MR88 Inbound

[Formerly YB-2]

With as much FM listening as I do, decided I need a modern companion to my MA8950. Am not a fan of the current MR89, so Audio Classics just happened to have an MR88 available. Should have in a few days.

[cleeds]

Ahhhhhh, there's nothing quite like a nice Mac tuner! I'll be interested in how this works out for you.

[Charles]

Well, absolute congrats over your purchase. I have an MR 87 that I like very much. But what is it about the new MR89 that you don't like?

Best

Charles

[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by Charles

Well, absolute congrats over your purchase. I have an MR 87 that I like very much. But what is it about the new MR89 that you don't like?
Best
Charles

Several things, starting with its design.
To me, McIntosh tuners should have a linear dial for tuning. A few models are only FM, but most are proper linear FM/AM dials.
Another design detail I don't care for are the blue meters. To me, blue meters are to measure power, only. Easy to have too many blue meters (preamps, turntables, now tuners - too much of a good thing to my way of thinking).
Plus, it has neither HD, which a couple of stations I listen to still offer, nor XM, and I listen to some Sirius channels from time-to-time.

Feel sure the MR89 is fine for FM/AM listening, but I like what I like.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Several things, starting with its design.
To me, McIntosh tuners should have a linear dial for tuning. A few models are only FM, but most are proper linear FM/AM dials.
Another design detail I don't care for are the blue meters. To me, blue meters are to measure power, only. Easy to have too many blue meters (preamps, turntables, now tuners - too much of a good thing to my way of thinking).
Plus, it has neither HD, which a couple of stations I listen to still offer, nor XM, and I listen to some Sirius channels from time-to-time.

Feel sure the MR89 is fine for FM/AM listening, but I like what I like.

I feel the same way that you do about the linear dial but it may be that these dials are no longer available. The MR89 has amazing specifications and is competitive with the Accuphase T-1200 that doesn't have a tuning dial. I suspect the MR89 will on the right material sound significantly better than a MR87 or MR88. What do you think?

Best

Charles

[McMan]

Congratulations on the MR88! I love mine and will never let it go.

[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by Charles

I feel the same way that you do about the linear dial but it may be that these dials are no longer available. The MR89 has amazing specifications and is competitive with the Accuphase T-1200 that doesn't have a tuning dial. I suspect the MR89 will on the right material sound significantly better than a MR87 or MR88. What do you think?
Best
Charles

McIntosh makes their own glass, so whatever dial they prefer they can make. They offer glass for all their vintage gear, if you are willing to wait (sometimes many months) until they run it.
My guess is the MR88 & MR89 sound very much the same, both being based on DSP (like the T-1000/1200) technology. Other than the design of the face and lacking the HD/XM, the DSP portion may be the same.
The MR88 was noted for its large power supply and weighs a few pounds more than the MR89.

[McMan]

Nice, I did not realize the MR88 had a different power supply from MR89

[Formerly YB-2]

I'm not sure that the the MR88 power supply is different from the MR89. But, as the MR89 does not need to support circuitry for HD & XM, it may be. I only know that the Tone review of the MR88 noted its large power supply.

[Maks]

Congrats, it's a great tuner. Almost time for me to turn mine on for some Saturday evening listening. I also have a souped up MR-74 that has a different sound, but if I had to choose just one it'd be the MR88. It's also fun to see what kind of oddities you can find on AM late at night.

The new Mc tuners don't have the dial because their supplier stopped making it, someone from Mc posted that elsewhere when the 87 was coming out I believe.