I have various McIntosh units. I currently own five McIntosh tuners--the MRs 71, 74, 77, 78, and 80. I have A-B'b all these tuners, and the MR77 is a consistent outstanding performer. It has the same basis specs. as the MR78, but without the extensive variable selectivity. Both sound the same. Both were designed by the legendary Richard Modafferi. With a properly aligned MR77, you will think you are listening to a record or a CD. There is no background noise so typical of cheaper FM tuners and receivers. If you are fortunate enough to have one or more high quality FM stations where you live, you will be very happy with the MR77. An MR77 usually costs less than an MR78, but you won't give up anything in sound quality. If variable selectivity is important to you, then look for an MR78. Otherwise, the MR77 is the ticket!

None that I can think of.

The MX-113 sounds like going to the concert, natural in sound quality with great depth and breadth to its sound stage. Highly recommended.

Hard to replace stereo bulb when it burns out.

This review is for my McIntosh MX-113 tuner/preamp, which has the same tuner section as the MR-74 tuner. I have owned a MR-71 for over 20 years previous to the MX-113. I needed a preamp for my system and chose the MX-113. Found the tuner section to be outstanding. Far more linear then the MR71 and has greater detail. Better stereo seperation than the MR71 too. All round I have found the tuner delivers outstanding sound quatlity. There are two great stations in Edmonton where I live. CBC FM English & French. Found FM just as good as cd and sometimes even better. The MX113 us available at a lower price than a MR-74 or MR71, making it a truly great buy in FM. Tried the MX-118 and found it to be substantially inferior in sound quality. Too restricted in Bass and too bright.

Similar Products Used:

MR-71, MX-118

This tuner is incapable of not being totally musical!! Terrific soundstage, lucid clarity.

Multipath indicator is of questionable value.

OK - I'm a Mac addict, I admit it. I enjoy the punch in their amps, the wide soundstage, the clarity in the high end, their reliability and value and let's not forget those cool blue meters and glass faceplates!

I wanted to purchase an analog tuner - I can't stand selecting radio stations like I'm entering numbers in a calculator. After much research, I found that the MR77 was essentially an MR78 without the variable selectivity - same designer, specs, etc. Since the 78 has become legendary, I figured I'd give the 77 a try and save a few hundred bucks.

It's hard to imagine that the signal coming through the MR77 is the same signal that had been going through my Denon and Yamaha receivers! I have done several A-B tests and, frankly, the Japanese vendors should hide their heads in shame. McIntosh's 1970s technology is so much more MUSICAL than modern Japanese technology - it isn't even close! Ironically, the newer units have far better specs on paper but you have to LISTEN to notice the immense difference.

I can tune to a very weak station, with a flickering stereo indicator and very low signal strength and it sounds like I'm a mile from the transmitter. I'm not sure how they did it but this tuner just sings on every station - rock, jazz, classical, blues, folk, etc. It's impossible to make this tuner sound bad!

I have a good outdoor antenna with a rotor. Dialing up the correct direction for the tuner is very easy since the Mac is very sensitive to antenna location and responds very well sonically to the proper direction.

It's very funny to see the hype in the used audio market for tube units like the Scott 350. I've had a couple of 350s and they sound dirty and lack definition next to the Mac. Sure they have the coloration that tubes produce but I don't necessarily agree that it's musical.

In summary, this tuner is about sound quality. Regardless of the Mac legend, cool blue looks, etc. The designer who created the MR77 and MR 78 was a definite music lover. If you want to hear FM like never before, drop down the cash to try one of these classic Macs - you won't regret it, I assure you!!

Similar Products Used:

Scott 350, Akai tuners, Yamaha and Denon receivers

McIntosh quality in construction, sound

Stereo indicator lamp, glass front panel

I purchased my MR77 new in the mid 70's. I had it aligned just prior to the end of the warranty and had it serviced 1 time since. The stereo indicator bulb is the only thing that I have had a problem with, requiring replacement almost yearly ( I do it myself) and the glass panel has bubbled which is not uncommon in McIntosh units with the glass front panels. A replacement glass panel is $120. After some 26 years of ownership it is an inexpensive investment.

That is the history. The MR77 was overshawdowed by the MR78 which has become a legend along with the Marantz 10B, Scott 4310, Day Sequerra and a few others. The MR77 was desiged by the same person as the MR78 and is essentially the same tuner save for the number of filters and switching for the slope.

Soundwise in comaprison to the MR78 I never could detect any sonic difference between them on any station with sufficiant strength to listen to. The MR78 alternate channel selectivity was better but, this is at the expense of frequency bandwidth. Hence there is a tradeoff. I have not lived in a locale that needed the better selectivity and therefore the additional frequency response had more benefit. On the plus side, since it was overshadowed by the MR78, its price has been a relative bargain on the used market. in comparison to my MX110, the MR77 is not quite as full bodied. This may be ther result of the wider frequency bandwith of the MX110 and/or the fact that it is tubes.

The MR77 tuning is smooth. The sound is liquid. It is easy to forget with a good classical station that it is a tuner that one is listening to. Rich, tight bass, balanced detailed midrange and very detailed high-end. This tuner reproduces the kettle drum and organ exceedingly well and does not make violin strings sound in the least way like steel. On the BBC, they still use LPs occasionally (you can hear the occaisional click and pop). Even without it the turner can differentiate between the vinyl and CD (please, I am not eliciting any comments or flames related to which is better, etc.). I am pointing out that the transmission systems of some stations may be better than realized in a day and age when FM tuners are (with the exception of Magnum)not designed to the standards of the older turners.

The tuner is not up to a 10B and I have not had access to a Scott 4312 in some 30 years and therefore can not compare it. My FM3 was professionally restored about 10 years ago and I use it occassionlly. It does not have the soundstage nor separation of the MR77. The FM3 has a warmer tublelike sound than the MX110 or the MR77. Its alternate channel selectivity is terrible. However, it is WIDEBAND. Its highend and bass extension is wonderful but, it does not have the detail of the MR77. I think that if the FM3 components were upgraded to newer parts detail would improve sonce Dynaco had great designs but, suffered from using lesser quality components to meet a price point.

Over the years I have inserted for short periods of time other tuners including the digital McIntosh series and have yet to hear a tuner I'd rather have over a period of time (well, yes I'd go for the 10B - but with the higher maintenance costs, I am not sure I'd be as happy overall).

The cost of a MR77 is higher than most new tuners today, however, the additional price is worth it many times over. In comparison to the MR78, it is an absolute bargain.

Similar Products Used:

McIntosh MX110, MR71, Dynaco FM3, Marantz 10B, 20B,

Everything I've wanted in a tuner is in this one. It has fixed and variable outputs, muting on/off, FM filter, stereo/mono/auto switch, and is built like a tank (albeit, a tank with a gorgeous glass front panel). Though I haven't owned a tuner with a higher list price than this, I've had some pretty decent ones. Sansui TU-717, Yamaha T70, SS Marantz. My last tuner was the Yamaha connected to a roof FM antenna and it had decent reception and selectivity. When I hooked up the Mcintosh to my preamp with only a 3' piece of wire for an antenna and got comparable performance to the Yamaha, I was hooked. I have since replaced the Yamaha with the Mac in my system and have been completely satisfied with it. Connected to the roof antenna, this thing is incredible!