Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Supports 8K video via HDMI.
- Has a total of 16 channels, enough for a sophisticated home theatre setup like 15.1 or 9.1.6 channels.
- Supports HDR and HDR10+ with better picture dynamics, most picture formats and also the 3D surround formats Dolby Atmos, Auro-2D and DTS:X Pro.
- Has 7 Ultra-High-Speed HDMI connectors (5 in and 2 out) that support 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz.
- All HDMI ports support HDCP 2.3, 4:4:4 Color, 2020, Dynamic Lip-sync, and 3D Video pass-through as well as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), Quick Media Switching (QMS), and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).
- Two HDMI outputs can transfer to two separate projectors, either from the same or different sources.
- Integrated RoomPerfect room correction.
- Has a range of digital and analogue inputs, plus turntable input for MM pickup.
Product Considerations
- Priced at $17,000, before duty and VAT.
Takeaway: The McIntosh MX180 is a flagship AV processor made for those who want a high-end home theater experience. With its support for 8K video, 16 channels, and various HDR formats, it offers a sophisticated and immersive experience.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
MX180
reviews
[{"title":"McIntosh MX180","link":"https://www.lbtechreviews.com/news/home-theatre/mcintosh-mx180","source":"LB Tech Reviews","datePublished":"2022"}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Multi-Channel Outputs: Balanced 15.1
- Multi-Channel Inputs: Unbalanced 7.1
- Unit Dimensions (W x H x D): 17-1/2" x 7-5/8" x 16-1/2" (44.45cm x 19.4cm x 41.9cm)
- Unit Weight: 30 lbs (13.6 kg)
- Shipping Weight: 54 lbs (24.5 kg)
- Total Harmonic Distortion (DSP Bypass): 0.005%
- HDMI Inputs: 5
- HDMI Outputs: 2
- Digital Coaxial Inputs: 3
- Digital Optical Inputs: 4
- Digital Coaxial Output: 1
- AES/EBU Balanced Input: 1
- Stereo Inputs Balanced: 2
- Stereo Inputs Unbalanced: 5
Description
For the Home Theater of Today and Tomorrow. Enjoy the present and be prepared for the future of home theater with the MX180 A/V Processor. With an increasing amount of blockbuster movies being released direct to home streaming, a state-of-the-art – as well as a future ready – home theater system is necessary to fully immerse yourself in the movie experience.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- McIntosh products blend classic, retro aesthetics, reminiscent of their 1970s designs, with modern materials and cutting-edge internal components, offering a unique visual appeal.
- The brand's amplifiers are known for their substantial power output, often exceeding specifications, and their ability to drive a wide range of speakers across varying impedance levels due to their unique Autoformer technology.
- McIntosh offers a high degree of customization and control through features like multi-band equalizers, adjustable input sensitivity, and advanced settings accessible via dedicated apps or web interfaces.
- They distinguish themselves with a focus on long-term reliability and customer satisfaction, with products built to last for decades and supported by a dedicated dealer network.
Select products
Select product comparisons
MHT300
- Positioning: Positioned as a versatile home theater receiver in McIntosh's lineup, suitable for custom installations or standalone display.
- Description: Supports 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video, making it ideal for modern home theaters. Unlike other McIntosh products, it offers 7.2 channel audio with expandability to 7.2.4, providing flexibility for future upgrades. This makes it perfect for users looking to integrate advanced video capabilities and immersive audio in a custom home theater setup.
MHA200
- Positioning: A compact, high-quality headphone amplifier designed for personal audio enthusiasts.
- Description: Uses vacuum tube amplification, delivering a warm and detailed sound that is distinct from solid-state amplifiers like the MC462. Its compact size and multiple impedance settings make it versatile for various headphone types.
MC462
- Positioning: A powerful stereo amplifier, offering robust performance for high-end home audio systems.
- Description: Features a Quad Balanced design with McIntosh Autoformers, providing 450 Watts per channel with low distortion. Compared to the MC1502, it offers a solid-state solution with increased dynamic headroom.
MC1502
- Positioning: A high-power vacuum tube amplifier, ideal for audiophiles seeking classic tube sound.
- Description: Delivers 150 Watts per channel using vacuum tubes, offering a rich, warm sound that contrasts with the solid-state clarity of the MC462. Its Unity Coupled Circuit ensures consistent performance across various speaker impedances.
