Stereo in an A\V Processor
 

I have the MX123+MC255 , An A\V kit.
In Stereo mode , Can I receive better Audio quality if I'll add a dedicated Stereo
Amp or preamp (Don't know what) ?
Any advice which Mcintosh product to add (If it's possible ) ?
Or stay as now ..
Thanks

If you decided to add a McIntosh Pre-Amp, you would hook up the Pre-Amp to your front left and right channels of your 255.

The front channel outputs of your 123 would go into the McIntosh Pre-amp (say C2700)

You then would hook up the 12v Trigger from the 123 to the passthru input of the C2700.


What this will do, is all your 2 channel sources go to the 2700, say turntable streamer, disc player etc. When you listen to 2 channel, its the 2700 and 255 powered up only.

When you power up the 123 to watch a movie, the 12v trigger turns on your 2700 automatically and puts the 2700 into home theater passthru mode. This disables all eq/source selection/volume etc of the C2700. Your front channels of the 123 simply pass through the C2700 to the 255 amp.

I did that for a few years with my HT processor and C1100 pre-amp.

Just note not all McIntosh 2 channel pre-amps have passthru mode. Just look for the input on the back or check the manuals.

Hi.
Thanks very much indeed for your reply.
I now need to learn your reply deeply.
All the best
Ronen

I have an MX 151 home theater processor. While it is totally excellent for surroundsound, I don’t know why, but when I use it for just two channel, it does not sound as good as my dedicated stereo preamp with pass-through mode. Hope this helps and good luck.

Eric

Exactly.
Same as with me.
Thanks!!!

It depends on which processor you have and which pre-amp you choose and the sound you prefer. I have a switch box where I can transfer the front two channels between any processor or pre-amp. My C-34 sounded better than my MX-119 and 120 but not as good as my MX 151. Its all about personal choice. I love the C-500 T and C-1000T, but neither has the features or flexibility I want. I am less enamored with the C-22III, C220 and C2200. But thats just me. I do prefer SS pre-amps , but the new ones don't have the features I need either. Thats why I stick with my C-34 with a MP 100 to improve the phono section for my analog stereo pre-amp. I liked the C-200, but doesn't have tone controls. I wish Mac would make a separate program eq with separate controls for each channel and variable HP and Low pass filters I could use it in processor loops. Then I could choose other less flexible pre-amps. But until then I'll stick with my C-34. It might be fun to have a C-53 if it were more flexible, it has to sound better than my C34 and it has that +Digital input module.

Question:
Is passthru solution reduce Audio quality ? ( Both in surround and Stereo modes. )

It shouldn’t. It take the input signal coming from your MX123 and simply passes it through the preamp. The preamp has 0 control of the signal.

When you are listing to stereo sources they are fed to your preamp, not your MX123, so you should hear and improvement.

Thank you!
Ps.
In HomeTheater movie, When only Stereo format produced , Will I hear stereo movie sound only via the added pre amp ?

simply - no.