Let’s see your Richard Modaffari modded McIntosh gear.
- Thread starter odcics2
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
My MR74 has one of those stickers too (2003 date code) but I don't think it had any mods done. Probably just a service - looks all original.
Video I made of some performance tests. It didn't perform spectacularly, I'm convinced it was just a refresh/servicing and not mods.
Video I made of some performance tests. It didn't perform spectacularly, I'm convinced it was just a refresh/servicing and not mods.
Last edited:
Here's the info from the Audio Classics site- Not everything listed applies to every unit he works on!
NOW Your McIntosh Tuner will perform even better. RICHARD MODAFFERI, an independent consultant to Audio Classics, has agreed to do repairs, modifications and updates for customers of AUDIO CLASSICS. His intimate knowledge of the circuits allow him to improve the units audibly and measurably beyond their original performance limits. Your investment in this service is protected by a limited 90 day parts and labor warranty.
Here is a list of some of the changes that may be made in your unit:
Modafferi Mod
NOW Your McIntosh Tuner will perform even better. RICHARD MODAFFERI, an independent consultant to Audio Classics, has agreed to do repairs, modifications and updates for customers of AUDIO CLASSICS. His intimate knowledge of the circuits allow him to improve the units audibly and measurably beyond their original performance limits. Your investment in this service is protected by a limited 90 day parts and labor warranty.
Here is a list of some of the changes that may be made in your unit:
Modafferi Mod
- B- power supply - improved regulation, less hum.
- RF selectivity improved for better spurious rejection.
- IF regeneration fixed - better weak signal reception.
- IF 'tailbiting' fixed - this eliminates degraded reception
at 96.3 and 107.0 Mhz from ninth and tenth IF harmonics.
- Stereo decoder slew-rate optimized by modifying op-amp
feedback circuits; reduces distortion, improves separation.
- diode D307 installed (this was left out of MR78 but was
used in MR77); this reduces 'klunk' noises on fixed output
jacks when tuner is turned on and off.
- IF phase trimming - 'gimmick' capacitors added as needed in
NORMAL IF filter for improved stereo separation.
- RF oscillator emitter tap re-dressed for minimum leakage
inductance; reduces drift and eliminates oscillator
pulling on strong signals.
- Jung-Marsh capacitor upgrade in MPX and audio circuits.
- cardas audio output, midas scope output jacks installed.
- Muting ground changed - improved muting performance.
- 19Khz stereo pilot circuit change, reduces stereo distortion.
- Buffer resistor installed in pointer lamp circuit, prevents
lamp heat from burning red light filter material.
RM does. He's in his late 80s now. He'd need the serial number. Read my paperwork.
Reasons given are mentioned in my paperwork.
I had read the whole thing twice. Never heard of that reported here or anywhere else. I have to find out whether these updates were made to mine in the number of repairs it's gotten over the years at A/C but not specifically by RM.
I'd guess a catastrophic thermal event would have been tossed out, maybe salvaged for any parts that weren't crispy?
My previous yard sale Mac1500 was a mess under the chassis and needed a ton of work. I lived its life in a beautiful walnut cabinet, which doesn't help with heat dissipation at all! I never fully trusted that unit after it was restored.
My previous yard sale Mac1500 was a mess under the chassis and needed a ton of work. I lived its life in a beautiful walnut cabinet, which doesn't help with heat dissipation at all! I never fully trusted that unit after it was restored.
But RM has.
