McIntosh Tuners: Who's Using A McIntosh Tuner, Vintage Or Current Production?

[A-Line]

Who even still listens to FM radio on a tuner or a receiver anymore? lol
I've always enjoyed radio and it's free. Not all radio is equal. Lots of crappy locations with equally crappy radio content as well as crappy sound quality...
Terrestrial radio in my area has good content and great sound quality, a few bad stations too.

So this post is for those that have favorable radio content/reception in their area and would like to post their photos/comments regarding their McIntosh tuners, vintage and current production, that you guys are using.


My first McIntosh tuner was a MR85 which I bought new in 2006. Previously my only tuner was from my ReVox B780 receiver which is quite excellent, especially the tuner section.

I remember when I was shopping for my first system I did look at several McIntosh pieces, including their tuners but was mainly concerned with comparing the then McIntosh MAC4100 receiver with the ReVox B780. I couldn't afford separates for amplification at the time so my focus was on the 2 receivers.

The price difference converted to 1983 US Dollars was: MAC4100/$2200.00, B780/$2700.00. Both units were very nice but the ReVox outperformed the MAC receiver in every area to include the phono section and especially the tuner section.

Having looked at McIntosh separates during that time I was very surprised. The McIntosh separates outperformed the ReVox receiver, integrated amp, & their B740 amp of that day. The excellent ReVox B760 tuner was still in the showrooms but was on the way out due to the company combining their B750 integrated amp with their B760 tuner which created the B780 receiver with additional improvements.

The McIntosh tuners of that time were very desirable and the sound was always very seductive. So when I got a MR85 I was very disappointed. This tuner started giving me headaches over time so I traded up for a new McIntosh MCD500 CDP. Show rooms in 2006 didn't really having any tuners for demo anymore so I just ordered the MR85 without a audition. I thought never again without a audition...

Clearly the newer McIntosh tuners aren't for me because the sound just isn't very organic sounding. I've not seen in person, much less auditioned, any of the newer McIntosh tuners that came after the MR85 as a result of my bad experience...
However a few people like these newer models or simply buy one as a extra source to be available.

The dealer got in a Magnum Dynalab MD90t on trade, it was only 3 months old and the seller wanted a higher model within the MD line. The dealer gave me the MD on loan to try for a weekend. It was great so I bought that unit.
I retired this year so I decided that I wanted a few of those McIntosh classics. I bought a MR75,MR78, & MR7083 in 2018 and added a MR74 & M77 in 2024. All have been properly serviced and with all updates. Nice 3D imaging happening with all of them.

I sold that MD tuner back to that same dealership where I bought it. (2010-2024)

So I'm rotating my tuners through my 2 setups.
They all sound great but don't sound the same.
Each one sounds a bit different. Unique sound for solid state and unique for tubes also.

 

[dinov]

McIntosh MR74 for me when I listen to FM.

 

[DeYoung]

I have a MR 77 in my vintage system that makes beautiful music. Fortunately ,i have several really good sounding FM stations in my area that show what its capable of. They just dont make them like this any more.. except for the Accuphase T-1200 which i have in my main rig.

 

[A-Line]

I have a MR 77 in my vintage system that makes beautiful music. Fortunately ,i have several really good sounding FM stations in my area that show what its capable of. They just dont make them like this any more.. except for the Accuphase T-1200 which i have in my main rig.

Nice!

 

[A-Line]

Who even still listens to FM radio on a tuner or a receiver anymore? lol
I've always enjoyed radio and it's free. Not all radio is equal. Lots of crappy locations with equally crappy radio content as well as crappy sound quality...
Terrestrial radio in my area has good content and great sound quality, a few bad stations too.

So this post is for those that have favorable radio content/reception in their area and would like to post their photos/comments regarding their McIntosh tuners, vintage and current production, that you guys are using.


My first McIntosh tuner was a MR85 which I bought new in 2006. Previously my only tuner was from my ReVox B780 receiver which is quite excellent, especially the tuner section.

I remember when I was shopping for my first system I did look at several McIntosh pieces, including their tuners but was mainly concerned with comparing the then McIntosh MAC4100 receiver with the ReVox B780. I couldn't afford separates for amplification at the time so my focus was on the 2 receivers.

The price difference converted to 1983 US Dollars was: MAC4100/$2200.00, B780/$2700.00. Both units were very nice but the ReVox outperformed the MAC receiver in every area to include the phono section and especially the tuner section.

