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McIntosh MR-71 Red Stereo Beacon

98.232.144.154
Posted on July 8, 2020 at 10:03:14
Cuernavaca
Audiophile

Posts: 878
Location: NW
Joined: December 23, 2011
 So I bought a pretty nice McIntosh MR-71 tube tuner, my first McIntosh. Seller packed it not too good, It was shipped with the wood case attached and during transit it came loose, flopped around damaging the wood case, it was not too difficult to repair, wood glue and clamps, a little refinish. But the main concern is the red stereo beacon light was not functioning at all, despite having exceptional reception. I determined it was also playing in mono only. When I moved the lamp holder a bit, it would make contact with the dimmer switch, also non-functional. But the red stereo beacon would light up and it would play in stereo. So it now runs in stereo, as long as there is a connection between the + of the lamp holder and the + of the switch. Nothing heats up in the wiring and fuse is good. Any harm in leaving it like this until I can find a qualified tech to fix it? Techs are in short supply in the Portland, Oregon area, may have to travel to find someone willing to service it.

Did the MR-71 have face plate lamps behind the glass? Seems totally dark. I can't see any connections for any sort of lamps that would light up the glass/numbers.

Thomas
"I've never owned a firearm, but I do have an attack parrot!"

 

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RE: McIntosh MR-71 Red Stereo Beacon, posted on July 9, 2020 at 09:34:34
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4384
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 Great tuner, congratulations!
if you can't find a local McIntosh dealer w/ service center - there are a few people to send it to -
DeWick, Audio Classics, others may chime in for other recommendations-


There are lights behind the scale, and each meter.
The multipath indicator is a 6HU6/EM87 tube on its side.
Check out the link below- you can see a unit in great shape- and copies of the manual and service manual.


Happy Listening

 

RE: McIntosh MR-71 Red Stereo Beacon, posted on July 9, 2020 at 10:09:43
Bill Way
Audiophile

Posts: 1884
Location: Toms River NJ
Joined: May 28, 2012
Contributor
  Since: December 14, 2012
 Pfui indeed. You have my favorite tuner, by far.

For the repair, I'd try to get a shipping carton from McIntosh. As I recall, the response to an emailed request was "no" but when I got someone at the factory on the phone the answer was "yes". That was probably ten years ago. If you can get the factory box, send the tuner to Audio Classics and have Richard Modaferri do his magic. (You can ask Audio Classics if they can sell you a shipping carton - they might.) He improves the audio and RF performance quite a bit, and does a full alignment. As he was the principal designer of the MR-77 & 78, there is no better source. He includes a very detailed report on the work he does, and how well the tuner performs. FWIW, he calls the Modaferri-modded MR-71 the "10B killer" and, while the RF section will never quite match the 10B, it comes close, and the audio, when he's done with it, is the best I've ever heard.

Yes, there are festoon lamps lighting up the dial from left and right. Unscrew the narrow top plate just behind the face plate and you can see them. Once you have replacements, remove the face plate and work your way in.

DO NOT LET **ANYTHING** TOUCH THE INSIDE OF THE DIAL GLASS!

The lettering will come off if touched by even the softest brush. The lettering, at this point, is basically dust that's still sitting on the glass because nothing can touch it. You can clean the front, but that's it, so handle it carefully by the edges. If there are fingerprints or other schmutz on the inside, leave it alone or you'll be sorry. If you remove the dial glass and have to set it down on the table, set it down with the front side down and hold it only by the edges.

Good luck!

WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.

 

Terry DeWick has "retired" (nt), posted on July 9, 2020 at 11:43:52
Steve O
Audiophile

Posts: 12359
Location: SE MI
Joined: September 6, 2001

 

Thanks!, posted on July 9, 2020 at 14:45:33
Cuernavaca
Audiophile

Posts: 878
Location: NW
Joined: December 23, 2011
 I got through to the local McIntosh techs, they may be able to get to it by September. Really don't want to ship it. I will attempt to get new lamps in it before then. I have many replacement tubes.

It is the most sensitive tuner I have used and the audio is exceptional, to say the least.

Thanks again.

Thomas
"I've never owned a firearm, but I do have an attack parrot!"

 

RE: Terry DeWick has "retired" (nt), posted on July 11, 2020 at 16:38:51
David Lawrence
Audiophile

Posts: 315
Location: North Dakota
Joined: April 23, 2007
 Hi Richard Modaferri through Audio Classics did a great job restoring and upgrading my MR 71. Worth a good price.

David

 

Respectfully disagree, Portland has quite a number of excellent techs. nt, posted on July 14, 2020 at 20:37:19
viridian
 Nt

 

RE: Respectfully disagree, Portland has quite a number of excellent techs. nt, posted on July 14, 2020 at 20:56:27
Cuernavaca
Audiophile

Posts: 878
Location: NW
Joined: December 23, 2011
 The 2 Mcintosh techs are booked until after October. The local guy, Audio Specialties, won't work on Mcintosh tube tuners, Or he just doesnt want to work. Innersound has been a money pit, they've never been able to fix anything I've brought to them. I did find someone, friend of a friend, hopefully he can get it working correctly. Echo Audio isn't doing repairs right now.

Thomas
"I've never owned a firearm, but I do have an attack parrot!"

 

IMHO, I would be calling Matt Kamna or Bill Weigel....., posted on July 15, 2020 at 15:11:31
viridian
 ......and it has been many years, but Fred's had an awesome tech. Perhaps gone now.

 

RE: McIntosh MR-71 Red Stereo Beacon, posted on August 19, 2020 at 08:17:39
Lee of Omaha
Dealer

Posts: 1800
Location: Omaha NE
Joined: September 8, 2006
 We just rebuilt a customer's MR-71. It is a great tuner. We left the RF and IF sections alone except for testing and replacing tubes. We upgraded the power supply and replaced capacitors in the audio circuit.

Turned out the lamp in the optocoupler was burned out. Replaced it with an LED and dropping resistor, using the original package. Works great now and will probably outlive the customer.

If the lamp burns out the tuner will say it's in stereo but it will be in mono.

The MR-71 is a great-sounding tuner with unusually good bass.

 

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