yukithefatcat

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $6000.00

Summary:
Audioreview is now 2 models behind on the McIntosh products -- the MX-132 is discontinued, replaced with the MX-134, and the top model is now the MX-135. I'm using the MX-135 with the MC-206 amp, and the combination is very musical, has an extremely low noise floor, and is probably the easiest to use of the competition. This is not a product for those who want the very latest in every feature (no HDMI/DVI ins), nor for DIY-ers who like to tinker with upgrades. Rather, it offers simplicity, reliability, a fantastic user interface, and top sound quality (beyond this level, it becomes entirely subjective). All the basics are elegantly covered, such as the ability to see the display clearly from the other side of a large room, a well-thought-out and powerful remote (it comes with a harmony remote, which has an excellent range and is likely the best universal remote currently available), and buttons for every often-used feature on the front panel. Set-up was a breeze, and even a novice will be up and running on this in under 30 minutes. Even my wife, who had little previous interest in such things, quickly fell in love with the sound, looks, and easy operability of the MX-135. You either love or hate the look of Mac's gear. I admit I had a difficult time getting used to it in the store, and its sheer monstrosity took a few days' further adjustment once the MX-135/MC-206 combo arrived. I've now grown to love the elegance and attention-to-detail of the design (and especially the well-lit meters)... but no matter how you feel, something can be said for a product with a look that never changes (and thus never goes out of style).

Strengths:
Musicality, ease-of-use, ample ins/outs for every conceivable home theater set-up (including 8 balanced outs).

Weaknesses:
no DVI/HDMI ins

Similar Products Used:
Marantz, Meridian, Bel Canto, Sony ES.

Price Paid:  $7000.00 from Audio Craft

Summary:
Hey guys, get up to date. The MX 132 is no longer available. Current model is MX 134. It is very hard to criticize a Mac. This is simply the best processor on the market. The case is built like a tank. The controls are designed to be simple and easy to make adjustments. Who wants to go through computer like menus just to adjust or trim volume levels of potentially eight speakers? If you want to trim the subwoofer volume, you just select subwoofer and spin the trim knob. For DTS EX or other 6.1 or 7.1 configurations, there is a simple button to shut-off the back speakers. There is another simple button for late night use. This setting reduces the dynamics of the source and raises the center channel volume. This great for watching a movie after the kid’s go to bed. For those of you that are considering a home theater system for movies and want to have a system for surround audio, beware! DVD Videos are fantastic and general do not have copy protection, but DVD Audio and SACD’s are another story. The crooks in the music industry will have you screaming expletives after you have spent $40-50,000. just to find that copy protection limits your listening pleasure. What do I mean, well, the Mac has phenomenal surround decoding capabilities, but copy protection on the majority of DVD audio and all SACD software restrict digital output. You are limited to the decoders built-in the source player. This is a rip-off. If I pay $19-25.00 for a DVD Audio Disk or SACD, then I want no restrictions! Blame it on Napster. Do not get me wrong, I believe copying software should be illegal. My problem is that I have to buy the software to learn if copy protection is present. You need the digital output to use an external processor. This is especially true if you want to play DTS 5.1 in DTS EX or 7.1. This processor will create an unbelievable discrete sounding back channel signal from a DTS 5.1 source. I have returned several DVD Audio disks due to copy protection. Another great feature of the MX 134 is it’s expansion capability. If a whole house sound system is in your plans, the MX 134 can be mated with a CR 16 multi-zone A/V controller. Special keypads can be added to provide a whole house sound system.

Strengths:
Solid, well designed, and flexible. component video can be up/down converted to s-video or composite. An AM/FM tuner can be added at an extra cost. One cable connector to a MC206 six channel amplifier. Nice match. Mac gives the owner the wiring configuration of all custom sockets and plugs. Need to make custom cables and design custom cabinets? All the infomation you need is in the operators manual.

Weaknesses:
Power users may want more than two component video inputs. There are no other weaknesses.

Similar Products Used:
MC206 Amplifier, MC402 Amplifier, B&W N802 Loudspeakers and Martin Logan Decent Subwoofer.

Price Paid:  $7000.00 from sound shop colo spri

Summary:
I loved the MX132 and would still have it if it weren't for the MX134. The 134 is a much better piece offering Pro-Logic II, bass mgmnt, better set up of each component, full video switching with s-video to component video conversion.and cleaner pass thru stereo for analog.

Strengths:
Full remote switching for analog, video and full control of second area. McIntosh construction and reliability.

Weaknesses:
None for its day, the 134 just came along and brought improvements with it. The 132 is an excellant piece for the upgrading home theatre enthusiast

Similar Products Used:
McIntosh C-39 with McIntosh MSD4 processor