OP
WestSideWarrior
Member
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2021
- Messages
- 37
- Likes
- 110
- Thread Starter
- #41
We can retake it from the noise floor part. After recollecting a bit information about past McIntosh releases, I do wonder about some elements:
-Is it due to management change that McIntosh is now contradicting the words of Ken Zelin, their representative? In a couple presentations in the past, Zelin stated that Mac does not like to develop AVR´s as it would imply wasting perfectly functional amps when the processing (codecs, HDMI version, room correction...) changes. That is a valid point, but this product makes it quite moot.
-Processors such as the MX123 or the MX100 are said to be Denon/Marantz clones. Is this AVR a clone too? If we get them to the bench, should we expect a similar performance to Sound United releases?
-The literature says it´s 4K-120hz compatible, also has eARC and 18 gbps. That is clearly HDMI 2.0 territory, even more so when features such as ALLM or VRR are not present. It seems McIntosh is very aware of the outdated standard yet they cloud the fact under the specs. Is the supply chain for up to date boards in such a bad state? Did they want to use the board stock they had for the MX100? It´s a strange decission, considering that last year, they upgraded the boards of the MX123 and even released a new top processor also with HDMI 2.1.
-No word on amplification. I guess it´s class D and probably from Hypex, considering their past class D releases. No complain in that area, even if the output is a bit limited.
-Is the assembly a Frankenstein taken from the MX100? Because it really seems like an impromptu product from it.
-And last but not least: what about future changes in their processors? Will they go Dirac on their processor refreshes abandoning Audyssey? Will they keep using Room Perfect for the top model?
I honestly think McIntosh has the capacity to do much, much better than this product.
- McIntosh did produced AV receivers (MHT100, MHT200) back in the early noughts. I guess this is their return to this product segment after nearly two decades of absence.
- Definitely would love to see bench tests from ASR or reputable publications as well. Sound & Vision used to bench test previous Mc products like the MX134/MC206 and the MX121/MC8207 home theater separates.
McIntosh MX134 Preamp/Processor & MC206 Amplifier HT Labs Measures
HT Labs Measures: McIntosh MX134 Preamp/Processor The above chart shows the frequency response of the left (purple), center (blue), LFE (red), and left-surround (green) channels at the preamp outputs of the Dolby Digital decoder. The left, center, and surround channels are all flat, +0.01/-0.38...
www.soundandvision.com
Dreaming the Not-Impossible Dream HT Labs Measures
HT Labs Measures McIntosh MX121 A/V Control Center Analog frequency response in Pure Direct mode: –0.25 dB at 10 Hz –0.08 dB at 20 Hz –0.06 dB at 20 kHz –0.41 dB at 50 kHz Analog frequency response with signal processing: –0.64 dB at 10 Hz –0.20 dB at 20 Hz –0.19 dB at 20 kHz
www.soundandvision.com
- As for HDMI version, I do hope that it is a typo on the site considering that finalized specs isn't out yet.
- As for the room correction software, we'll probably need to see how it goes. Dirac seems to be promising as numerous AVR manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon already.
Just my $0.02.