Buying a used MX121 anything I need to know?

[leftside]

How would anyone who owns the MX121 describe the overall sound?

I'm used to the sound from an EAD Ovation and it is very lush, almost liquid, if that could be an audio term. I have auditioned several other procs over the past decade and all have not sounded as good as the EAD. I did try a McIntosh C45 many years back and it was close. Input sources are pretty standard. One Blu-ray player, HD cable and multiple analog sources (TT,R2R,cassette), plus an Amazon Firestick.

It depends.

1) For movies: big improvement over my previous Marantz
2) For music: I don't like the internal DAC too much. Prefer a standalone DAC. But, as a 2-channel preamp it's really good! Should work well with your analog sources.

You also have the option of using the decoding in your blu-ray player or the decoding in the MX121.

 

[Duane]

It depends.

1) For movies: big improvement over my previous Marantz
2) For music: I don't like the internal DAC too much. Prefer a standalone DAC. But, as a 2-channel preamp it's really good! Should work well with your analog sources.

You also have the option of using the decoding in your blu-ray player or the decoding in the MX121.

This is the second time someone has mentioned using the decoders in a Blu-ray player. Is there something lacking in the MX121's decoding ability?

 

[feinstei]

This is the second time someone has mentioned using the decoders in a Blu-ray player. Is there something lacking in the MX121's decoding ability?

Not at all... It's just that McIntosh happened to put superb DAC circuitry into the MVP-891 (the transport seems to be the same as in my Oppo 93). Playing the MVP-891 through the MX-121 shows a better soundstage on the RCA Red Seal SACD of "Pines Of Rome" when using the 7.1 analogue inputs rather than the HDMI or optical inputs of the MX-121. The superbly engineered and mastered "Hope" CD from the British Libera choir is dramatically more revelatory in terms of the reproduction of the soloist voices and separation of different sections of the choir when played through the 7.1 inputs and letting the MVP-891 do all the work.

Just for comparison, if I play the Oppo 93 through the HDMI jacks or optical jacks versus the 7.1 analogue jacks shows that the MX-121 has a superior DAC circuitry to the stock Oppo 93.

The only really below-par piece of the MX-121 is the phono section.... I thought that the MX-119's was much better (I use the MP-1100 as my phono preamp). The MX-121 also needed a mono switch, especially for LP playback.

May I suggest that you simply buy an MX-121 with return privileges at Audio Classics and evaluate it for yourself?

 

[Duane]

Not at all... It's just that McIntosh happened to put superb DAC circuitry into the MVP-891 (the transport seems to be the same as in my Oppo 93). Playing the MVP-891 through the MX-121 shows a better soundstage on the RCA Red Seal SACD of "Pines Of Rome" when using the 7.1 analogue inputs rather than the HDMI or optical inputs of the MX-121. The superbly engineered and mastered "Hope" CD from the British Libera choir is dramatically more revelatory in terms of the reproduction of the soloist voices and separation of different sections of the choir when played through the 7.1 inputs and letting the MVP-891 do all the work.

Just for comparison, if I play the Oppo 93 through the HDMI jacks or optical jacks versus the 7.1 analogue jacks shows that the MX-121 has a superior DAC circuitry to the stock Oppo 93.

The only really below-par piece of the MX-121 is the phono section.... I thought that the MX-119's was much better (I use the MP-1100 as my phono preamp). The MX-121 also needed a mono switch, especially for LP playback.

May I suggest that you simply buy an MX-121 with return privileges at Audio Classics and evaluate it for yourself?

Thanks for the information regarding the DACs.

As for Audio Classics, they don't have one currently. I purchased the C45 from them and they were very professional and gracious about sending it back.

I'm really on the fence about this unit. I've always liked the looks of Mac gear, but it's really the sound quality that matters. Just can't justify the cost of the units in their newer lineup.

 

[feinstei]

Thanks for the information regarding the DACs.

As for Audio Classics, they don't have one currently. I purchased the C45 from them and they were very professional and gracious about sending it back.

I'm really on the fence about this unit. I've always liked the looks of Mac gear, but it's really the sound quality that matters. Just can't justify the cost of the units in their newer lineup.

Oh... That's too bad. If you happen to be in the Midwest, you can certainly come and listen to mine.

 

[leftside]

This is the second time someone has mentioned using the decoders in a Blu-ray player. Is there something lacking in the MX121's decoding ability?

Like I said, I feel it decodes movie soundtracks much better than my previous Marantz. Some people have superb Blu-ray players though that <might> decode better than the MX121. For me, I bitstream from a PC, and the MX121 does a very fine job.

And the DAC I was talking about in the previous post was in relation to 2-channel music.

 

[leftside]

MX121 + an external DAC such as a Yggy, Lampizator or D150 (though it would pain me to have two "preamps") and you'll be rocking.

 

[Duane]

Not at all... It's just that McIntosh happened to put superb DAC circuitry into the MVP-891 (the transport seems to be the same as in my Oppo 93). Playing the MVP-891 through the MX-121 shows a better soundstage on the RCA Red Seal SACD of "Pines Of Rome" when using the 7.1 analogue inputs rather than the HDMI or optical inputs of the MX-121. The superbly engineered and mastered "Hope" CD from the British Libera choir is dramatically more revelatory in terms of the reproduction of the soloist voices and separation of different sections of the choir when played through the 7.1 inputs and letting the MVP-891 do all the work.

