I've searched the forums but haven't found a direct compairison between the two. They seem really similar and am wondering if anyone has heard both of them to compare them sonically. I would be using either one in a 4 channel configuration to power the low(seas 10" excel woofer) and mids (seas 7" excel woofer) in my 3-way active speakers. The mc7106 is rated slightly more powerful so on paper, it seems more ideal but I'm wondering if the mc126 sounds better since it is a more recent design. thanks in advance.

Good question! I have a MC-7106. The MC126 has a detachable power cord and three fewer LED power meters than the 7106, but beyond that I don't know...

Yeah I'm hoping that someone will chime in. How do you like your mc7106? I really want a "musical" amp (whatever that means right?) with a somewhat warm character as I will be using it on the all imporant midrange (200hz-2500hz) on my speakers. I really like that with the 7106 I could get 320 watts for my 10" woofers.. they could really use that kind of power to perform their best. thanks for your input.

I am using mine bridged for my center and surrounds. It sounds good, and I am very pleased with it, especially at the $1250 that I paid for it!

I feel the MC7106 is a bargain, 900 watts of McIntosh power for less than $1500 used and has the ability to run 3, 4, 5, or 6 channels. The later multichannel amps are not bridgeable. I owned the MC7205 and MC7106 and there was not that much difference in my opinion. I currently own 3 MC7106 which I will be using in a biamped 7.1 system. I was going to get a MC207 during the promotional trade in period but found out the price went up to 8000.00 for the MC207. So I kept the MC7106(s). Yes, amps with autoformers are warmer sounding but for home theater I find the MC7106 more than sufficient. I have the C220 and MC275 combo for music.

This is just a touch off the OP topic, as my interest is directly in the 7106. I am thinking about using it bridged for my center channel/surrounds and picking up a MC7300 or MC7270 for my mains.

Here is my present setup:
Onkyo Pro SC885 (Integra 9.8)
PS3 for Blu
Toshiba HD-A1 HDDVD
Logitech/Slim Devices Transporter on the way as main music source
Oppo 980 for SACD through the Onkyo for 5.1 and through the Transporter DAC for stereo.
Sunfire Cinema Grand 200x5
M&K MX-200 Subwookie
Monitor Audio GS60 L/r
Monitor Audio GS20 Surr
Monitor Audio GSC

I like the way things sound right now in HT, but I want something a little better in the multichannel music and stereo department. I like the sound of the Sunfire, but sometimes it seems a little lacking in a couple ways. I would say my biggest complaint is low level dynamics. I need to kind of crank my system to make it really sound great. Which I don't always want to do. I assume it is a combination of the GS needing more power and getting less than the old speakers did (4 ohm M&K) and the inherent design of the Sunfire, which always has sounded better when it was pumping out more juice.

I am thinking I will send the Transporter directly to my amp for now (even if I keep the Sunfire) since the Onkyo is not great with analog. At a later point, I may look at a preamp with HT bypass. Do you think the MC7300/7106 combo would be a good point of entry for a first time McIntosh buyer? I am thinking I can part with the Sunfire for about 1/3 the cost of this gear. Anyone that has owned a Sunfire that has since moved to Mac that might want to chat, step up!

Oh, and since my main drive for looking at MAC gear is 2-ch, anyone that wants to give advice on the stereo amp to match to the MC7106, feel free. :D

Thanks,
Michael

Michael, I am using a bridged 7106 for my center and surrounds and it is doing very well especially for what I paid for it! I will probably upgrade to a better amp for my center channel speaker, but I suspect that I will have to get another MC-501 which is a chunk of change... I am also sort of limited as to space for equipment, but I will make it work. I had a MC-207, but that seemed to run out of steam for me... If I could get another one at a great deal think that I might try that again as it is a great all on one box solution and the meters would match my 501s!

Michael

Thanks for the response.

I am thinking at the moment I might go for the mc7106 (which will be fully paid for with the sale of my Sunfire) and then when I can justify spending even more money, get something (7300, 7270, 352 or 402) for my mains and bridge down the 7106 for my center and surrounds. This will get me an opportunity to try out Mac gear without really costing me much presently. Who knows, maybe I won't like it. I know there are people who don't. I imagine it will be a pretty big change of pace from the Sunfire. I doubt I will miss the extra hundred watts in the meantime, and from the sound of things it won't quite be 100 watts anyway.

Michael