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Best Mac tube FM tuner: MR67 or MR71??

OK- buying my first ever FM tuner (and hopefully last). I have done some research, and narrowed it down to probably a vintage McIntosh tube model (looking for that tube warmth and musicality- apparently the classic Mac tube-based FM tuners are good in this regard). Anyone compared the two? (with or without 'mods'). Thanks
sutts

Showing 2 responses by stereokarter

stereokarter
185 posts
 
The MR71 is renowned to provide to best quality sound...read audiophile quality...than any of the rest...save for vintage units such as Scott's or Marantz 10B's. "Better" are the modern Magnum Dynalab pieces such as FT101A's and it's successors.

I have owned MR78's and while the selectivity, operation, and accuracy of this extraordinary tuner is, combined with the beautiful cosmetics, very, very good, it does not compare to the vintage Scotts in terms of sound quality.

Therefore, if one is looking for a tuner that is easy to use, pulls in a lot of stations, and gives no trouble, get an MR78 or a Magnum dynalab (or for that matter a Fanfare or a Rotel)...BUT if one is looking for the BEST SOUND get an MD108 or a vintage Scott (LT110B is cheap, 310E is the best, 4310 is the collectible) or a Marantz 10B or 20B.

For reference read Don Scott's (no relation) excellent articles in TAS Nos. 50 through 60 and his review in Stereophile of the MD108...this guy knows tuners like none of us!

P.S. My collection includes all of the tuners listed above, save for the MR71 and the 10B, which I have sorely missed.
stereokarter
185 posts
 
For comparison evaluation of various tube tuners check out Vaccuum Tube Valley magazine's back issues...they invite tuner afficionado's over for an evening's competition!

Remember that the antenna is 90% of a tuner's preformance. Think about wartime...a spy's weak radio on top of a mountain could "get out", but his powerful radio in a mineshaft could not. And don't forget to use a groundrod.

I agree that the best all around choice is between an MR67 or an MR 71, with the rest being attractive in various respects. In modern units you cannot beat a FT101A (forget the FT11 or the FT101 - much older) for value, ease of operation and "CD quality sound" Ha! Fishers are good too, the 100 or 200R, I believe, though I have never sampled one. (Just traded a '50's Radio Craftsman mono for a Bogen).

My rule is to always have analog tuning...some have this (MD's) with digital readout added...ok.
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