MR 85 Review

[atuque]

Issue No. 37 of hi-fi+ has a review of the McIntosh MR85 tuner.

A very good writeup with the reviewer wanting to sample some more McIntosh gear.

The comment about the "odd styling of the McIntosh" makes one pause considering the odd appearance of the Spj Alba turntable and Lyla tonearm reviewed in the same issue.

atuque

 

[Number 9]

Yeah, I saw that one when it came out a couple of months ago but did not mention it here. I actually was disappointed by the review because it does not say much IMO. It would have been nice if he did some more comparisons vs. the "sounds great to me" thing. A lot of text devoted to AM, when really, who cares.

 

[Negotiableterms]

I have an MR85, and I like the sound better than all but a couple of other tuners. On the other hand, I haven't found it to be a reception maven. I don't have the second tuner module, and I keep hoping that Mc will come out with an xm module. So far, no luck!

 

[Victor]

Negotiableterms
Have you compaired the MR85 to any tuners from Magnum Dynalab? I would like to get one of these tuners but there is not a dealer that I know of to do demo colse by me.

Victor

 

[Negotiableterms]

Negotiableterms
Have you compaired the MR85 to any tuners from Magnum Dynalab? I would like to get one of these tuners but there is not a dealer that I know of to do demo colse by me.

Victor

Victor-

I have a bunch of tuners, including a MD Etude (a full Etude, not a 101 upgraded), which I like better than the MR85. The sound is about the same, but the Etude has better reception. I live in mountains where FM is horrible, and I'm not allowed to have a large antenna, so I've spent a long time hunting for a super-tuner, and the Etude was my choice for quite a while. Eventually I moved on to an Accuphase T109V. Then, on the web I found TIC, discovered mods, and the next thing I knew I was replacing the insanely expensive Accuphase with an APS modified Sansui TU-919 which has the best reception ever (in my home) and terrific sound!

Moral of the story, I'd spend money for a vintage Kenwood (917) or Sansui (9900 or 919) and have Ed Hanlon modify it before I'd buy an MD. On the other hand, if reception isn't a problem for you, the Etude and all MDs are fine tuners.

Now, a micro-mystery: Why do so many great tuners have the number 9 in their model names?

 

[Victor]

I do get good reception, I was interested in sound quality. I will probably end up with a MR85, it would match my other Mac equipment and I could use just one remote.
I keep hearing how incredible the Magnum Dynalab MD108 sounds but it retails for $6200 with remote. Now I just saw a new top of the line MD tuner for $8500 :screwy: the MD109.

:screwy:

Victor

 

[Negotiableterms]

$$$

I took a look at the MD109. It has toobs, so I won't be getting in line, even if I could justify the price.

The MR85 is a nice unit, but you could buy any rc tuner and use a Mc UR12 learning remote. The MDs generally aren't big on rc until you get to the current models, and even there the remote costs $300 extra.

It's weird, there really are so few high-end tuners left. For real TOTL, you have to back into the 90s or further, and you forfeit remote control. Good luck! :scratch2:

 

[pjrengineer]

These words still are relevant to me today. The kt917 and the tu919 have to be the best tuners out there even when compared to McIntosh. Great sound and great reception.