General Asylum: REVIEW: Magnum Dynalab MD 108 Tuner by TomF

Model:	MD 108
Category:	Tuner
Suggested Retail Price:	$ 5500
Description:	Ultimate Tuner
Manufacturer URL:	Magnum Dynalab
Manufacturer URL:	Magnum Dynalab

Review by TomF on July 09, 2004 at 08:35:45
IP Address: 209.66.58.111

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for the MD 108

I've had this tuner for about 3 years. Do I use it as much for serious listening as my vinyl and digital sources? No. But, every time I do really sit down and listen to the MD-108 FM, I'm reminded how good this tuner really is. It is dead quiet, has complete control as to bandwidth selection, blending and mono selection, and can be slightly de-tuned with the analog tuning mechanism to get around adjacent station interference. The sensitivity is astounding. Using the MD Signal Sleuth to get my yagi roof-mounted antenna pointed exactly right, I get stereo with good quieting from a classical station in Harrisburg, which is 90 miles away, at least late at night. (Do you believe that Philadelphia has no commercial classical stations at all, only a 12 hour/day (daytime) classical broadcast from Temple University?) During the day or at sunset when interference is highest the Harrisburg station still comes in very strong, but only in mono. This tuner does not need the signal sleuth front end (already incorporated internally), but the adjustability of the sleuth does help to get other settings on the MD-108 optimized. The single ended outputs are the ones to use because they are directly driven by the 12AX7-based tube output stage. Balanced outputs are solid state. The overall sound of this tuner is warm, rich and bass-accentuated with the stock tubes (Russian contemporary manufacture). Leaner 12AX7's like Telefunken (which I'm using), Yugo EI, or Chineese shound better. It also does very well with IC that accentuates dynamics and upper midrange. I've found the Synergistic Research Reference to be a good match. Some silver IC also works well to subjectively fill in the FM's rolled off top end. I've got a local college station that plays the top new released CD's from the year, back-to-back every new years, and this is when the MD-108 really gets a work out. CD recordings made off the air using the MD-108 are surprisingly good. The only problem I have had with mine is a dust seal that came unglued inside the display glass and two burned out lights in the tuning gauges.

Product Weakness: None - execpt perhaps the choice of 12AX7 tubes used
Product Strengths: Probably the best or certainly one of the very best out there

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Transcendent T-8 Monos (mod)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Placette Passive
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	VPI Super Aries/Walker Reference/Helikon
Speakers:	Merlin VSM
Cables/Interconnects:	Synergistic, ZCable, Kimber, Transparent
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 15 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	carpet - open rear wall
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PS Audio 600s (2) (modified)
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	None - execpt perhaps the choice of 12AX7 tubes used
Product Strengths:	Probably the best or certainly one of the very best out there