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MX120-What to do, What to do

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Roc Rinaldi

Roc Rinaldi

Member
A month ago I purchased the just released MX120 A/V Controller from McIntosh. Well now I'm hearing about the HDMI 1.3 connection for improved audio & video. The MX120 has HDMI but not the 1.3 version. So what am I going to do? I just invested (hopefully not wasted) almost $7,000 on the MX120 and now I see HDMI 1.3 coming along. I'll bet that there is no way to upgrade the MX 120 to make it capable of the improvements offered by HDMI 1.3. So I'm left with having to sell the 120 at a considerable loss in order to get the HDMI 1.3 capability in a new (hopefully McIntosh) unit. This possibility is not making me happy and is hurting my ability to remain a dedicated McIntosh customer. Does anyone have any other ideas for me? Does anyone know if MAC will offer an upgrade path for the 120? Please help.
 
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Roc,

1.3 is backward compatible with 1.1 or 1.2. If you have a 1.3 source component it will work with all of your HDMI devices as long as they have HDCP. Further more, the 1.3 source will need to have 1.3 software that has the greater color depth or the new audio formats, to be different from normal DVDs.
Everyone needs to also remember that full function 1.3 will NOT run over any cables longer than 6 foot at this time. This will require all of the 1.3 components to be arranged together..

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
When I found out that the MX120 did not have HDMI 1.3, I bought a MX119 so I could have the TM-1 tuner card rather than HDMI.

I am expecting that any high def player I get will still have analog outputs so I can run 7.1 for audio and run HDMI 1.3 direct to my TV.

Hopefully McInotsh will come out with a HDCD/DVD-Audio/SACD/Blue Ray/HD DVD player with a digital input and 7.1 analog outputs next year. (Ron???) I can then replace my Phillips SACD 1000 and my Marantz DVD players. In the mean time I am upgrading to a used Cary 306/200 to replace my Cary 303/200. Unfortunately, the MDA1000 is still beyond reach ($$$). I would love to go with a McIntosh CD player, but the McIntosh players will not act as a DAC. (I have requested that the new McIntosh products accept digital inputs several times on this forum.)

The MX120 is a great unit and with the high def world changing so quickly realize that you need deep pockets to keep current. I looked at the competition and HDMI 1.3 is still too new to buy today. Sit back and let the dust settle and hope that McIntosh listens to our requests. Hopefully the reason we have not yet seen the AP1000 is that it is being delay to ensure it will make me want to upgrade.

Chad Wagner
 
Ron,

I understand that 1.3 is backward compatable and that 1.3 can hook up to the MX120. But the problem that I have is, although the MX120 is compatable with 1.3 it will not allow me to obtain all of the audio & video enhancements that 1.3 offers because the connection between the MX120 and the TV is not 1.3 but rather an earlier version of HDMI. Is this correct? If so, is there anything that can be done to allow my MX120 to pass on to the audio/video the enhancements provided by 1.3?

Please advise.

Sincerely,
Roc
 
Roc,

Until the cable length issue is solved 1.3 is unworkable. This should be fun. Heck, the HDCP spec was just relased last Thursday. Now maybe everyone can fix that advance!

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
Roc Rinaldi said:
Ron,

I understand that 1.3 is backward compatable and that 1.3 can hook up to the MX120. But the problem that I have is, although the MX120 is compatable with 1.3 it will not allow me to obtain all of the audio & video enhancements that 1.3 offers because the connection between the MX120 and the TV is not 1.3 but rather an earlier version of HDMI. Is this correct? If so, is there anything that can be done to allow my MX120 to pass on to the audio/video the enhancements provided by 1.3?

Please advise.

Sincerely,
Roc
Click to expand...

I believe the answer you are looking for is "No" :tears:
 
howiebrou said:
I believe the answer you are looking for is "No" :tears:
Click to expand...
How true. I just knew it.
BTW, this whole HDMI concept stinks. It was invented for copy protection not for consumers to really get anything out of it. Stinks, stinks, stinks.
Can you imagine a 6 foot limit? Unbelievable.
 