MC901
- Positioning: A unique dual mono amplifier, combining both vacuum tube and solid-state technologies.
- Description: Integrates a 300 Watt vacuum tube amplifier with a 600 Watt solid-state amplifier, providing the best of both worlds for bi-amping loudspeakers. This hybrid approach is unlike any other McIntosh product.
MC21KW
- Positioning: A flagship monoblock amplifier, representing the pinnacle of McIntosh's power amplification.
- Description: Delivers 2,000 Watts of power, making it suitable for the most demanding audio setups. Its tri-chassis design and advanced technologies like Autoformer and Power Guard set it apart from other amplifiers.
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Avg. Product Price
$10,001-$20,000
Used For Sale
543
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
2
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
77
Founding Year
1949
Our take on the brand
McIntosh is one of the most iconic amplifier brands in the world, recognizable for its signature blue LED displays and distinctive industrial design. With a legacy spanning decades, McIntosh is known to many, even outside the audiophile community, and is sold in both mass-market retailers and specialized hifi stores. Their amplifiers are characterized by a warm, tube-like sound that enriches the midrange and smooths out the overall tonal balance.
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McIntosh
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What if you spend more?
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What competes at this price?
Lyngdorf
MP-60
14999
/
Released
2024
MP-60 2.1 is equipped with all the advanced technologies for which Lyngdorf Audio is known, including the renowned room correction system RoomPerfect and the unsurpassed quality in digital signal processing. Together with the Steinway Lyngdorf version, the P300, the MP-60 2.1 is developed at the group headquarters in Skive, Denmark.
Lyngdorf Audio is known for its RoomPerfect technology, which learns and corrects room acoustics, and for creating the first fully digital amplifier that converts digital signals directly to PWM without a traditional DAC. The brand's unique Boundary Woofers are designed to be placed against walls to use room acoustics for better bass, setting them apart from traditional subwoofer approaches.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Reference-level sound quality combines clarity, nuance, and power
- RoomPerfect room correction system is easy to configure and provides great results
- Extensive tuning capabilities include bi-amp and tri-amp configurations with crossovers and full parametric equalization on every channel
- Elegant, minimalist Scandinavian design with a high-quality build
- Lacks analog inputs, requiring external ADCs for turntables and other analog sources
- Does not have WiFi connectivity, necessitating a wired Ethernet connection
Product Considerations
- The remote control lacks backlighting
- HDMI CEC control isn't enabled while in standby mode, by design, increasing power consumption
- Requires XLR-to-RCA adapters that do not tie XLR pin #3 to ground to connect amplifiers or components with unbalanced inputs
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Trinnov Altitude 16 is more expensive and does not include the equipment to implement their Room Optimizer application, but is considered a sophisticated processor for spacious, dedicated home theaters
- The McIntosh MX 180 licenses Lyngdorf's RoomPerfect and offers similar features, with an appeal to those who prefer the McIntosh aesthetic
- The Anthem AVM 90 is more affordable but has four of its 19 channels dedicated to subwoofers, which cannot be used for other purposes
Takeaway: The Lyngdorf MP-60 2.1 is a top-tier AV processor that delivers exceptional sound quality and a user-friendly experience. With its advanced room correction and flexible configuration options, it is a great choice for those seeking a high-performance home theater experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Lyngdorf Audio is known for its RoomPerfect technology, which learns and corrects room acoustics, and for creating the first fully digital amplifier that converts digital signals directly to PWM without a traditional DAC. The brand's unique Boundary Woofers are designed to be placed against walls to use room acoustics for better bass, setting them apart from traditional subwoofer approaches.
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StormAudio
ISP Core 16
13999
/
Released
2022
With a design based on the StormAudio ISP Elite platform, the ISP Core 16 is a sleek, compact and premium option that delivers StormAudio's signature functionality and performance in a 3U chassis. Supporting 16 channels, it carries all the Elite platform features such as 20 PEQs per channel, multi-way speakers management and any number of subwoofers.
