MX117 Lamps

[wajobu]

Greetings!

Does anyone know the voltage/mA of the behind-the-glass lamps? They appear to be 4 mm lamps with insulated leads. A Yamaha 12V/60mA lamp does light-up, but a bit on the dim side. So, 8 Volt perhaps?

Thanks!

[skippy_ps]

I don't have the schematic for that one but they're probably 6.3v. Set your meter to AC and see what you get at the connection.

If the lamps are like those on a C-32 (I think so), I'd replace all of them as the older ones will be dim. I think #8610 bi-pin but I'll have to check on the number.

Murray

Edit: If they're 6.3v, then #8610 is probably it.

[Nuts]

I do have the service manual for the MX117 and the lamps are in fact 8610 devices, 6.3v 200ma running off the 5.6vac tap of the transformer.

I would change all at the same time.

The Mac PN is 058-069

David

[wajobu]

Thank you!--after reading these posts, I actually called (after I took off my dunce cap) Ryan at AudioClassics. He set me up with all the lamps, some feet and a couple of other goodies for the work. This is a nice little tuner/preamp that came from AKer Johncan via (somehow) Urizen.

I'm starting to ascribe to CarlV's method of the simplicity and more favorable pricing with some of these very nice MX units. This MX has a VERY strong tuner even with the little bunny-ears antenna I have at my workbench.

[Vinyl Rules!]

Thank you!--after reading these posts, I actually called (after I took off my dunce cap) Ryan at AudioClassics. He set me up with all the lamps, some feet and a couple of other goodies for the work. This is a nice little tuner/preamp that came from AKer Johncan via (somehow) Urizen.

I'm starting to ascribe to CarlV's method of the simplicity and more favorable pricing with some of these very nice MX units. This MX has a VERY strong tuner even with the little bunny-ears antenna I have at my workbench.
Yes, IMHO it has a very good tuner in it, the MR75. And I know Terry DeWick thinks very highly of this tuner as well. I personally slightly favour the MR74 as I believe it to sound a tad bit better, but I find the MR75/MX117 to be more sensitive when DX'ing. I own both an MR74 and an MX117 and I could easily live the the MX117 as my primary tuner. And Len Feldman tested an MX117 for Audio magazine and when he tested it, he found it to be the most sensitive FM tuner he ever tested: My recollection is that he achieved a 50 dB stereo S/N ratio with only about 12.7 uV of signal input. No other tuner he tested, including the MR78 and MR80 he tested were nearly as sensitive.

And if you live in a strong signal area, that slide switch on the back changes it from a 5-gang FM tuner to a 4-gang FM tuner to reduce the possibility of a strong station overloading the tuner's front end.

And there's more good news: The phono preamp in this unit was designed for their C504 preamp and this particular phono preamp was only ever used in the C504 and the MX117. There are some McIntosh enthusiasts who consider this phono preamp to be the best SS one McIntosh ever produced.

If you try it, please let us know what you think. :cool:

[wajobu]

Here is the nice little MX117 all relamped with the interior all cleaned-out (switches, pots, etc.). A very sharp little tuner section.

I hope to soon have a chance to hook-up a TT to check-out the phono section.

I can see why CarlV likes these tuner/preamps so much :yes:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=83101&stc=1&d=1205715237

http://audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=83102&stc=1&d=1205715235

BTW, Ryan from Audioclassics got me all set-up with some spare parts, lamps and the manuals for this little beauty! Thank you Ryan!

[skippy_ps]

Very nice there Walker. It even has the correct knobs. :D I too am interested in your comments on the tuner.

Murray

[wajobu]

Now, if I can just find a companion MC502, I'd have a supreme shop system :D

This was my first (somewhat brave) attempt at wielding a soldering iron within a McIntosh piece...didn't blow it up, even!

[Urizen]

via (somehow) Urizen.

Nice work, Walker.:thmbsp:

I found the MC 502/MX 117 combo on a local CL ad just before the Southern Fest, where I was able to deliver the tuner to John. The original owner bought them new and took very good care of them.

Here's the thread with a few pics.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=128748