10
Digital Inputs
There are four digital Inputs in the MX123:
• Two Toslink Optical Inputs
• Two Coaxial Digital audio Inputs
The two Coaxial Inputs are labeled:
• 1 (CBL/SAT)
• 2 (DVD)
The two Optical Inputs are labeled:
• 1 (TV AUDIO)
• 2 (CD)
The default names and assignments can be changed
in setup.
The Optical Inputs require a Digital Optical Audio
Cable Toslink Cable. The Coaxial Inputs use
Digital Audio Coaxial Cables with male RCA type
connectors.
Analog Audio Inputs
There are eight pairs of gold-plated RCA jacks. The
left jack of the stereo pair is on top, and the right
jack is below it. They are labeled as follows:
1. PHONO
2. TUNER
3. CBL/SAT
4. DVD
5. BLU-RAY
6. GAME
7. CD
8. MP
To the left of the PHONO jacks is a ground
connection labeled GND for connecting a
turntable’s ground wire. The PHONO section of the
MX123 is designed to work with Moving Magnet
cartridges.
There is one pair of Balanced XLR Inputs. It is
labeled XLR BALANCED Input. Looking at the
back of the unit, the Right Input is on the left and
the Left Input is on the right.
There are eight gold plated RCA jacks designed
for 7.1 Channel Input. They are located under the
heading 7.1 CH Input. They are labeled:
• FL (Front Left)
• FR (Front Right)
• C (Center)
• SUB (Subwoofer)
• SL (Surround Left)
• SR (Surround Right)
• SBL (Surround Back left)
• SBR (Surround Back Right)
All the Input names can be customized in the
SETUP program, as well as hidden and restored.
Hiding Inputs spares you from scrolling through
unused Inputs.
AC Power
This connection is essential. Plug the female end of
the supplied AC Power Cord into the AC connector
located in the rear right corner of the MX123. Plug
the male end of the AC Power Cord into a grounded
and functioning AC outlet.
Balanced Audio Outputs
There are 15 male balanced XLR connections on the
back of the MX123 to accommodate a wide variety
of speaker configurations. Connect balanced XLR
cables to the corresponding powered speakers or
amplifiers. Here are the possible connections:
• FL (Front Left)
• FR (Front Right)
• C (Center)
• SW1 (Subwoofer 1)
• SW2 (Subwoofer 2)
• SR (Surround Right)
• SL (Surround Left)
• SBR (Surround Back Right)
• SBL (Surround Back left)
• HR1 (Height Right 1)
• HL1 (Height Left 1)
• HR2 (Height Right 2)
• HL2 (Height Left 2)
• HR3 (Height Right 3)
• HL3 (Height Left 3)
This is all easier said than done. Setting up speakers
for a surround setup takes planning, measuring and
installation. Depending on your level of expertise
and available time, you may wish to employ the
services of your McIntosh dealer for expert setup of
your system. Professional installation of in-ceiling
speakers is particularly important due to gravity and
the location above your head.
The number, types and locations of speakers are
key elements in setting up the system. There is
a multitude of possible configurations, and the
MX123 is very flexible in its setup to adapt to many
of these configurations.
Often surround setups are referred to by numbers
for example 7.1.4 or 9.1.2. The first number refers to
the number of traditional surround speakers (front,
center and surround). The second number is the
number of subwoofers that can be connected, and
the third number refers to the number of in-ceiling
or upward firing speakers in the setup.
The type of speaker (size and location) will be
entered later during Speaker setup. The distance
of the speaker from the listening location will be
entered in the Audyssey
®
setup. Make note of this
information.