Having looked at McIntosh separates during that time I was very surprised. The McIntosh separates outperformed the ReVox receiver, integrated amp, & their B740 amp of that day. The excellent ReVox B760 tuner was still in the showrooms but was on the way out due to the company combining their B750 integrated amp with their B760 tuner which created the B780 receiver with additional improvements.

The McIntosh tuners of that time were very desirable and the sound was always very seductive. So when I got a MR85 I was very disappointed. This tuner started giving me headaches over time so I traded up for a new McIntosh MCD500 CDP. Show rooms in 2006 didn't really having any tuners for demo anymore so I just ordered the MR85 without a audition. I thought never again without a audition...

Clearly the newer McIntosh tuners aren't for me because the sound just isn't very organic sounding. I've not seen in person, much less auditioned, any of the newer McIntosh tuners that came after the MR85 as a result of my bad experience...
However a few people like these newer models or simply buy one as a extra source to be available.

The dealer got in a Magnum Dynalab MD90t on trade, it was only 3 months old and the seller wanted a higher model within the MD line. The dealer gave me the MD on loan to try for a weekend. It was great so I bought that unit.
I retired this year so I decided that I wanted a few of those McIntosh classics. I bought a MR75,MR78, & MR7083 in 2018 and added a MR74 & M77 in 2024. All have been properly serviced and with all updates. Nice 3D imaging happening with all of them.

I sold that MD tuner back to that same dealership where I bought it. (2010-2024)

So I'm rotating my tuners through my 2 setups.
They all sound great but don't sound the same.
Each one sounds a bit different. Unique sound for solid state and unique for tubes also.

My MR77 suffered a catastrophic festoon bulb failure on the front panel. Had to take it back to the shop for all new bulbs...
It should be back sometime next week. I like this tuner for winter time so I'll leave it in place until spring. In the meantime I'm swapping it out for my MR7083 tuner until the MR77 returns.

 

[DeYoung]

I,m curious about the new 89... but also have limited opportunities for a demo..if you could even find a dealer with one on display .It would be an act of faith in McIntosh to deliver the goods.. if I was to make a purchase.. Perhaps that’s thinking with blue colored glasses on.. but I’ve been pleased and have so far ,not had to deal with problems from what I have now (MC 462, C53)

 

[A-Line]

I,m curious about the new 89... but also have limited opportunities for a demo..if you could even find a dealer with one on display .It would be an act of faith in McIntosh to deliver the goods.. if I was to make a purchase.. Perhaps that’s thinking with blue colored glasses on.. but I’ve been pleased and have so far ,not had to deal with problems from what I have now (MC 462, C53)

Therein lies the dilemma. No dealerships have tuners on display anymore. I've not listened to any Accuphase but I hear the same thing regarding their pricey T1200 tuner.

I bought a MR85 in 2006 without a audition first.
Turned out to be a bad purchase. Not saying that the MR89 is of the same ilk as the MR85 but I'm not interested in that unit due to my experience with the MR85. No audition equals no purchase by me from now on.

The vintage McIntosh stereo tuners that I have now were all available in showrooms back when they were current production so I've listened to each one of my tuners at some point prior to purchasing.

The older McIntosh tuners have a sound that I find very desirable. I had a Magnum Dynalab MD90t for about 14 years. It was very good but in the end I replaced it with vintage McIntosh tuners.

Just my opinions.

 

[DeYoung]

Therein lies the dilemma. No dealerships have tuners on display anymore. I've not listened to any Accuphase but I hear the same thing regarding their pricey T1200 tuner.

I bought a MR85 in 2006 without a audition first.
Turned out to be a bad purchase. Not saying that the MR89 is of the same ilk as the MR85 but I'm not interested in that unit due to my experience with the MR85. No audition equals no purchase by me from now on.

The vintage McIntosh stereo tuners that I have now were all available in showrooms back when they were current production so I've listened to each one of my tuners at some point prior to purchasing.

The older McIntosh tuners have a sound that I find very desirable. I had a Magnum Dynalab MD90t for about 14 years. It was very good but in the end I replaced it with vintage McIntosh tuners.

Just my opinions.

Honestly?...As much as I love the T-1200.. being the SOTA FM tuner that it most certainly is...It can (on occasion) come across sounding a bit "cold and sterile" compared to what I enjoy from the 77. I completely agree with you about the vintage sound of the older production McIntosh.. very,very musical