Magnum Dynalab 109

Khrys - Why do you think the 106 sounds better than the 108? Is the difference related to the use of more tubes rather than solid state stages? Thanks for your opinions.

Ron Gurney

Ron, I believe the 106T sounds better than the 108 because it has a triode tube audio stage. While the 108 uses a tube audio stage, it is not run as a triode. The new 109 uses a triode audio stage and as well so I think MD must be moving in that direction because the 106T sounds so good.

There is a review from Alan Sircom ( he owns Naim NAT01, when I remember right ) in the English HIFI+, he reviewed all MD and shortly before he listened to the MD 108, he reviewed the 106t.
He wrote the differences are not subtle, they are HUGE. He thought, the differences between 106t and 108 are small because the 106t is newer. He he was wrong, very wrong ( his words ), the MD 108 is much, much better sounding. A total different, better product. The difference is even much wider between 108 and 106t than the one between MD102t to MD106t. The smoothness and richness from the 108 is a class of it's own.
He writes, that the 108 is the best tuner in the world today.

And Mr. Sircom is only 1 person and any magazine review must be taken with a grain of salt. I've heard the 108 in my system but purchased the 106T. They are very close in performance and IMO the price differential is much too large unless of course it's an ego purchae.

FWIW, you can upgrade the "guts" of an MD108 to those of an MD109, including the triode stage. The cost is approximately $2,000. The announcement will appear on the MD website soon. My 108 was shipped out a week ago and should be returned with the upgrade in a few weeks.