McIntosh MX117 Stereo Tuner Preamp - Serviced and Gorgeous w/Original Box!

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General:

McIntosh's best looking preamp tuner, hands down, rumored to be made up of a C29 preamp which is a great preamp on its own.

This particular sample arrived at the shop in need of a light service to get working just right and to ensure a long future service life.

Front panel cosmetics are very good with superb chassis knobs and dial indicator. The top does have a surface spot which brings down the condition to a 6 in our super critical scale, but otherwise it would be an 8.

The MX 117 AM-FM Stereo Tuner-Preamplifier concept is a total Mclntosh master control center that allows you to select the matching Mclntosh power amplifier for your individual requirements. All needed inputs such as two record players, two tape recorders and auxiliary can be accommodated, along with the built-in AM-FM stereo tuner. The advanced circuits and performance features of the Mclntosh MX 117 make it an ideal and especially convenient solution for the most discriminating stereo listener.

SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
• Light rust patches on top cover.
• Jacks show corrosion but have all been tested and pass signal properly.

SkyFi Service Notes:
• All controls cleaned.
• Tuning shaft lubricated.
• Very slight dial tracking adjustment to bring the accuracy of the dial back into spec.

Brand Background:

McIntosh Laboratory is an American manufacturer of handcrafted high-end audio equipment based in Binghamton, New York. The company was founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh. The company designs and produces audio amplifiers, stereo tuners and other consumer electronics products. 

McIntosh is known for offering distinguished home audio systems that deliver the ultimate experience in music and film. Offering products for two-channel stereo sound systems and multi-channel home theaters with surround sound, McIntosh continues to define the ultimate home audio entertainment experience for discriminating listeners around the world. Our iconic blue Watt output meter is globally recognized as a symbol of quality home audio. With a McIntosh home stereo system or home theater, listeners have the ability to create their own luxury audio experience – and truly live their music.

Ownership:

Single Owner

Connections:

Antenna push terminals, Coax FM, 3 Outlets, Analog RCA inputs and outputs. 

General Sound:

Big beautiful musical sound with little fatigue.  

Cosmetic Condition:

6 - Moderate Signs of Wear

The top does have a surface spot which brings down the condition to a 6 in our super critical scale, but otherwise it would be an 8.

https://skyfiaudio.com/pages/our-rating-scale

Working Condition:

Working perfectly and tested in our lab.

Included:

Unit, manual, captive power cord, and the original official MX117 McIntosh shipping carton with the matching CM1270 serial number!

Packing:

Original Manufacturers Packing

Original MSRP:

$1,649 (1982)

Dimensions:

Front panel measures 16 inches wide (40.6 cm) by 5 7/16 inches high (13.8 cm). Chassis measures 14 3/4 inches wide (37.5 cm) by 4 13/16 inches high (12.2 cm) by 13 inches deep (33 cm), including connectors. Knob clearance required is 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) in front of mounting panel.

Weight:

24 lbs.

Age:

1982

Reviews:

https://stereonomono.blogspot.com/2012/11/mcintosh-mx-117.html

Link to Manual:

http://www.berners.ch/McIntosh/Downloads/MX117_own.pdf

Recommended Cables:

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best 

Testing Process:

We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR. Vintage analog tuners also have moving parts related to the tuning gang and dial string. These parts are inspected for smooth operation.

If the unit passes visual inspection it is bench tested for a handful of key performance parameters using a Sencore SG80 AM/FM Stereo Analyzer. The SG80 allows us to “simulate” an ideal radio station using precision test signals instead of music. This device, in conjunction with an oscilloscope allows us to properly evaluate the following parameters:

1.  AM Reception (Where Applicable)

2.  FM Mono Reception & Tuning Meter Function

3.  FM MPX Reception (Stereo)

4.  Dial Tracking - How accurately the tuner dial or display indicates the actual frequency of the broadcast being received.

5.  Stereo Separation - A properly working stereo tuner will have minimal crosstalk between the left and right channel.

6.  Sensitivity & Signal Strength Meter Function - By lowering the output of the SG80 we can simulate weak stations and determine how well the tuner will be able to pull in weak distant stations. This adjustment also helps us verify signal strength meter function.

If the tuner has acceptable performance related to the parameters above we connect the unit for listening tests with a simple dipole antenna. We listen for audio reproduction quality of local stations and evaluate how many stations the tuner can receive while we sweep through the dial. We are looking to verify that the tuner can decode stereo on strong local broadcasts and pick up a wide variety of local stations at the bottom, middle, and top of the frequency band. At this point we also test convenience features such as muting, filters, built in oscilloscope function, etc.

