McIntosh Tuners: Who's Using A McIntosh Tuner, Vintage Or Current Production?

[A-Line]

Here's my MR75 & MR78

 

[dinov]

MR74

 

[jbr7]

About two years ago, I upgraded to the current MR 89. It's good, but with the proliferation of internet radio, it does seem a bit superfluous.

 

[hoodjem]

I am wondering if there is any consensus as to which Macintosh tuner has the best (most natural, real, or life-like) sound.

The MR-78 seems to have the reputation for that.
But the Tuner Information Center ranks it at number 77 in their Shootout, and ranks the MR-80 at number 22. The MR-80 is thus the highest ranked Macintosh. (Of course this means that they believe there are 21 tuners that sound better.)

I would think one of their tube tuners would be the best sounding.
But not having heard a Mac tuner in decades, I really have no idea.

Mac tuners are certainly very much sought after and concomitantly priced. So there must be something going on here that is not reflected in the TIC rankings.
Just a simple, honest question.

 

[A-Line]

I am wondering if there is any consensus as to which Macintosh tuner has the best (most natural, real, or life-like) sound.

The MR-78 seems to have the reputation for that.
But the Tuner Information Center ranks it at number 77 in their Shootout, and ranks the MR-80 at number 22. The MR-80 is thus the highest ranked Macintosh. (Of course this means that they believe there are 21 tuners that sound better.)

I would think one of their tube tuners would be the best sounding.
But not having heard a Mac tuner in decades, I really have no idea.

Mac tuners are certainly very much sought after and concomitantly priced. So there must be something going on here that is not reflected in the TIC rankings.
Just a simple, honest question.

I have a few McIntosh stereo tuners. The MR74 playing through my tube amp and preamp is probably the best sounding one to me. I have a MR74, 75, 77, 78, & 7083. I also have a ReVox B780 receiver which has a excellent tuner also and is better than the ReVox B760 stand alone FM tuner of that same era in the early 1980's.

The MR74 & 78 sound better with my tube amp and tube preamp, the others sound better with my solid state setup.

I have never heard a Accuphase tuner, but liked and listened to many Japanese tunes since the 1960's. Tandberg made some really nice tuners and other electronics at one point.

I have always liked radio so now I have my favorite tuners to enjoy that format, each one is a different flavor of excellence.