McIntosh MR78 Analog Tuner- Modefferi Modified - The Best from McIntosh

General:Many believe this to be the best tuner EVER made. In our opinion it's definitely in the top five. New official front faceplate glass from the factory makes this tuner look even better. We can also supply a perfectly fitting McIntosh wood cabinet for the complete vintage look, just contact us first for details and availability.This particular tuner is very special as it was modified (upgraded) in 2004 by Richard Modefferi himself - the designer/engineer behind the MR78. It was tested in our lab and it is working well, and will include its original box plus the faceplate bezel. We feel it looks a touch more modern with the bezel removed.The Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame: McIntosh MR 78 Tuner:"A young engineering genius used a computer to design a filter and the result was the greatest FM tuner ever built"  That engineering genius was Richard Modafferi, and if you reverse his initials you get the model prefix for a host of McIntosh Tuners...SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:The front panel glass was replaced with a new production piece sourced from the McIntosh factory. The new glass propagates light slightly differently than the original glass. Some of the colors may appear muted or a bit dimmer compared to original glass. Looks great overall.SkyFi Technical Notes:Modified (upgraded) by Richard ModeferriBrand Background:McIntosh Laboratory is an American manufacturer of handcrafted high-end audio equipment based in Binghamton, New York. The company was founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh. The company designs and produces audio amplifiers, stereo tuners and other consumer electronics products.Ownership:Second OwnerConnections:RCA output, 75ohm antenna output, 300ohm antenna output, AC outletGeneral Sound:Smooth, uncolored, undistorted natural and cleanCosmetic Condition:8/10 = Very Good. Excellent front faceplate, one minor flaw on chassis side or top. See our detailed rating description here.Working Condition:Working perfectly and tested in our lab.Included:Unit and boxPacking:Original Manufacturers PackingSpecs:Type: Mono/Stereo TunerTuning Bands: FMTuning Scale: AnalogueFM Tuning Range: 88 to 108 MHzSensitivity: 2.5uV (FM)Signal to Noise Ratio: 75dB (FM)Distortion: 0.2% (FM)Selectivity: 55dB (FM)Frequency response: 20Hz to 18kHz (FM)Output: 2500mVDimensions: 16 x 5.5 x 13 inchesDimensions:16" x 5.5" x 13"Weight:27 lbs.Approximate Age:1972Link to Manual:Click HereRecommended Cables:Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - BetterKimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - BestTesting Process:We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR. Vintage analog tuners also have moving parts related to the tuning gang and dial string. These parts are inspected for smooth operation. If the unit passes visual inspection it is bench tested for a handful of key performance parameters using a Sencore SG80 AM/FM Stereo Analyzer. The SG80 allows us to “simulate” an ideal radio station using precision test signals instead of music. This device in conjunction with an oscilloscope allows us to properly evaluate the following parameters:1) AM Reception (Where Applicable)2) FM Mono Reception & Tuning Meter Function3) FM MPX Reception (Stereo)4) Dial Tracking: How accurately the tuner dial or display indicates the actual frequency of the broadcast being received.5) Stereo Separation: A properly working stereo tuner will have minimal crosstalk between the left and right channel.6) Sensitivity & Signal Strength Meter Function: By lowering the output of the SG80 we can simulate weak stations and determine how well the tuner will be able to pull in weak distant stations. This adjustment also helps us verify signal strength meter function.If the tuner has acceptable performance related to the parameters above we connect the unit for listening tests with a simple dipole antenna. We listen for audio reproduction quality of local stations and evaluate how many stations the tuner can receive while we sweep through the dial.We are looking to verify that the tuner can decode stereo on strong local broadcasts and pick up a wide variety of local stations at the bottom, middle, and top of the frequency band. At this point we also test convenience features such as muting, filters, built in oscilloscope function, etc. We finish up with an extended listening test on our long term test rig. We tune in to a strong local station and monitor for drift over a minimum period of 2-3 hours.