We finish up with an extended listening test on our long term test rig. We tune in a strong local station and monitor for drift over a 2-3 hour period.

Specs:

PREAMP SECTION

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  + 0 - 0.5 db from 20 Hz to 20 kHz

RATED OUT PUT LEVELS

Main Out : 2.5V

Line Out : 1.25V

Headphone : 750mV

Tape Out : 250mV

DISTORTION:  0.02% maximum at 2.5V output from 20 Hz to 20 kHz

INPUT SENSITIVITY AND GAIN

Input to Main Out

Phone 1 and 2:  2.2mV in for 2.5V out (61.1 dB gain at 1 kHz)

AUX, Tape 1 and 2: 250mV in for 2.5V out (20 dB gain at 1 kHz)

Input to Line Out

Phono 1 and 2 : 2.2mV in for 1.25V out (55 dB gain at 1 kHz)

AUX, Tape 1 and 2 : 250mV in for 1.25V out (14 dB gain at 1 kHz)

Input to Headphone Out

Phono 1 and 2:  2.2mV in for 750mV out (50.7 dB gain at 1 kHz)

AUX, Tape 1 and 2 250mV in for 750mV out (9.5 dB gain at 1 kHz)

Input to Tape Out

Phono 1 and 2:  2.2mV in for 250mV out (41.1 dB gain at 1 kHz)

AUX, Tape 1 and 2:  25pmV in for 250mV out (0 dB gain at 1 kHz)

SIGNAL TO NOISE

Phono 1 and 2:  -90 dB IHF A-weighted, below 10mV input -80 dB unweighted, below 10mV input

AUX, Tape 1 and 2:  - 100 dB IHF A-weighted, below 250mV input

-90 dB unweighted, below 250mV input

INPUT IMPEDANCE

Phono 1 and 2:  47kl2 and 50pF

AUX, Tape 1 and 2:  47kohm

OUTPUT IMPEDANCE

Main Out:  less than 100ohm (to operate into 5kohm or greater)

Line Out:  600ohm (to operate into a 600ohm line)

Headphone:   8ohm

Tape Out:  less than 200ohm (to operate into 5kohm or greater)

EQUALIZER CONTROL RESPONSE

Center Frequencies :  30, 750, and 10 kh

Boosr and Cut:  ± 12 dB

AM SECTION

SENSITIVITY.  75μV IHF with external antenna

SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO:  45 dB minimum IHF or 55 dB at 100% modulation

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  + 0 ~ 6 dB from 20 Hz to 3500 Hz

HARMONIC DISTORTION:  0.8% maximum at 30% modulation

ADJACENT CHANNEL SENSITIVITY:  30 dB minimum IHF

IMAGE REJECTION:  65 dB minimum from 540 kHz to 1600 kHz

FM SECTION

USABLE SENSITIVITY:  2μV (11.2dBf) IHF

QUIETING SENSITIVITY:  5μV(19.1dBf) IHF -50dB(Mono);  50μV (39.5dBf) IHF -50 dB (Stereo)

SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO  :70 dB IHF minimum both Mono and Stereo

HARMONIC DISTORTION

0.18% (Mono) IHF maximum

0.38% (Stereo) IHF maximum

ALTERNATE CHANNEL SELECTIVITY:  75 dB IHF minimum

IMAGE REJECTION:  100 dB IHF minimum

STEREO SEPARATION:  45 dB minimum at 1 kHz

GENERAL INFORMATION

POWER REQUIREMENT:  120 Volts 50/60 Hz, 45 Watts

SEMI CONDUCTOR COMPLEMENT

24 Bipolar Transistors

18 Field Effect Transistors

62 Diodes

24 Integrated Circuits

MECHANICAL

MECHANICAL INFORMATION

SIZE

Front panel measures 16 inches wide (40.6 cm) by 5 7/16 inches high (13.8 cm). Chassis measures 14 3/4 inches wide (37.5 cm) by 4 13/16 inches high (12.2 cm) by 13 inches deep (33 cm), including connectors. Knob clearance required is 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) in front of mounting panel.

FINISH:

Front panel is anodized gold and black with special  gold/teal nomenclature illumination. Chassis is black.

MOUNTING::  Exclusive Mclntosh developed professional PANLOC.

WEIGHT::  24 pounds (10.9 kg) net, 36 pounds (16.3 kg) in shipping carton.