I have had the valve powered Magnum Dynalab MD 109 FM tuner for a little over three years now, using a Ron Smith Galaxy 13 element array aerial. The MD 109's front panel layout is both elegantly and ergonomically styled, very well thought out. I have black version, but silver is available. It has an on-off switch on the rear panel, so is best left 'on'. Controls from left to right are: large input selector knob, large Signal Strength meter, the large multi function LCD Touch Display Sceen, large Centre Tuning meter, large Manual Tuning knob it is unusual in that the centre display is also a touch screan to both program and select your chosen pre-set stations, I say unusual because this display screen is truly multi functional - whilst the remote control is as well thought out as the tuner - and almost as heavy, both allowing the user to program or select any number of facilities on this tuner. Touching the display screen powers up the tuner - displaying 'warming up', once warmed up the Tuner goes to operational mode, the screen displays the FM station frequency last used and all the touch controls at the screen bottom;- selecting power; stereo or mono; band - wide, narrow or super narrow; blend; mute and dim - to select the brightness of the screen and meters, apart from the 'dim and power' controls, a window in the top right of the display indicates your chosen selection. You can tune with either the large rotory control knob, the up and down arrows on the touch screen or the remote control.
In use I have found this tuner to impart a wonderfully clear, natural and precise sound with a very wide and deep sound stage, it has a far wider frequency responce than I had ever heard from a tuner before, with channel seperation that is truly superb - a true audiophile tuner. Outputs provided are both balanced and single ended. If you already have a high-end system and your looking for a high-end tuner, look no further, this is it!
The Instruction manual is clear and concise. The MD 109 comes in a very well padded blue aluminium flight case.

Very musical
Super Transparent
Reveals Micro dynamics of the music
Dissapears in my sound room
Super quiet both balanced or single ended operation
Looks like a true reference device in any room
Good value (because you wont be going to live performances any more )
THE BEST FM TUNER IN THE WORLD period
Sound is great out of the box but about 200 hours for full potential

Yes there is one , your friends will want to camp out in your sound room.
seriously none
the cost is a bit high but not when you consider how much use You will get out of this piece!!! I haven't purchased a single cd or record after the MD 109 because the music is free in the air you just need a device to catch it with.

Gentelmen, the Mighty MD 109 is not just a tuner it is a musiucal reproduction device that will bring the artists into your home every time you turn your system on. I enjoy Jazz music in particular at night (live performances especially), it is almost impossible to describe that a radio broadcast has this much definition and liveness in it.The MAGIC is incredable. I own a few high end tuners currently and the new MD 109 puts them to shame. The tonal beauty of this tuner is as good as my clearaudio master reference table, very three dimenssional sound fidelity that one can't describe in words. Transparency and the immense sound stage that go beyound the boundries of my large sound room, like sitting in the front row and the stage is about 40feet wide and 40 feet deep. Instruments sound like they are being played in front of you with so much body and presence that is scary, it gives me the creeps at times and it allows the listener to relax to the point like you are in a different dimension. Female vocals are alive and present that will almost make you cry every time You hear Patricia Barber Shirley Horn Dianne Reeves Diana Krall. The bass is fast, very articulate and dynamic like a good cd but its analog sounding and smooth like vinyl but no background noise to deal with just choose one of your favourate 40 presets. The startling performance of this Monster tuner has given me no choice but to make it my number one source in my system. The build quality and the finish of the tuner are excellent including the new remote system that allows you to use the presets or direct entry of the station. Pulling power is very good with the ST 2 antenna just sitting in the room corner. The remote unit is all quality and feels solid in your hand. Front display is very visible and it dims automatically after few seconds. The front face plate looks rich and beautifully finished like fine instrumentation should be at this level. I have owned the MD 108 in the past, selling the Marantz 10 B (MD 109 sounds more realistic and much quieter) as this new tuner from Magnum Dynalab takes FM Broadcasts to a new level of performance. Its like having live performers entertain you every night and You choose what piece of music they play for You without going to the concerts. Your sound room becomes a live stage every night!!! Short warm up time sounds good after five minutes of playing it keeps getting better and better as the night progresses. The only tuners that can battle or barely keep up with this beast are the MD 108 and the Marantz 10B and they loose every time they meet on my audio rack. Its like having a library of world music at your fingertips with the magical analog presence . Every audiophile should have a listen for themselves how this tuner presents the music to you, to my ears its flawless gentelmen.

Similar Products Used:

MD 108
Fully Modified Marantz 10B
Sequerra Reference tuner
Mac Mr 80

Peerless quality of sound Flexibility to add new technologies Great company

Expensive Isn't "instant on" Power cord is generic

WFMT is considered by many to be one of the most audiophile friendly classical music stations in the country. I have had the opportunity to listen to broadcasts in the studio just outside the broadcast booth. It was always a cleaner presentation than I heard at home on my tuner. The Magnum MD109 provides superior quality of sound to what I heard at the station. This was beyond my expectations. This may be my favorite piece of audio equipment for it is truly magical. Does it make sense to buy a high-end tuner when the whole world is changing - satellite, web and such? Well, first off. I haven't seen - or more importantly heard anything of the quality of what I am listening to from any of those new media. Second, I'm not sure when I will hear this quality from those media. Third, this tuner is set up to be able to pick up all of the new media as they come upon the scene. Finally, this product is one of those products that is so good that it makes one re-evaluate broadcast media. I've listened to other tuners including some of the celebrated McIntosh tuners I owned an MR80 for several years. The MD109 is on a whole new plain. It opens doors to listening enjoyment that you might have forgotten about. And this is from a company you'd like to do business with. They have a track record of keeping their equipment working. I called a couple of times to ask questions. I got helpful feedback. Others will testify to the quality of their service. Being in Chicago, I'm blessed with a great classical station. I hope to try this unit out with satellite in the near future. I'll update when I do.

Similar Products Used:

MR80 MR78 Magnum 208 Etude Denon, Yamaha, Sansui tuners