McIntosh / MX132

McIntosh MX132 A/V Tuner Control Center and Stereo Preamplifier

Here is a McIntosh MX132 A/V Tuner Control Center. It combines a stereo preamplifier, AM/FM tuner, and six-channel surround processor in the familiar McIntosh glass-front chassis. For an enthusiast with several music sources and a classic surround system, it brings source selection, level control, radio, and multichannel playback together in one substantial component.

The MX132 has a particularly useful feature for two-channel listening: when stereo operation is selected for an analog source, the left and right front outputs carry pure, unprocessed stereo signals. McIntosh pairs this with precision-tracking volume control and analog bass, treble, and loudness circuits. Eleven audio/video inputs plus the tuner, along with three coaxial and three optical digital inputs, provide extensive source flexibility.

For compatible multichannel sources, the MX132 offers Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic, and THX processing, with speaker-level adjustment, time alignment, and bass management. External six-channel analog inputs accommodate a source with its own decoding, while an independently selectable second zone adds useful flexibility. This is a classic 5.1-channel, composite/S-video-era processor—not an HDMI or Atmos processor.

The built-in tuner provides nine AM and nine FM presets, while separate listen and record circuits allow different sources to be monitored and recorded. The MX132’s lasting attraction is its combination of genuine analog stereo capability, extensive control facilities, and traditional McIntosh construction—a versatile center for a carefully assembled classic system.