Akarakrit Uamkruea, blogger and audio gear maker who passionate in vacuum tube, audio & music.
Producing electronics projects since high school. Seriously upgrade and modify vintage audio equipment for “Real Sound” concept.
He is a co-founder of Soundaries, all audio solution provider.
Experienced and lively explore the listening rooms & audio shops in Japan as his most favorite to do.

Monday, August 8, 2016

McIntosh MX110z Tuner & Pre-amplifier Modification

Jeff's Place from Jeff Day is one of most inspirational blog for many people including me.

After he's got many suggestions from Mr Shirokazu Yazaki and he's wrote articles in his blog.

I've got many great ideas from him and Yazaki-san to improve my own works.

One of equipment that he always prefers is McIntosh MX110z ; Tuner & Pre-amplifier.

It is famous tube pre-amplifiers from McIntosh like C22, C20, etc.

I've sent information of MX110z's modification from his blog to my friend who has one.

So he's interested too much and brought this to me for modify with "Real Sound" concept.



McIntosh always care about pilot lamp intensity. ;)







Bottom view before modified. So many types of signal coupling capacitors.


2W carbon composition and 5W cement wirewound resistors in power supply section.


Tube's filament power supply for 12.6V and 6.3V tube types.



Electrolytic capacitors also leak and should be replace too.


Some of components for modify MX110z.

My friend want to try 3 types of Arizona Capacitor, so let's do it. :)


"Red Cactus" seldom seen type from Arizona Capacitor.


Bottom view after modification with better parts and mainly consider for "Real Sound".


2 of STTH6112V2 diodes replaced 4 selenium diodes in bridge rectifier position.

Use Ohmite "Brown Devil" & another good quality wirewound resistors in power supply 

for adjusted until high voltages near values in schematic.



Also tube's filament power supply too.


All of signal capacitors replaced.



Western Electric PIO capacitors for higher value capacitance and limit space.


Many tube's stages and many coupling capacitors too.


After finished modify MX110z and bring it back to owner, he really like it.

Better sound from all sources and too sure tuner!

But should be "run in" for a couple months and will tell later for real character of this.

Cheers !!!