Magnum Dynalab Owners Thread
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Have owned a Magnum Dynalab FT-101A for 28 years and it has been trouble-free. Recently, when I was installing some upgrade audio cables, I encountered some problems with the RCA jacks on the HI output. On a lark, I tried the LO output and was shocked at the improvement in sound quality. The LO output comes directly from the multiplex filter, bypassing the output amplifier (NE5532 opamp) on the HI output. A higher volume control setting was required, but this did not pose a problem as my preamp has plenty of gain.
If you have a MD FT-101A and want better sound quality, give the LO output a try. I think you'll be very pleased with the results.
If you have a MD FT-101A and want better sound quality, give the LO output a try. I think you'll be very pleased with the results.
Thanks! I never thought about trying the LO outputs.
MiamiEd
Active Member
Thank you for the tip. I have never bothered with the low output jacks on my FT-101. Eliminating an opamp stage of amplification is almost always a good idea so I took your suggestion. My preamp also has lots of gain.
I am listening to the Blues Hour on WDNA 88.9 as I write this. What a difference in sound! Big improvements in clarity, dynamics and tone. The added clarity of voices, both the announcers and recorded singing is startling.
Ed
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Glad that the change worked as well for you as it did for me. As a related point of interest, none of the current MD models have the LO output option. For that reason alone, I'll be keeping my FT-101A.
MiamiEd
Active Member
That is also good information. A great reason to stand pat.
I spent a good portion of yesterday listening to jazz, until she who must be obeyed intervened. What an easy and worthwhile tweek.
MiamiEd
Active Member
Listening to WDNA 88.9 Weekend Jazz on my new to me FT-11. The antenna is a MD Silver Ribbon.
The tuner is sensitive despite being on the first floor of a two story building. Weak local stations such as WVUM came in with full quieting. The audio sounds good with a decent soundstage. It sounds similar to my FT-101.
I like the small footprint, the minimalist staying and the sound. It is not a DX machine but as a second tuner, it would fill the bill.
The problems? It drifts. After keeping it on for 48 hours, it settled down a bit but after eight hours of listening, the VFO started to drift again. The tuning knob is broken but it should not be too difficult to glue together. Neither the signal strength meter nor the tuning meter work. I can live without these.
My dilemma is whether to send it to Magnum Dynalab for repair or live with these problems.
The tuner is sensitive despite being on the first floor of a two story building. Weak local stations such as WVUM came in with full quieting. The audio sounds good with a decent soundstage. It sounds similar to my FT-101.
I like the small footprint, the minimalist staying and the sound. It is not a DX machine but as a second tuner, it would fill the bill.
The problems? It drifts. After keeping it on for 48 hours, it settled down a bit but after eight hours of listening, the VFO started to drift again. The tuning knob is broken but it should not be too difficult to glue together. Neither the signal strength meter nor the tuning meter work. I can live without these.
My dilemma is whether to send it to Magnum Dynalab for repair or live with these problems.
Check with MD and get a quote for an alignment. They can also go over the entire unit for a couple hundred bucks. Double check their site, they had prices posted for upgrades and service.
MiamiEd
Active Member
Thanks for the tip. They can do it for about $200 including shipping. I am leaning toward shipping the tuner to them.
Ed
I recently got an MD-101A for my main system listening. I was listening to FM radio on a table radio but after trying an old Kenwood receiver I realized that FM broadcasts are very high quality and an upgrade was warranted. Also, I am very fortunate that we have a very good radio station in the New Orleans area (WWOZ 90.7, wwoz.org) that plays music that I like without commercials unless you count announcements. I must say that I am prejudiced because my daughter is a DJ at the station...
MiamiEd
Active Member
Great station, great tuner. Congratulations on a pick up that will entertain you for many years.
I have a local station with a similar format, WDNA 88.9. I have an FT101 that sounds wonderful.
Enjoy in good health!
MiamiEd
Active Member
Frank Consola in the morning is my favorite dj
How's your antenna?
My MD90 with an omni outdoor antenna had clean reception issues until I cleaned up the (outdoor) connectors and rotated the antenna slightly.
imdocjas
Well-Known Member
i have a small, decent indoor antenna currently that allows me to pick up the two strongest stations in the area pretty clearly. nonetheless, the scratchiness with getting them fine tuned remains. i know this model uses a "varactor" instead of the mechanical variable capacitance tuning mechanism such as in my Nikko Gamma 1 that i sprayed with tuner cleaner/lube to resolve a similar issue. is this varactor amenable to such treatment? if so, great, and i would then proceed with a full re-cap since this model dates from around 1985. i think the sound quality is slightly better than the Nikko
http://akdatabase.org/AKview/albums/userpics/10007/Magnum Dynalab FT-101 Etude Manual.pdf
You can send it in to MD for service. They are pretty reasonable on rates.
