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Old 04-21-2017, 01:12 PM
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Default Potential Purchase of a McIntosh MX121
Hello, I have been more of a lurker on these forums over the years and finally need the forum's expertise on a potential purchase. I recently purchased a set of Bowers & Wilkins 802 Diamonds (D2) that are currently being powered by a McIntosh MC402. I'm in desperate need of a new SSP and was thinking of a MX121. Would a MX121 make a good dual purpose music/movies SSP? Is it true the MX121 is very similar to the AV7005? Does the MX121 have tone controls (bass/treble)? I'm finding that the majority of these newer SSP's no longer have tone controls, which I hate. I'm looking for any feedback or words of wisdom you can provide.

Thanks!
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Old 04-21-2017, 01:33 PM
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Forgot to mention is there any common problems with these?
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Old 04-21-2017, 02:42 PM
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I have a MX121 that I love for 5.1 TV and like it much better than my old Marantz ( I think it was a AV7005). Not sure if it has tone controls since I never use them. I don't think the MX121 will be the best preamp to use with your audiophile 802's for stereo though. You may want to find a dedicated preamp for that, to get the best sound out of those speakers.
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Old 04-21-2017, 02:52 PM
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I have a MX121 that I love for 5.1 TV and like it much better than my old Marantz ( I think it was a AV7005). Not sure if it has tone controls since I never use them. I don't think the MX121 will be the best preamp to use with your audiophile 802's for stereo though. You may want to find a dedicated preamp for that, to get the best sound out of those speakers.
Thanks for the feedback! I'm really looking for a dual purpose pre-amp that can handle both of my needs, music and movies. Would you describe the sound from your MX121 as warm? I probably shouldn't tell you what I'm currently using as a pre-amp if you don't think the MX121 has enough grunt to make the 802's sing. lol
Last edited by dan87951; 04-21-2017 at 03:04 PM.
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Old 04-21-2017, 03:05 PM
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It can certainly handle both your needs, but with a really nice set of speakers and a really nice amp, you'll probably want a really nice separate preamp and DAC to make the most of your digital audio files. As I mentioned in the other thread, the MX121 was a big improvement over my Marantz AV8003 for movies, but the C2300 + D100 combo is superior for digital music files.
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Old 04-21-2017, 03:18 PM
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Sorry, I really only use the MX121 for 5.1 TV not for stereo. I found the MX121 to be significantly better sounding than my Marantz AV7005. For me it was night and day. I don't hear the MX121 to be warm sounding. I just hear it to be missing many of the musical qualities that I have heard with my C2300 and C1100 preamps being used for 2 channel audio. This was the same with my MX120 and MX136.
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Old 04-21-2017, 03:23 PM
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It can certainly handle both your needs, but with a really nice set of speakers and a really nice amp, you'll probably want a really nice separate preamp and DAC to make the most of your digital audio files. As I mentioned in the other thread, the MX121 was a big improvement over my Marantz AV8003 for movies, but the C2300 + D100 combo is superior for digital music files.
Thanks! I don't have any digital music files yet. All of my stuff is either CD, SACD, DVD-A, and Blu-Ray. That doesn't mean I wouldn't like to try digital music some day. To put things in perspective, I'm currently using a HK AVR520. I demo'd a few Rotel's and Classe's a few years back and was unimpressed with their sound quality (too bright lack warmth). I was hoping the MX121 would give me that same wow factor as the MC402.

Is it really that much of a difference (C2300 vs MX121)? Some of the members on audio forums can embellish a little... for instances speakers that didn't sound good all of a sudden do after swapping in expensive speaker cable. I appreciate the feedback! Thanks!
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Old 04-21-2017, 03:28 PM
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Some of the members on audio forums can embellish a little... for instances speakers that didn't sound good all of a sudden do after swapping in expensive speaker cable. I appreciate the feedback! Thanks!
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Old 04-21-2017, 04:27 PM
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haha!
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Old 04-21-2017, 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by PMCH View Post
Sorry, I really only use the MX121 for 5.1 TV not for stereo. I found the MX121 to be significantly better sounding than my Marantz AV7005. For me it was night and day. I don't hear the MX121 to be warm sounding. I just hear it to be missing many of the musical qualities that I have heard with my C2300 and C1100 preamps being used for 2 channel audio. This was the same with my MX120 and MX136.
Thanks! Good to hear the MX121 sounds quite a bit better than the AV7005.

Any common problems I need to worry about before I pull the trigger? All MX121's came with a microphone for audyssey. Correct?
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