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mcintosh preamp for 5.1

apologies in advance for not thoroughly searching this topic but here’s my question. i’m in the market for a mac preamp that i will be using strictly for 5.1 (i have a dedicated two channel stereo that consists of either a c28 or a ma6200 paired with two 2100s in mono powering my klipsch klf 10s with crites crossovers) so now that’s out of the way back to my original question...i’ve recently been looking at mcintosh preamps for my ht setup and i’m not into all the latest and greatest surround formats as i know that’s an ever changing thing as time goes on. just interested in a good quality sounding 5.1 setup through a mac. as for speakers i’m running all old klipsch kg series that are more then likely inadequate for my venture as well but that can be remedied later on down the road. looking for input from you all what would be a good direction to go. i’m considering the following; mx119, mx132, and possibly both the 134 and 135. please correct me if i’m wrong in the idea of using any of them for a dedicated ht preamp. i am unsure of what amp i would be running along with the preamp as well. any help and recommendations will be greatly appreciated. 

sorry for for a complete and unorganized ramble
bradleyh21
caphill
674 posts
 
There isn’t a single Mac preamp that I like and it also applies to their av multi-channel preamp processors (av pre pro). There are much better sounding preamps or av pre pros out there than McIntosh, some of them are cheaper than McIntosh but probably aren’t loaded with features or bells & whistles like Mac pre pros are.
I would recommend the following AV preamp surround processors :
* Classe SSP 800 (discontinued last year)
* Classe Sigma SSP
* Bryston SP3
* Krell Evolution 707 (discontinued)
* Cary Cinema 12
* Meridian Reference 861 v8
* Datasat LS10 & RS20i
* Trinnov Altitude 16 or 18
* Lyngdorf MP-50. I haven’t yet heard it but many people highly recommend this product.

So all the above av pre pros sound better than Mac pre pros.
g_nakamoto's avatar
g_nakamoto
348 posts
 
i don't know too much about high end equipment. but i have a McIntosh mc602 power amp my son gave me. i was looking for a mcintosh pre-amp tuner to match the amp. i only listen to 2 chanell stereo. all of their pre-amp tuners are their older style units. only reason i bought the mx132 was because it had the lowest price of the other a/v units.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,426 posts
 
@caphill...……………………………………….

You must be in the minority.  I upgraded to a McIntosh C2500 tube preamp and it bests all the other preamps, both tube and solid state I have had over the last 48 years.  All the pre-pros that you list which sound better than Mac are merely an opinion (yours).  Which Mac did you put these against?
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

As to caphill's point, the McIntosh HT multi-channel processors are not in the same league as their dedicated 2-channel tube preamp equipment.  All the Mac processors are very nice in keeping that "Mac style" of sonic signature, but they are compromised due to the fact that the audio stages are all op-amp based.  McIntosh attempts to keep their "laid back" type of sound, but have to use op amps due to size, cost and multi-channel requirements.  While the McIntosh HT processors are very nice, there are definitely many options that have better resolution, attack and detail.

I'm not sure that all of the processors that caphill suggested are better.  Maybe they are different, depending on what you're looking for.  The Classe SSP-800 is incredibly detailed and transparent.  Bryston SP3 is actually laid back in the mids/highs, but has massive bass response.  The Krell 707/S1200 are awesome because of their discrete Class A analog stages, but I think they can come across a little thin/bright because it's my opinion the power supply capacitance is undersized.  Datasat has massive amounts of DSP and computing power, but not sure that their analog stages are any better.  Etc. Etc.

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