[jimtranr]

A McIntosh MR77 I'd ordered from Audio Classics arrived late this morning and was put immediately to work in place of a Marantz ST6000 in my primary system. Coupled to a roof-mounted Winegard HD6055P yagi and rotor since Tuesday, the 6000 had done an excellent job of snagging stations in Eugene, OR, about 40 miles from where I live, and a good job capturing a full-time jazz station in stereo in narrow IF mode in Gresham, about 70 air miles in the opposite direction despite having to contend with tall trees and hilly neighborhood country. If the MR77 worked out, the 6000 would head for the bedroom system.

I let the 77 settle in for about an hour's "on" time before commencing critical listening, starting with a classical and then a community college station in Eugene. Immediately apparent was a richer, "fuller" sonic presentation that rendered the ST6000's "electronic" by comparison. Time for a sterner test. I swung the yagi northward and tuned to 89.1 in Gresham. After a little fine tuning of the antenna's position, I got fully separated (and full-bodied) stereo without any hashy artifacts without engaging the 77's stereo filter. Nice.

Yep, the 6000's already in the bedroom.