A magnetic resonance imaging system includes an MR signal reception apparatus comprising a receiving multi-coil and a switchover member. The receiving multi-coil receives MR signals and is composed of a plurality of element coils. The switchover member is configured to switch reception states of the MR signals received by the plurality of element coils in response to imaging conditions. The switchover member connects output paths of the MR signals from the plurality of element coils to a receiver, to reception channels in the receiver in response to the imaging conditions. The reception channels is less in number than the element coils. The imaging conditions are for example directed to parallel MR imaging.