StormAudio's ISP processors function more like computers than traditional preamp/processors, focusing on all-digital processing and minimal digital-to-analog conversions to preserve signal purity. Designed specifically for custom home theater integrators, their processors feature advanced bass management for any speaker configuration and were the first to fully incorporate Dirac Live Active Room Treatment for superior room correction.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Upgradeability is limited to its HDMI section, sharing the same upgrade path for HDMI that the MK2 processors have
- Offers a wide set of calibration tools, including PEQs, active crossovers, and Dirac Live
- Has the ability to integrate third-party control systems and be part of a multi-zone audio system through Rune, being Rune-ready
- The 16-channel XLR balanced outputs are driven by the same DAC board in the MK2, so one can expect the same great audio performance
- Features the same DSPs as the MK2, enabling 20 PEQs per channel and active crossover management
- Delivers incredibly transparent and exceptionally detailed sound
- Easy to use, with browser or app-based configuration/control
Product Considerations
- Upgradeability is limited to the HDMI section
- Cannot be upgraded to a 24 or 32-channel unit, nor does it have the ability to install any digital input or output options available for the MK2 lines
- The Dirac Live Base Control add-on is not included by default and is part of an optional license package
- Auro 3D is limited to 7.1.6 speaker configurations
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The ISP Core 16 is limited to 16 channels, while the StormAudio ISP.32 MK2 allows up to 32 channels
- The ISP Core 16 uses the same DAC board as the StormAudio ISP Elite MK2
- ISP Core 16 gives up some upgradeability options to achieve its less expensive price point compared to StormAudio's flagship ISP Elite MK3 processors
- The ISP Core 16 is much lighter and smaller because it doesn't have as many legacy analog inputs
Takeaway: The ISP Core 16 offers great sound quality with an easy to use interface that can bring your home theater to life. Dirac Live and other technologies combine to deliver a fully immersive sound experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
StormAudio's ISP processors function more like computers than traditional preamp/processors, focusing on all-digital processing and minimal digital-to-analog conversions to preserve signal purity. Designed specifically for custom home theater integrators, their processors feature advanced bass management for any speaker configuration and were the first to fully incorporate Dirac Live Active Room Treatment for superior room correction.
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T+A
R 2500 R
18880
/
Released
2024
In the R 2500 R, the design and performance of our R series come together with the universal usability of a 'One Box System.' Its sources enable an almost limitless selection of playback options, with its integrated DSD and PCM converters transforming digital signals into analog signals of unique quality, which are then output to external speakers by the built-in amplifiers in T+A's typical sound quality.
T+A is a hifi brand that combines transistor and valve technologies in their HV-Series amplifiers, using high voltage for linear performance, while their A 200 Power Amplifier uses PURIFI Eigentakt technology for low distortion regardless of speaker load.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Combines a CD player, FM tuner, integrated amplifier, DAC, and network streamer in one chassis
- Features a minimalist industrial design and is made of thick-walled aluminum, with components machined from solid metal
- Features a class-AB dual-mono amplifier design, outputting 140Wpc into 8 ohms or 250Wpc into 4 ohms
- Has a DAC section with separate paths for PCM and DSD, using Burr-Brown devices for PCM and T+A's True-1-Bit converter for DSD
- Features T+A's High-Frequency Sinusoidal Power Supply for stable power delivery
Product Considerations
- The T+A MusicNavigator app was a bit clunky when it came to pairing the unit to a Wi-Fi network, requiring several attempts, but ultimately it worked
- The app's search engine is not excellent, and interfacing with NAS libraries or attached hard drives requires more finger-punches to get to the desired music than the best streamer apps
- The review unit had not yet been certified by Roon Labs as a Roon Ready device at the time of the review, though this may no longer be an issue
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs MOON by Simaudio 390/760A—the MOON pairing had a warmer sound with greater focus on the midrange frequencies, slightly more guttural bass, and greater center vocal focus, but a higher noise floor on the phono stage compared to the R 2500 R
- Vs dCS Bartók—the T+A DAC is like the sharpest HD photo, extremely detailed about the lines around things and the contrasts of sounds, while the dCS is always relaxed and musical, everything in balance always and a tiny bit 'impressionistic'
Takeaway: The T+A R 2500 R is a high-performance all-in-one component that offers many options for playing music from almost any source. Its build quality, powerful amplifier, and detailed sound make it a great centerpiece for a modern audio system.
Video review
Our take on the brand
T+A is a hifi brand that combines transistor and valve technologies in their HV-Series amplifiers, using high voltage for linear performance, while their A 200 Power Amplifier uses PURIFI Eigentakt technology for low distortion regardless of speaker load.
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