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MX113/MX114 Advice Needed

DanBNash

DanBNash

Active Member
I am considering the purchase of a restored McIntosh MX113 or MX114 preamp/tuner. There seem to be a lot of them out there (especially the MX113) in nice condition at reasonable prices.

I would like some advice. Does anyone know if this would be a good fit with my other equipment. I am using a Carver a500x power amp that puts out 250 watts. I bought this from an AK'er to drive some Thiel CS2 2's. I also have a Budgie tube phono preamp and a Thorens 190 turntable. I would like to eventually have 2 turntables hooked up so that I could then use the McIntosh phono input for one of them.

Can anyone comment on whether the MX113 or MX114 would be a good addition for me. (I am currently using a Cambridge Audio 840a integrated amp as my preamp).

I love the look of the 113/114 and have always wanted to try McIntosh components. Thanks in advance for your help!
 
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I was not fond of the MX113 and 114. A friend of mine had a 113 and another the 114. Both were using Mac speakers with 2105 amps and the combination was a little edgy for me. Another customer had a 113 driving bi amped 2100's for Bozak speakers and the combination was a little more tolerable. Another friend was using Empire speakers with the exaggerated highs and the MX-113 and 2105 he had were very fatiguing. Another Friend a MX 117 with a MC 7200 and Mac ML series speakers and the sound was wonderful. So the issue wasn't the speakers, I always felt it was the MX-113 with a little help from the early 2000 series amps.
 
The 115 is the FM only version of the 113. The 114 is older and has a different tuner. The IF section of a 113/115 is similar to an MR-74.
 
The MX-114 is the FM only version of the (AM/FM) MX-112, while the latter MX-115 is the FM only version of the (AM/FM) MX-113. I own an MX-114 and find that for any early solid state unit, it sounds pretty good. Maybe not quite as good as my refurbed (and tubed) MX-110 but certainly pleasing enough.
 
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