 bridged was running my mains previously and i really don't feel like i gained anything with the MC202. The 7106 bridged really is a nice amp and i love the different meters).
The MX150 sounds amazing with movies. The RoomPerfect made a big difference for movies. With music, it's a nice improvement when i switch in bypass and RoomPerfect back and forth, but nothing i couldn't live without. I still have an MX120 not in use as well. I use an external HDMI DAC with 8ch analog outs so no worry about 4k/HDR video and uncompressed audio extraction.

So i'm at a place now where focusing funds the smartest way is my concern.
-Keep the MX150 and continue experimenting with different DACs in order to get the right sound with the MX150 as my preamp? As we all know, the MX150 has no pure analog mode, so it converts A-D back to A. I currently own a Denafrips Ares II R2R DAC that i loved with the MX120. Very close to analog sound. With the MX150? I lose that and get more of a digital sound signature from the MX150. I also tried a ModWright Tube Modded Oppo and likewise, the MX150 really stamps it's own sound over any external DAC. Both those DACS still sounded very clean and good-but not quite the sound i'm looking for. The best i've heard so far is an Audio Note 0.1x DAC. It sounded the most analog with the MX150 not having much effect on it. AN prices jacked up about $600 and they're now in a price range i'm not sure i want to pay.

So-sell the MX120 and the Denafrips to fund continued DAC experiments with the MX150 as my 2ch preamp?

Sell the MX150-use the MX120 for surround and take a loss in home theater, but use the funds for a dedicated 2ch analog preamp for a jump in 2ch?

Limited to McIntosh only? I've been very interested in Accuphase, but without trigger in/out and no passthru or HTBypass option, i'd be stuck with manual operation every time i switch to movie/tv watching?


Last MX150 question- Does it have an active biamp crossover like the MEN220 does so i wouldn't need my speaker built in networks? I ask because i'm interested in experimenting with different drivers and crossover points, but too overwhelmed to go full active with electronic crossover and dsp.

Thanks gents

[W9TR]

Get a dedicated two channel preamp with passthru. Doing it manually is a pain. Run all your 2 channel sources through the new preamp. There are lots of great options at multiple price points from multiple manufacturers. Even the Parasound NewClassic 200 for $900 has passthru.

Keep the MX 150 for movies.

Sell the MX 120.

[Masterlu]

C4STR0... Welcome to AA!

[C4STR0]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Get a dedicated two channel preamp with passthru. Doing it manually is a pain. Run all your 2 channel sources through the new preamp. There are lots of great options at multiple price points from multiple manufacturers. Even the Parasound NewClassic 200 for $900 has passthru.

Keep the MX 150 for movies.

Sell the MX 120.

That would be great, but not sure what i can get for the MX120+maybe a $1500 budget on top of that for a 2ch preamp and keep my Denafrips DAC and be done?

I suppose this isn't the place to ask, but with a non McIntosh preamp-let's say an Accuphase-they have an EXT. Pre IN or Main IN on all of their products. With a click of a button, and the EXT. PRE IN connected to the L/R outs of my MX150, i'd essentially turn the Accuphase into a power amp for the MX150 L/Rs with movie tracks, correct? Of Course, i'd still need to manually power on and manually click the button, unfortunately.

There's still the MC202 that i'd like to swap out as well. Preferably with either an MC7200 or an Accuphase of any model.

Originally Posted by Masterlu

C4STR0... Welcome to AA!

Thank you!

[W9TR]

Sorry - I’m not familiar with how the Accuphase gear handles pre-out/main-in switching. I’m sure if you post in the Accuphase area you’ll get an answer.

[C4STR0]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Sorry - I’m not familiar with how the Accuphase gear handles pre-out/main-in switching. I’m sure if you post in the Accuphase area you’ll get an answer.

Gotcha. I went ahead and purchased an Accuphase CX-260. I'm first going to try it out as a 2ch preamp with the MX150 for movies. It has balanced EXT. PRE IN. Except it's button activated on the front panel and not remote. I assume EXT. PRE IN would go to MX150 balanced L/R OUT. At the push of the button, the Accuphase shuts off volume control and acts as a power amp for the MX150.

I would like to move the funds from the MX150 and the MC202 and purchase a Class A Accuphase power amp and continue to use the MX120 for Center and Surround L/R with the 7106 bridged to 3x 320wpc. Of course, the MX120 would probably do no different than the CX-260 on it's own. It would be mostly an aesthetic decision, 2 beautiful glass McIntosh flanking middle shelf with Accuphase champagne colored with their black glass and green lights and soft glowing colors at the center and middle bottom shelves. The colors!

We'll see what happens.

[C4STR0]

And just as soon as i spend several thousand on the accuphase, the MX150 becomes a problem. Watch a movie last night. All was well. Powered off and went to bed. First power up today, for the first time, i got a:
* Updating RP1 * and when it gets to 100%
* Updating RP2 * and when it gets to 90%
Room Perfect SW Failed and
Unit powers on and gives message:
* speakerconf err *
* 3 (comm) *

After a while, the error message disappears and the McIntosh is usable with no audio. Room Perfect disabled. Error trying to access Room Perfect Set up.
I've unplugged power several times for 15 min, reset MCU, factory reset. Installed latest firmware.

No fix. Powering up continues same Updating RP1 sequence and ultimately fails and no audio.

Anyone have this issue??

[C4STR0]

Got in contact with support and i was adviced to get a new Compact Flash card, so hopefully parts will get back to me ASAP and get the order shipped out and i'll respond back with good or bad news - just so someone in the future has a similar issue.

[70sMac]

C4STR0..... I'll have to read up on all of the details, but do keep the thread posted on your trials and trib's. As some of us still live our lives with the older Mac gear, there's a great interest in new developments...ask me how I know.

Good luck with getting your system back up and operating properly