Roc Rinaldi said:
How true. I just knew it.
BTW, this whole HDMI concept stinks. It was invented for copy protection not for consumers to really get anything out of it. Stinks, stinks, stinks.
Can you imagine a 6 foot limit? Unbelievable.
Click to expand...

And just as you plonk down 7k for a MX137 they will come with a HDMI 1.4 with a 6 inch range......:sigh:
 
Roc,

You are right. The HDMI spec is driven by the computer folks who seem to think the monitor is next to the computer so they develop a system that works over short lengths. It is also odd to me that we now have the HDMI cables at very high prices to run any appreciable length.
The only solution for AV systems with 1.3 will have to be some kind of fiber-optic solution. The big guys like Samsung will probably come up with a fiber conversion system which will work but it will not be cheap.

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
ron-c said:
The big guys like Samsung will probably come up with a fiber conversion system which will work but it will not be cheap.
Click to expand...
If your in this forum, it's all not about the $:yes:

cnote:smoke:
 
cnote said:
If your in this forum, it's all not about the $:yes:

cnote:smoke:
Click to expand...
I wouldn't say that your statement is true at all. Everybody has different financial situations. In fact, those of us (me included) who have limited finances are actually more loyal and dedicated to McIntosh because our investment affects our finances more than those who have more abundant finances.

So don't say "money doesn't matter", because to many of us it does A LOT.
I'm sure you know the old saying, "A fool and his money are soon parted." You be the judge of whether this saying applies to you.
 
ron-c said:
Very true. If you want to save money go to the bank.

Thanks,
Ron-C
Click to expand...
Ron you are not being very fair. Everyone has financial limits. They are just different amounts for each person.

Are you really saying "If you want to save money go to the bank. If you want to waste money buy McIntosh?" I don't think so, but it could be interpreted that way. Statements like that are risky and not necessarily going to result in more business for McIntosh, which I believe is why you work for them.
 
From a long term value standpoint one could argue that McIntosh is the best investment.

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
masterlu said:
"In McIntosh I Trust"
Click to expand...
Well good for you.
Personally I only trust myself in today's world.
"Blind Faith" was a rock group but not a good idea as a philosophy for purchasing audio equipment.
No one is going to worry more about you than you.
 
ron-c said:
From a long term value standpoint one could argue that McIntosh is the best investment.

Thanks,
Ron-C
Click to expand...
I bought my MA6500 two years ago and its price went up twice since then. I think that a 8-9% return per year isn't a bad investment for something I can also have fun with ;)
 
Roc,

No, I said, "If you want to save money you need to go to a bank". High end audio gear is a luxury product. When you shop for a product like McIntosh you are making a decision which should bring some level of joy and satisfaction. Most seen to think so anyway! So buying McIntosh is a decision to spend money.
If you are committed to enjoying high quality music playback for the rest of your life there are many options to chose from. McIntosh may be the the best value if long therm ownership and satisfaction are the goal. Having a series of lesser systems when one McIntosh would have worked is not saving.
Plus, owning McIntosh will give your kids something to fight over some day.

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
.....Roc, I just retired a McIntosh C26 pre-amp that was used virtually EVERY day since it was brand-new in about 1978....it is sitting now on a storage shelf, and were I to hook it up right now it would perform to factory-specs....that's all well and good, but here's the part that makes it McIntosh....it has "never" been to a shop nor has it received any DIY attention at the house....nothing....playing virtually every day for 29 years.....

.....then there's what McIntosh does for music....McIntosh pre-amps and amps "working together", create perfect ambiance that rolls off into Mc's black background....I have traveled a few roads with other high-dollar amps using the C26, and the resolvement of the highs simply didn't happen....listen, McIntosh, "between the sources and speakers", make wind-chimes sound like no other equipment can....and, as covered above, about never need shopping....your ears, your call.....
 
Roc,

Chill, its gonna be some time before we see 1.3 anyway. In the meantime enjoy your MX120! :yes:
 
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