Just for comparison, if I play the Oppo 93 through the HDMI jacks or optical jacks versus the 7.1 analogue jacks shows that the MX-121 has a superior DAC circuitry to the stock Oppo 93.

The only really below-par piece of the MX-121 is the phono section.... I thought that the MX-119's was much better (I use the MP-1100 as my phono preamp). The MX-121 also needed a mono switch, especially for LP playback.

May I suggest that you simply buy an MX-121 with return privileges at Audio Classics and evaluate it for yourself?

In order to play the DSD layer from an SACD, it's my understanding that it's not playable over HDMI. Do you have to use the 7.1 analog inputs and use Pure Mode?

 

[damacman]

Not at all... It's just that McIntosh happened to put superb DAC circuitry into the MVP-891 (the transport seems to be the same as in my Oppo 93). Playing the MVP-891 through the MX-121 shows a better soundstage on the RCA Red Seal SACD of "Pines Of Rome" when using the 7.1 analogue inputs rather than the HDMI or optical inputs of the MX-121. The superbly engineered and mastered "Hope" CD from the British Libera choir is dramatically more revelatory in terms of the reproduction of the soloist voices and separation of different sections of the choir when played through the 7.1 inputs and letting the MVP-891 do all the work.

Just for comparison, if I play the Oppo 93 through the HDMI jacks or optical jacks versus the 7.1 analogue jacks shows that the MX-121 has a superior DAC circuitry to the stock Oppo 93.

Very interesting. Pertaining to our other discussion, you could indeed use the line outputs of the 891 and multi-ch inouts of the MX121 the same way you are now. The 891's XLR outs would facilitate connection to the C2300 for when you wanted to listen to stereo SACDS, CDs, DVD-As, Bluray hi-res discs, etc.

 

[Duane]

Was able to find one on Audiogon. It arrived in the original boxes and is in pristine condition. It sounds very good. Still going through many of the options to find what suits my needs. Very flexible.

SACD DSD over the analog input sounds quite good. Really enjoying it.

 

[feinstei]

Was able to find one on Audiogon. It arrived in the original boxes and is in pristine condition. It sounds very good. Still going through many of the options to find what suits my needs. Very flexible.

SACD DSD over the analog input sounds quite good. Really enjoying it.

Congratulations. I have enjoyed mine and it seems to be a fine all-purpose unit. I replaced the two front channels of mine with a vacuum tube C2300 last week. I now believe that I have an ideal system.

 

[KevinL]

I found that the CD input only accepts optical input. When I try to select HDMI, it says [no hdmi]

 

[TSmith8605]

I found that the CD input only accepts optical input. When I try to select HDMI, it says [no hdmi]

Correct. Traditionally CD players do not use HDMI connections. You can plug your player into any of the 6 HDMI inputs if they're not already taken.

 

[TSmith8605]

My post is too late but maybe useful still for someone.

I have been comparing my MX121 to my C220 for analog stereo preamp duties for a couple years. I have a hard time telling them apart for line level analog sources. But I give a slight edge to the phono pre in the C220 and so right now, I'm using the C220 as just a phono pre with its tape out plugged into the MX121 CDR input.

I only like the MX121 as a 2-channel analog pre when in the "Pure Direct" mode. In other modes, the MX does not compare well to the C220. I set "Pure Direct" to the inputs for phono (or CDR when using the C220 phono pre), Tuner, and analog from the MVP861 (or MCD 500). The MVP861 plays SACD (as does MCD500) and DVD Audio and there is no way to get those higher-res audio signals to the MX in digital format. The "Pure Direct" button is on the front panel and the MX will remember how you set each particular input.

MX 121 HDMI version supports up to 3D but not 4K video. So if I ever want to update to 4K, I'll need to get a new pre/pro and newer TV.

I used the Audyssey set up and was not very impressed with the room correct results - did not hear much difference but it did get my surround speakers balanced.

For now, I am very happy with my MX.

 

[leftside]

My post is too late but maybe useful still for someone.

I have been comparing my MX121 to my C220 for analog stereo preamp duties for a couple years. I have a hard time telling them apart for line level analog sources. But I give a slight edge to the phono pre in the C220 and so right now, I'm using the C220 as just a phono pre with its tape out plugged into the MX121 CDR input.

I only like the MX121 as a 2-channel analog pre when in the "Pure Direct" mode. In other modes, the MX does not compare well to the C220. I set "Pure Direct" to the inputs for phono (or CDR when using the C220 phono pre), Tuner, and analog from the MVP861 (or MCD 500). The MVP861 plays SACD (as does MCD500) and DVD Audio and there is no way to get those higher-res audio signals to the MX in digital format. The "Pure Direct" button is on the front panel and the MX will remember how you set each particular input.

MX 121 HDMI version supports up to 3D but not 4K video. So if I ever want to update to 4K, I'll need to get a new pre/pro and newer TV.

I used the Audyssey set up and was not very impressed with the room correct results - did not hear much difference but it did get my surround speakers balanced.

For now, I am very happy with my MX.

Agreed on all points. It's a great preamp in Pure Direct mode. I don't have a turntable in the room where I have the MX121, so I sold my C2300 as I too couldn't hear a difference between the MX121 in Pure Direct mode vs the C2300.

I play movies through my PC with a high-end graphics card. The Display Port output (for video) is sent directly to the TV, and the HDMI output (for sound) is sent to the MX121. This configuration works fine with a 4K TV.