McIntosh MC303 review-Stereophile

[klipschfan]

McIntosh MC303 review-Stereophile

Stereophile: Music in the Round #36

[-E-]

What the hell is up with these reviewers making anything McIntosh into an Escalade? And yet a Classe is a S-65!?

I like's me an Escalade, but this is getting a bit tiresome. He even likes the Mc amp more but gives it such a poor analogy.

[jdandy]

Vesuvius.......I agree. Car anologies between high-end audio equipment and automobiles are weak at best. My guess, Kalman Rubinson needed to stretch his article word count to hit the requirement, and the anology created extra lines that helped him out.

[jdandy]

I have been considering the MC303 for my home theater set up. I have been thinking about replacing my Yamaha 7.1 receiver (I only use 5.1 anyway), and since I already have the MC352, powered subwoofer, and the speakers, I could add a MC303 and a MX120 or MX136 to make the home theater all McIntosh. It is something that is wondering around in the windmills of my mind.

[KahunaCanuck]

I love mine!

[jdandy]

KahunaCanuck......Besides the MC303, what other amps are you using in your 5.1 theater system?

[80B]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I have been considering the MC303 for my home theater set up. I have been thinking about replacing my Yamaha 7.1 receiver (I only use 5.1 anyway), and since I already have the MC352, powered subwoofer, and the speakers, I could add a MC303 and a MX120 or MX136 to make the home theater all McIntosh. It is something that is wondering around in the windmills of my mind.

Dan,
Just do it! There's some music that's good in 5.1 too, depending on a variety of factors. What speakers do you have in that system?

[deafbykhorns]

Dan
As you know, I have the MC352 for front and MC7205 for sides and rear with great results.
The MC352 still allows me to enjoy some good 2channel "pure stereo" sound of the MX119.
Went with the MX119 due to the tuner accessory. Let me know if the TT is going up for sale, I have a nice home for it.

[KahunaCanuck]

Originally Posted by jdandy

KahunaCanuck......Besides the MC303, what other amps are you using in your 5.1 theater system?

I am currently running the 303 on the front 3, then 2 Outlaw monos I have for the surrounds...I planned to buy a 402 to run the front L & R, but after being on this forum and chatting with MasterLu I am going to hold out to get 501s for the front 2...

[1KW]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I have been considering the MC303 for my home theater set up. I have been thinking about replacing my Yamaha 7.1 receiver (I only use 5.1 anyway), and since I already have the MC352, powered subwoofer, and the speakers, I could add a MC303 and a MX120 or MX136 to make the home theater all McIntosh. It is something that is wondering around in the windmills of my mind.

GO for it Dan,

Getting a new MX120 or MX136 at discontinued prices is great opportunity. I went from the Yamaha RXV1 which was at one time the flagship AVR to the MX120 and even with just the front left/right channels hooked up running in Matrix mode and 2 channel stereo mode, I am hearing things I never noticed before. Balanced audio input I believe may still have a edge over HDMI for audio and so I am happy just using the HDMI for video switching and upgrading of older video formats. If you use both the multichannel analog and digital out of your blu ray player to the MX120 you will still have the older codecs and newer lossless codecs. Therefore the only thing missing from the newer MX150 model will be the room equalization for 6-7 k more.