Magnum Dynalab MD100 Reviews...
Inner Ear Report
Magnum Dynalab 100 R Tuner
Rating: 3.5 music notes
This company doesn't need an elaborate introduction as they have been in the tuner business for many years. It all began when Manfred Breunig, now retired, started building tuners over forty years ago. Some models became reference components and included the model Etude introduced in 1989. About five years ago, Magnum Dynalab introduced the now famous MD 108, a tube-based design of the highest quality. A couple of years later, the MD 102 was introduced, followed by a superb audio receiver about two years ago which featured one of their tuners and extended their product line to five models, with the recent addition of an integrated amplifier. The tuner under review is the company's latest design, replacing the model Etude.
Appearance
As with most of Magnum's tuners, this one also sports a black chassis and faceplate with two large windows for signal strength and multipath readouts and a digital number display for station identification. Under the windows, five switches activate (from left to right) power, mute, stereo/mono, bandwidth 1&2 and signal/multi-path display. A large tuning knob on the unit's right completes the front panel.
On the rear XLR and RCA outputs, the well for the power cord, an antenna input, digital input and remote control switch are logically arranged.
The MD 100 is equipped with an internal infrared remote control which features power switch, five present and tuning up and down functions.
The unit weighs 15 pounds (6.64K) and measures 4.5 inches high, 19 wide and 13 inches deep {options for 17 ¾ and 19-inch faceplates are available}.
This component resembles the top of the line MD 108-easy on the eyes and completely professional.
Technology
The most important technical specifications are stated conservatively and reveal a high caliber-tuning device. The quieting factor in stereophonic mode is 25.0dBf, capture ration is 1.5dB, image rejection is 110.0dB, signal to noise ration is an astounding 80dB, while alternate channel measurements produce 40dB in the wide mode and 70dB in the narrow mode. Adjacent channel figures are also impressive with 12dB in the wide mode and 30dB in the narrow mode.
Total harmonic distortion in mono is 0.10% and in stereo 0.18%; stereo separation is 50dB, AM suppression is 75dB; SCA rejection is 75dB; IF rejection is 80dB, while 19kHz and 38kHz component rejection is 75dB. The unit's balanced audio output is 1.1V; unbalanced (RCA) 1 V.
The tuner's ability to deal with interference from other station signals lies mainly in its "selectivity". The MD 100 offers excellent selectivity as its front end is of very high quality.
A good sensitivity figure puts the tuner in a position to pull in most stations so that they can be heard without noise when operating in stereo mode. This is expressed in terms of dBf or microvolt's (uv). While there are three different specifications used to express sensitivity: "IHF", "Usable", and "50dB quieting", the latter expressed in terms of "mono" and "stereo", is the most significant.
It is around the 50dB quieting level that the signal should be quiet enough to provide "listenable" audio. This tuner is designed for different levels of selectivity (narrow and wide). The narrow setting is best employed in most urban situations where stations are close together, but fidelity may suffer a touch. In the wide setting-in less congested areas-the tuner will usually offer slightly better fidelity, but this is difficult to discern as the proper "balance" was obviously achieved with the design of the MD 100.
For our tests we used the Magnum Dynalab antenna model ST-2-a whip-like vertical design mounted outside the building, but not on a roof. It was connected with a 75ohm cable to the input on the tuner. Past tests showed that this antenna does a wonderful job and outperforms the cable company's audio quality for Fm reception. Important elements of a tuner include reception, signal integrity, separation and, most important for audiophiles and music lovers, musicality. We dare way that this tuner is difficult to outperform, except by one of Magnum's higher-end models-it's as simple as that.
Synopsis & Commentary
In today's digital world, it is rare to encounter analogue-based technology which has withstood the test of time. It's refreshing to see that Magnum hasn't yielded to the industry's hyperbole which exaggerates the importance of digital radio. No doubt, digital radio is going to be available in many locations across North America, but it will be catering to young folks with young tastes in music. Tuners at the quality level we have here are usually used by people who take radio very seriously and listen to classical music, jazz, and the occasional blues and rock program. It is very unlikely that a Magnum tuner is used to listen to hip-hop or rap where the sound quality couldn't be discerned in the first place. However, those who love to listen to good music will appreciate what this tuner can do. Out editor has often said that a good tuner is a window to the world of music. Easy for him to say as he listens to Magnum's top of the line MD 108, but he makes a good point. We believe that this new tuner is a great alternative component for all those who aren't willing to spend the really big bucks, but want performance closely asking to that of the MD 108.