MX117 or C32/MR74?

[Yggdrasill]

I'm considering my first foray in Mcintosh gear, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the MX117 vs a C32/MR74 combo, both in the preamp and tuner aspects. These pieces are available local to me.

We listen to a lot of radio and are blessed with some fine tuners - 600T, 2130, TU-9900, ST-J75. We're in Seattle where the challenges are more multipath interference than DXing. There's a detailed comparison on TIC which gives a very slight edge to the MR74 over the MX117/MR75. I do like the looks of the MX117 better, though. I'm a sucker for pretty lights.

How about the preamp section of the 117 (equivalent to a C504) vs the C32? I know that the C32 boasts a number of features over the 117 including a 5-band equalizer, a volume control with precision 1% resistors, an expander, and a built-in power guard 12 wpc headphone amplifier. I don't need the equalizer, volume control or headphone amp, and don't understand what difference the precision resistors in the volume control make. On sheer sound quality, is there a preference? Does the C32 merit its higher price on sound quality alone?

Thanks!

Thor

 

[ron-c]

I would chose MX117 if it was me unless you need two boxes.

Thanks,
Ron-C

 

[MX117.MC7150]

Remember, whichever you pick is likely not going to be operating at peak performance unless the tuner is aligned. Afterall, everything you've mentioned is 30 years old or older. If were me, I'd pick what looks the best to my eye. Sonics will be quite similar.

 

[jlovda]

I'm considering my first foray in Mcintosh gear, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the MX117 vs a C32/MR74 combo.

I cannot comment about the MX117 or the MR74 but the C33 and C34V are reputed to to be much better than the C32.