Binghamton,
N.Y. – McIntosh is expanding its A/V preamp/processor lineup with the shipment
of the $12,500 MX151 and $6,000-suggested MX121 A/V control centers.
They replace
the brand’s single preamp-processor, the $12,000 MX150.
The 7.1-channel
MX121 comes in at half the price of the MX150 and is part of a new $17,500
home-theater bundle that incorporates a 3D Blu-ray player and seven-channel
amp.
The $6,000
MX121 is the brand’s first preamp processor with Apple AirPlay and DLNA
networking, both enabled through the preamp processor’s Ethernet port or a
wireless adapter. The 121 also decodes all Blu-ray HD audio codecs, and it
features wired USB input to play back music stored on portable devices, up-scaling
of all video sources to 1080p over HDMI, and HDMI 1.4a 3D passthrough, which
was not available on the previous year’s single preamp processor.
Other 121
features include Internet radio, Audyssey room correction, Audyssey DSX
post-processing to add front-height and front-width channels, 7.1-channel
analog output, six HDMI 1.4a inputs, and two 1.4a outputs.
Both preamp-processors
feature dual-zone A/V operation.
The $12,500
MX151 features full 3D video passthrough, decoding of all HD audio codecs on
Blu-ray discs, assignable balanced input and outputs, dedicated phono section, Lyngdorf’s
RoomPerfect room-correction technology, and ability to play two-channel audio
sources in up to 7.1 channels via Dolby Pro Logic IIx or DTS Neo:6 post
processing.
For the
$17,500 home-theater bundle, McIntosh is packaging the MX121 preamp processor
with the $6,000 7×200-watt
MC8207 amplifier and its
first
3D Blu-ray player, the $5,500-suggested universal
MVP891.
Although the
three are not packaged together at a discounted price, “the three units are
presented as a suite to provide a complete home-theater solution,” the company
said. “The products sell separately but complement each other perfectly as a
full system.”
The
bundle’s MVP891 universal Blu-ray player is the brand’s first 3D Blu-ray player
and its first Blu-ray player with DLNA networking, which streams audio and
video from a networked PC. Other features include playback of DVD-Audio and
SACD discs, BD-Live Profile 2.0, USB memory drive reader and an RS232C
interface.
The
MC8207 amplifier features McIntosh Dynamic Power Management circuit to deliver
full power into both 4- and 8-ohm speakers. Two-zone capability enables
simultaneous driving of a 5.1-channel home-theater systems and a separate
stereo zone. Its LED-based meters look like analog VU meters.
