ARCHEOL

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Used: private party

Summary:

Overall, this is the best all-in-one solution you can buy! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Strengths:
I have owned separates of solid state and tube-hybrids in the past. When I was in college, I sold high-end two-channel audio. About a year ago, I decided to get back into the hobby. After some reflection upon past experiences with complex separate component systems, I decided to look for an integrated amplifier (or discrete receiver). I had read about the MD-208 and was familiar with Magnum Dynalab (I owned an FT11 in college), so I looked long and hard for a clean used unit.

The MD-208 has a very sophisticated high quality look and build. It is rock solid and the wood trim is exquisite. I have the black faceplate with gold-plated tuning and volume knobs.

The sound is exceptional! It sounds better than past systems I have owned including Belles and Counterpoint separates. It has plenty of punch, excellent imaging capabilities when paired with the correct speakers, and lots of current to drive the most demanding loads.

Its design is clearly audiophile inspired. There are no tone controls and only one set of speaker outputs. This is not comparable to pre-home-theater era receivers. It is much, much better in sound and build-quality than other receiver or integrated amplifier I have seen or heard in the less than 5K range.

I am using the MD-208 with a Sony ES CD player, Talon Raven C speakers, and an ACI Titan IILE powered sub. I also have the Magnum MD-10 virtual Dolby Surround Sound Processor that produces a very convincing HT experience when playing DVDs.

The tuner section is also first rate! It makes FM a viable source for listening pleasure. However, there are no station presets (again, audiophile inspired minimalist design).

Overall, this is the best all-in-one solution you can buy! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Weaknesses:
audiophile inspired minimalist design with few controls and options

Has2be

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2100.00 from ever so lightly used

Summary:
Like most of us here , we all had systems we loved and listened and enjoyed on a daily basis . The odd tweak here and there maybe upgrade your cartridge , your cd player or new speakers a cable or two and results were heard immediatly . Then along comes " HOME THEATER" . With it more speakers that cost more together than that ultimate I want set of stereo speakers or fronts as they call them now you never could justify buying . Processors , cables upon cable , enough fine grade copper to go down the block , amplifiers ....well you get it . If all this isn,t frustrating enough manufacturers that make it so you have to sleep in the show room to stay current with the changes and even they can,t agree with a standard version . I was sitting in my living room listening to straight stereo through about 11,000 dollars worth of home theater gear and realized how poor a job it did on stereo for all that money . Made no sense that the basic stereo sound should be so inferior to gear from 30 years ago with all the advancements claimed in manufacturing now . Stereo should be put at the forefront and never an afterthought . Think about it ... how many people know what it sounds like to have a truck crash through a house , or long tirades of gunfire or explosions and so on ? Anyone that does either isn,t here to tell or would rather forget about it . After some research and listening I bought a Magnum Dynalab MD 208 . This is an incredible peice of equipment . Few things in audio do everything they claim and fewer still do everything they are capable of well, let alone outstanding. This receiver is as good as it gets and as good as the claims and reveiws it receives . Inside one very attractive case you get hi end dead quiet pre amplification , high current and outstanding amplification, and a world class tuner with broadcast quality sound . What ever music I through at it it excelled from rock to blues, jazz classical you name it . If you love strings and piano this will make the hairs on your neck stand up . The highs are sweet n natural and not harsh the midrange is like buttah ! Natural as a voice should ,and does, sound without color . The bass also really amazed me as it is musical ,quick and detailed without that over emphasized slam that overwhelms the soundstage . Depth , wide soundstage , speed , control , and delicate detail with dead quiet background . This one box unit makes my demanding NHT 2.9 speakers dissappear and reveals music in a pure and pleasing way that could only be bettered by a hi end preamp and hi end amplifier at twice the cost . But then you would of spent twice the money would need more cabling costs and would lack a tuner that can make you have to check if you have a CD playing when its the FM tuner . A long time ago I was told by an Audio store owner to never be fooled by how good something sounds loud , it must or should sound complete at low levels with all frquencies audible and clear . I never forgot that and this MD 208 does it with detail and delicacy from the highest high to the lowest low and the very important mids . I really think this will be one of those classics in thirty years that our grandchildren will be buying up like the marantz of the seventies that our kids are chasing now . A definate KEEPER !

Strengths:
High quality preamp , amplification and sweet tuner . Detailed , wide soundstage with depth and articulate detail , buttery midrange vocals . Really excells on strings and piano . Very well made and very attractive astetics with alot of value versus cost here and customer service that actually exsists in more than mere words! Made in Canada ! Prooving we in North America can build hi quality products here without the need for sending jobs off shore to be returned as throw away products .

Weaknesses:
None for me , but in this world of remote control some may want a fuction to remotely tune the radio stations and even that can be added as an upgrade for the older units .

Similar Products Used:
A to Z and back again

jaylopez

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $3195.00

Summary:
I really like the MD 208. It’s a unique product. Besides having a very good amp and preamp section, it also has a superb FM tuner. I never enjoyed listening to FM until I got this receiver.In some station, the sound is so amazing you'll think your listening to a CD. As an added bonus, you get a top notch customer service from the people at Magnum. They genuinely value their customers. Way to go Magnum...We need more Companies like you!

Strengths:
-HiFi quality sound that average people like me can afford -New remote -Customer Service -Magnum Dynalab Tuner!

Weaknesses:
-Manual needs improvement -A seek function on the remote would be great

Similar Products Used:
Nakamichi AV 1s

Nibrels

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2975.00 from Audio Waves

Summary:
I do not usually write reviews but this Magnum Dynalab MD 208 is an impressive piece of Audio gear. To my surprise it has a great depth of sound stage. It is open & airy. The tonal balance is fantastic. There is excellent bass presence at low or high volume levels. This receiver approaches the sound of much more expensive McIntosh separates. It performs very well with PSB Stratus Gold i's and is refined enough to drive Dunlavy SC-IVA's. The build quality is superb. One could compare this to your sleeper Hot Rod. If more folks find out how good this unit is, it may hurt the sales of more expensive gear. This unit is a keeper.

Strengths:
Excellent build quality. Sound quality that makes your speakers disappear. The folks at Magnum Dynalab are very helpful on the phone and stand behind their product.

Weaknesses:
No Tuner presets. No remote control of the tuner.

Similar Products Used:
McIntosh Separates. Denon AVR-5800 & Denon DRA-685.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Evaluating audio gear is not only subjective, but often quite biased depending upon ones own personal taste. Having said that, I simply wish to join the ranks of those who have previously made comments regarding the merits of the MD 208. I rarely will take the time to add my $.02 to reviews, especially when something has already been raved about, but this fantastic piece of gear certainly deserves the praise. Admittedly, at first I was skeptical, - a do everything receiver with true audiophile quality? Well, this thing is major league folks. And with the convenience of one box, remote, and an excellent tuner. On a pair of ProAc 1SC mini monitors with sub, the sound can be so intoxicating that I find myself playing my main system (which took A LOT of time, and major bucks to assemble) much less frequently. I have compared the MD 208 directly to a few different similarly priced all tube integrateds, and while there was occasionally a trade off in vocals, I always ended up favoring the MD. This is extremely smooth solid state, and it will deliver the goods in dynamics and detail. At this particular price point, I challenge anyone to partner amps, a tuner, and interconnects that will sound significantly better.

Strengths:
one box convenience good build quality

Weaknesses:
cant switch inputs directly back n forth, - need to cycle thru all the inputs when switching from say CD back to tuner