Just snagged another MR77...

[jimtranr]

to complement another one and an MR74 already in-house. One of the three will wind up as the front end of a system in my wife's home office.

The new acquisition:

http://jimtranr.com/MR77_2.JPG

Cosmetically it's in excellent condition, a quick-check comparison indicates that it's at least the equal of the MR74 in pulling in stations in the same location with indoor rabbit ears that will be replaced by an outdoor whip or half-wave dipole (I'm leaning toward the latter), and sonically the two tuners are very close (though I need more time to listen to the 77) when feeding the tuner's fixed output through a Counterpoint line stage to a Rotel power amp.

The only issue is the variable output. The power switch works fine, but the listening level is at max (and at what I'd characterize as a "normal"--i.e., a close-in, not too loud) listening level at the volume control pot's minimum position and decreases to silence as the knob is rotated clockwise. That suggests to me that the pot's been replaced (perhaps even with one of a different value than stock) or rewired--in reverse. Since I intend ultimately to run this 77 directly to a power amp, it's a problem I need to have corrected when I ship it off to a tech for alignment and a determination of whether it needs recapping.

That minor annoyance aside, it's a sonic delight.

[Vintage Pete]

to complement another one and an MR74 already in-house. One of the three will wind up as the front end of a system in my wife's home office.

The new acquisition:

http://jimtranr.com/MR77_2.JPG

Cosmetically it's in excellent condition, a quick-check comparison indicates that it's at least the equal of the MR74 in pulling in stations in the same location with indoor rabbit ears that will be replaced by an outdoor whip or half-wave dipole (I'm leaning toward the latter), and sonically the two tuners are very close (though I need more time to listen to the 77) when feeding the tuner's fixed output through a Counterpoint line stage to a Rotel power amp.

The only issue is the variable output. The power switch works fine, but the listening level is at max (and at what I'd characterize as a "normal"--i.e., a close-in, not too loud) listening level at the volume control pot's minimum position and decreases to silence as the knob is rotated clockwise. That suggests to me that the pot's been replaced (perhaps even with one of a different value than stock) or rewired--in reverse. Since I intend ultimately to run this 77 directly to a power amp, it's a problem I need to have corrected when I ship it off to a tech for alignment and a determination of whether it needs recapping.

That minor annoyance aside, it's a sonic delight.

Congrats on your acquisition of another of these fine tuners. :thumbsup: I have one MR77 and I love it. That volume pot is definitely wired in backwards. (That's an issue I would probably fix myself).


Pete

[f1 fan]

It's a beauty, congrats on your purchase.

Dave

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

[jimtranr]

Shorting plugs. They were inserted in the unused variable audio outputs when the tuner arrived today (apparently the previous owner used the fixed outputs through a preamp). Assuming they could be used in the fixed outputs when I connected up for variable output for noise control, I inserted them there.

I just removed them after shutting down the system and reconnected to the variable outputs to see what would happen. I now have unrestricted and "standard clockwise" control with the volume pot. :banana:

Moral: (And I should know better). Don't assume.:64714-slap:

[MC352]

Very Nice! Congrats on your new tuner. It looks like it was well cared for.

[Vintage Pete]

Shorting plugs. They were inserted in the unused variable audio outputs when the tuner arrived today (apparently the previous owner used the fixed outputs through a preamp). Assuming they could be used in the fixed outputs when I connected up for variable output for noise control, I inserted them there.

I just removed them after shutting down the system and reconnected to the variable outputs to see what would happen. I now have unrestricted and "standard clockwise" control with the volume pot. :banana:

Moral: (And I should know better). Don't assume.:64714-slap:

I guess we both learned something here...who would know the shorting plugs inserted in the fixed outputs would cause the volume control to behave that way? That's even better though...no surgery required! :thumbsup:

Pete

[mgard]

I also love the looks of the vintage tuners. Congratulations on your new tuner.

~Mike

[jimtranr]

Thanks, Dave, Mike, and MC352. Yes, the 77 was well cared for.

Yesterday, I re-dial-lamped and re-faceplated my other recent acquisition, an MR 74, whose glass arrived in pieces, apparently a shipping casualty. No other harm done. And my wife's happy, as she gets one of the three Macs now residing here for her home office.

[jimtranr]

Here's the refaced (and re-festoon-lamped) MR74:

http://jimtranr.com/MR74_new_face.JPG

[W9TR]

Beautiful tuners, Jim. Congratulations! I enjoy my MR77 every day. I think it is one of the least appreciated McIntosh tuners out there.

[jimtranr]

Beautiful tuners, Jim. Congratulations! I enjoy my MR77 every day. I think it is one of the least appreciated McIntosh tuners out there.

Thanks. I agree. Sonically, it's a gem, and I've been pleasantly surprised by its ability to haul in a not-too-noisy, separated stereo signal from 70 miles away (and "through" a nearby hill) with cheapie FM rabbit ears. (The 77 on the rotored outdoor yagi does far better noise-wise with the same signal, as you might expect.)

My wife's pleased, too, since she'll get either a 77 or a 74 of her own.