• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

How many gangs in this tuner?

Hifirob2

Hifirob2

NEC and Klipsch rock!
Ok - here is a silly question, but my curiosity is piqued, so I'm turning to the experts.....

How many FM gangs are in this picture? I see 4, but I drew an arrow to a set of fins that confuse me. Are they extra fins for one of the gangs, or are they considered a 5th gang? I'm not sure what their purpose is.

Thanks for any help......:yes:

attachment.php


Rob
 

Attachments

  • 3710_gangs_1219b.jpg
    3710_gangs_1219b.jpg
    120.8 KB · Views: 404
Register to hide this ad
What is the brand and model number?

Maybe there are specs available.

Does look funny with no associated trim screw.
If it's not a functional gang, maybe it's there for the next model up to add another gang? :dunno:
 
terra1 said:
What is the brand and model number?

Maybe there are specs available.

Does look funny with no associated trim screw.
If it's not a functional gang, maybe it's there for the next model up to add another gang? :dunno:
Click to expand...

Thanks Terra1. I kinda thought maybe they were leaving room for the next model up, too, but I think this was the top model that year. It's a MCS 3710, which is merely a re-badged NEC AUT-8000E.

I have some of the specs, but no service manual, or schematic.

Rob
 
Looks like its a 4 ganger. The dividers show a distinct space for each one, and as there is not one in the space with the orange arrow I would assume that the original assessment is correct. How does it pull stuff in?
 
AB88 said:
Looks like its a 4 ganger. The dividers show a distinct space for each one, and as there is not one in the space with the orange arrow I would assume that the original assessment is correct. How does it pull stuff in?
Click to expand...

I was kinda hoping nobody would ask if it pulls stations in.....:D

To be honest, I had a Mitsubishi DA-F20 (5 gang) in my stack that I love, and this one is equal in most every way (assuming they both are up to spec). Even sonically, where the Mitsu excels, it's equal. I was very surprised. And the AM section is surprisingly good - the ferrite bar antenna on the back is a multi-pivot design, and it's range of motion beats any other I have.

I went so far as to buy another one, and also the next model down the line-up, just to compare the insides. Big differences in the two.

Rob
 
Hi Rob, that is definitely 4 gangs. A gang is made up of a variable capacitor and an inductor. The capacitor needs both sets of plates to work, so the quasi-gang really isn't one at all.

I am really interested in this tuner. When I first got into vintage tuners, I had the MCS 3700, but wanted a 3710/AUT-8000. Could you provide more pics of the innards, and of the face? I wonder how well it would take mods...
 
Sure thing, jhoyt. I have the 3710 still open on the coffee table right next to a 3701 to compare the two. I believe the 3700 was only different to the 3701 cosmetically. The 3700s face plate was a little narrower.

I'll get the camera and report back.

Rob
 
Here are 4 pics of the two side by side. The 3710 is on the left, and is bigger. It has quite a few features that the 3701 doesn't have. That surprised me - I thought the specs were the same, and the main difference was the location of the tuning knob. Not so, I found out. Even the width of the tuning dial scale is different. The 3701 is 12" wide, the 3710 is 13.25" wide.
 

Attachments

  • 100_1221.jpg
    100_1221.jpg
    81.1 KB · Views: 158
  • 100_1223.jpg
    100_1223.jpg
    118.3 KB · Views: 131
  • 100_1224.jpg
    100_1224.jpg
    112.6 KB · Views: 115
  • 100_1225.jpg
    100_1225.jpg
    66 KB · Views: 130
And here are pics of the 3710 closer up. Let me know if you need others, my camera isn't very good, and the photographer is worse - lol.
 

Attachments

  • 100_1228.jpg
    100_1228.jpg
    131.8 KB · Views: 74
  • 100_1229.jpg
    100_1229.jpg
    116 KB · Views: 62
  • 100_1230.jpg
    100_1230.jpg
    113.8 KB · Views: 58
  • 100_1231.jpg
    100_1231.jpg
    129.2 KB · Views: 68
I have a Curtis-Mathes (rebadged NEC) AUT-8300E and it really is a remarkably good tuner: excellent sound and sensitivity, and silver-faced into the bargain. These NEC tuners are about as under-the-radar as you can get but they're definitely worth looking for.
 
Variable condensors are a standard part with standard values and taper, made by a third party, such as Stackpole or United or Harris. They are not manufactured by or for any particular radio manufacturer. Further, the condensor unit itself is made up of standard parts, the base, with however many "slots" filled by gangs, the rotor, again with the required number of gangs attached, half gear and cable wheel assembly, and trimpots. The variable capacitor in the picture with five VHF gangs mounted in a stator base with four VHF gangs just happened to use the part counts available from the product stores when the condensor was made. I've also seen the other way, such as a unit with four stators and three rotors, or with an unused gang set. It's nothing to do with the whole radio being an upgrade or downgrade model number compared with others from the same manufacturer.
 
I have to say, the MCS 3710 (NEC AUT-8000E) is by far the best tuner I've ever heard (which, admittedly, isn't many)--but I know a piece of equipment is really worth something when it makes me hear something that I initially think it is actually coming from something else in the room.
 
Last edited:
The best NEC tuner I've heard is the T-710. Not all that sensitive, but strong stations sound CD-like to my ears. It's the best tuner I have, sonic-wise. I use one in my computer system.

The NEC AUT-8000E (MCS 3710) is still in my main system (a black version). It got me to sell the Mitsubishi DA-F20, and it also beat a Sansui TU-517, and a Kenwood KA-7500 (all stock). Under critical headphone listening, the 3710 just wins to my ears. Very quiet, and more selective - even without a selectable wide/narrow bandwidth switch. The Los Angeles market crams a lot of stations into the dial, yet the 3710 still lets me listen to the San Diego stations right next to them.

The Curtis Mathes AUT-8300E (same as the NEC AUT-8300E) also does all of that, but it's servo lock can sometimes cause the tuner to switch over to the stronger LA station. I really like that feature normally, but wish it was defeatable when needed.
 
filmis said:
I have to say, the MCS 3710 (NEC AUT-8000E) is by far the best tuner I've ever heard (which, admittedly, isn't many)--but I know a piece of equipment is really worth something when it makes me hear something that I initially think it is actually coming from something else in the room.
Click to expand...

It pays to have a designer who is a ventriloquist. Maybe you got the Edgar Bergen model.
 
The SAE TWO T3U tuner played the same game; five complete gangs,but one isn't even connected.
 
Hifirob2 said:
The best NEC tuner I've heard is the T-710. Not all that sensitive, but strong stations sound CD-like to my ears. It's the best tuner I have, sonic-wise. I use one in my computer system.

The NEC AUT-8000E (MCS 3710) is still in my main system (a black version). It got me to sell the Mitsubishi DA-F20, and it also beat a Sansui TU-517, and a Kenwood KA-7500 (all stock). Under critical headphone listening, the 3710 just wins to my ears. Very quiet, and more selective - even without a selectable wide/narrow bandwidth switch. The Los Angeles market crams a lot of stations into the dial, yet the 3710 still lets me listen to the San Diego stations right next to them.

The Curtis Mathes AUT-8300E (same as the NEC AUT-8300E) also does all of that, but it's servo lock can sometimes cause the tuner to switch over to the stronger LA station. I really like that feature normally, but wish it was defeatable when needed.
Click to expand...
I hope someone out there has a service manual, I would like to do a recap and wonder if there are any mods for it... Not that I want to mess with near-perfection, but seems like good sense to do so if possible.
 
The FM chip is a Hitachi HA1196. The 3 FM Murata ceramic filters are all 10.67 MHz, I believe (blue marking).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom