Help Identify this receiver

[slick.one]

Can someone identify this receiver?
Thanks!

 

[SoCal Sam]

MCS of some sort?

 

[slick.one]

Receiver ID

Found it. MCS 3253, unfortunately!

 

[AdelaaR]

What is so unfortunate about it?
It looks way cool

 

[slick.one]

Receiver ID

Apparently MCS was made by NEC for JC Penney. The units are decent enough but have little collector/trader value.

 

[Wigwam Jones]

I'd be more interested in how they sound than in what their retail value is, but that's just me.

 

[mhardy6647]

I'd be more interested in how they sound than in what their retail value is, but that's just me.

nope, not just you.

 

[DonQuixote99]

That's a piccie of stuff in a coming estate sale, I reckon....

 

[gladiator335]

I had several MCS receivers (not this model though). This one is around 50 WPC I guess. And let me tell you-they sounded pretty good. Pioneer fans - don't kill me, but IMHO on par with compatible Pioneer SX series receivers. And MCS tuner sections usually were excellent!

 

[michaelhigh]

I had several MCS receivers (not this model though). This one is around 50 WPC I guess. And let me tell you-they sounded pretty good. Pioneer fans - don't kill me, but IMHO on par with compatible Pioneer SX series receivers. And MCS tuner sections usually were excellent!

If you own everything in your signature, MCS would come in last place, I'd guess. I could be wrong...

 

[Coconuts 500]

Looks rather similiar to this ITT (German receiver).

 

[boreas]

Pretty sure it's MCS. So is the cassette deck.

John

 

[Ken Kelly]

I'm rather partial to the Radiola 20.

 

[hatrack71]

Looks like a beast. Is the asking price out of line or something? I would buy anything silver faced with meters from the 70s if priced right. Well, almost anything.

 

[Bstable]

I had several MCS receivers (not this model though). This one is around 50 WPC I guess. And let me tell you-they sounded pretty good. Pioneer fans - don't kill me, but IMHO on par with compatible Pioneer SX series receivers. And MCS tuner sections usually were excellent!

+1. I bought a MCS 3226 (26 watts/ch) and have to say it is a very capable receiver, and near BOTL. My girlfriend inherited it along with some Infinity Reference 1 speakers, Pioneer PD-5010 CD player, and a Yamaha P-500. This receiver pulls in stations very well, and sounds great. Not a bad system for $120.

MCS is not Soundesign or Yorx.

 

[TAGO MAGO]

I would think it would be worth picking up if the price is right, but hey this is coming from someone who collects receivers. MCS at that time was either re-badged Technics or NEC equipment. Occasionally it would be a model never imported here under their own brand names (i.e. I have a very basic MCS integrated amp which is definitely Technics, but I cannot find a US market Technics counterpart).

About 15 years ago I had a tape deck exactly like the one in the picture. I don't think that is Technics or NEC derived. It reminds me of some Sanyo or Sankyo decks that were around at the time. It is a BOTL deck all the way with undersized and inaccurate VU meters and cheap feeling switch gear and transport. If it comes with the receiver, fine, but otherwise I'd steer clear of that deck. Oddly enough I threw mine in free when a friend of mine bought a Pioneer SX-3500 receiver and PL-300 turntable. Someone broke into his apartment and stole the MCS deck and left the Pioneer receiver and turntable there. I will never figure that one out, especially since the MCS had a very obvious dead VU meter which was stuck in the pegged position from feedback related to a dirty play/record switch.

 

[backinthelou]

I have an MCS 3236 that sounds very nice and has a very nice tuner section.

 

[Zeke]

An MCS 3253 is a perfectly capable receiver in the ~50W range.

"Good stuff."

And, typically, undervalued.