McIntosh MX124 Home Theater Processor: A Closer Look
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McIntosh's MX123 was the best-selling home theater processor the brand had ever made — which meant its successor had a lot to live up to. The new MX124 Home Theater Processor answers with more subwoofer outputs, state-of-the-art 8K video switching, and Dirac room correction with full bass management. Here's a closer look at what's changed and why it matters.
Table of Contents
What's New on the MX124
The MX124 builds on the MX123 with three major upgrades. First, more subwoofer outputs — a lot of owners start with one or two subs, decide they want more impact, and now have the headroom to expand. Second, video switching is now state-of-the-art 8K, which should cover most systems for years to come. Third, and the biggest improvement of all, is Dirac room correction with full bass management.
Dirac actually measures your room's acoustics — speaker placement, asymmetries, and imperfections in the space — and corrects for them, making your room sound closer to a concert hall or a movie theater than a living room.
Summary:
- Successor to the MX123, McIntosh's best-selling home theater processor
- Now supports up to four subwoofer outputs
- Adds Dirac room correction with full bass management
Front Panel Controls and Multi-Room Listening
The front panel keeps things simple: a volume control, an input selector, and cursor buttons for making adjustments if you've misplaced the remote — though you shouldn't need those often. A sleep timer lets you set the system to shut off automatically after a set viewing period, and a dimmer lowers display brightness for movie watching.
The MX124's zone controls are also on the front panel, and they unlock genuine multi-room flexibility. With the right amplifiers, you can run music by the pool, a movie in the theater, and something else entirely in the kitchen — three different sources at three different volumes, all running at the same time. Dedicated buttons for movie, music, and gaming modes fine-tune the sound characteristics automatically for whatever you're watching or listening to.
Summary:
- Volume, input selection, sleep timer, and dimmer controls on the front panel
- Zone controls support three simultaneous listening zones at independent volumes
- Dedicated movie, music, and gaming modes auto-tune the sound profile
Back Panel Connectivity: Inputs and Outputs for Any System
The back panel is where the MX124 really shows its range. There's a full set of analog inputs for a turntable, a radio tuner, a cable box, and even legacy sources like a cassette deck or reel-to-reel — you're unlikely to ever run out. Digital inputs include two coax and two optical connections, and the onboard digital-to-analog converter is high enough quality that running an older CD player or CD changer through a digital connection instead of analog will actually improve its sound.
On the output side, the big change this year is four subwoofer outputs, up from the previous generation, so you can expand from one sub to as many as four as your system grows. There's also a full set of balanced outputs — worth using whenever possible, since balanced connections resist noise pickup along the cable — plus dedicated outputs for Zone 2 and Zone 3.
For legacy video sources, the MX124 includes two composite and one component video input, so an old laserdisc player, VCR, or even a Betamax deck still has a home. On the modern side, there are seven HDMI inputs, all running the new 8K-capable switching, along with a balanced analog audio input for connecting a high-end CD player.
Summary:
- Extensive analog and digital inputs cover both legacy and modern sources
- Four subwoofer outputs, balanced outputs, and dedicated Zone 2/3 outputs
- Seven HDMI inputs with 8K switching, plus legacy composite/component video inputs
Built-In Streaming: No Separate Streamer Required
One of the most common questions is what streamer to pair with the MX124 — and the answer is that you don't need one. Streaming is built in, with support for Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, and TIDAL Connect, and the MX124 is Roon Ready as well. If you're using Spotify or TIDAL's higher-resolution streaming formats, the MX124 is fully compatible with those too.
The Bluetooth connection is especially handy when guests are over — anyone can stream music straight from their phone to the MX124 without needing your home network password.
Summary:
- Built-in streaming eliminates the need for a separate streamer
- Supports AirPlay, Bluetooth, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Roon Ready
- Compatible with Spotify and TIDAL's higher-resolution audio formats
Conclusion
Between the added subwoofer outputs, 8K-ready video switching, Dirac room correction, and streaming built directly into the unit, the MX124 covers the two most common reasons people upgrade a processor — outdated video switching and running out of inputs — while adding real sound quality improvements on top. Browse McIntosh's full lineup of home theater components at World Wide Stereo, or stop by our Wayne, PA showroom to hear the MX124 for yourself. The MX124 is available now.
Shop the McIntosh MX124
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need a separate streamer with the McIntosh MX124?
No. The MX124 has streaming built in, with support for Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Roon Ready. A separate streaming component isn't necessary unless you specifically want additional features a standalone streamer offers.
What is Dirac room correction, and why does it matter?
Dirac room correction measures your room's actual acoustics — speaker placement, asymmetries, and imperfections in the space — and corrects for them digitally. On the MX124, it includes full bass management, which helps your system sound more like a purpose-built theater or concert hall than a standard living room.
How many subwoofers can the MX124 support?
The MX124 has four dedicated subwoofer outputs, up from previous generations. That means you can start with one or two subs and expand to three or four later as your system and room needs grow, without upgrading the processor itself.
Is the MX124's 8K video switching necessary right now?
Most current sources and displays are still 4K, so 8K switching isn't strictly necessary today. The point is future-proofing — with 8K support across all seven HDMI inputs, the MX124 is built to handle displays and sources for years before video switching becomes a reason to upgrade again.
Can the MX124 power a multi-room audio setup?
Yes. The MX124 includes Zone 2 and Zone 3 outputs alongside the main zone, so with the appropriate amplifiers you can run three different sources at three different volumes at the same time — for example, a movie in the main theater, music by the pool, and something else in the kitchen.
