MX 122 Pure Stereo

[W9TR]

My friend Greg is considering an MX-122 as the core of a stereo and HT system. I have a couple of questions about how it operates.

In Pure Stereo mode, does the MX 122 digitize the Analog XLR balanced input, or is this input passed through to the volume control and then the outputs? In other words, is there an A/D and D/A step from the balanced stereo analog inputs to the main L,R outputs?

In Pure Stereo mode, are the subwoofer outputs SW1 and SW2 active? He has Focal Sopra No. 3 front main speakers but would like the option of adding a sub. If they are active, what selection of crossover frequencies and slopes are available?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Tom

[Mouse]

I have the MX122.
My only XLR cables go from the MX122 to the amp which is analog so I obviously can't answer this question.

I can answer the pure stereo. On your remote, and on the front of the MX122 are buttons for these modes: movie, and music, game, and pure. Clicking on the music button will toggle between different modes: stereo, all speakers stereo, etc. You can set it up for 2 channel stereo which is easy. But in the MX122 settings themselves you may choose to turn on the sub for surround, and on or off for 2 channel audio as well as the crossover. It's a little less user friendly that it could be, but it's all there and it isn't impossible. The setting is under speakers>Manual Setup, 2 ch playback. The crossover points are 40,60,80,90,100,110,120,150,200,250.

[jdandy]

Tom.......From the MX122 Owner's Manual:

Press the PURE Push-button on the Remote Control to bypass the internal processing circuitry when not needed. An example could be when the analog audio output from a CD Player is connected to the
MX122 and the CD player is playing a stereo CD disc. The settings include AUTO (default setting, the MX122 chooses the best signal processing), DIRECT (bypasses Back Surround and Front Height Channel processing) and PURE DIRECT (bypasses all digital processing).

[leftside]

I don't have a MX122, but I do have a MX121. Dan explains how to turn on the PURE DIRECT. I'd just like to add it works great! In "Stereo" mode the bass sounds very unnatural/boomy. I like it so much that I sold a C2300 that was in the same room (I only have digital inputs in this room and I felt the C2300 was overkill).

[W9TR]

Thanks all. I'm guessing that since the crossover is active in pure stereo that the analog signals are A/D'd then passed through the crossovers and volume control section and back out through a D/A. That's the way my MX 151 works.
Tom

[brownbear]

It looks like PURE DIRECT bypasses all digital processing with the MX122. When I had my MX150, I don't think it had this. It had PURE STEREO, but everything was converted to digital.