MAGNUM DYNALAB FT-101A

Pre owned. In excellent condition. Free from visible signs of wear. Supplied with Bronson++ VT-200 transformer. Without original packaging.

The Magnum Dynalab FT101, in its “A” Etude version, stands among the most representative high-end analog FM tuners, the result of a long engineering tradition that has established the Canadian brand as a benchmark in the hi-fi tuner segment. Designed exclusively for FM reception between 88 and 108 MHz, the unit embodies a purist approach in which ease of use and fully manual control are central to the listening experience.

Tuning is performed via a large mechanical knob connected to an analog variable-voltage system that controls a voltage-controlled oscillator, ensuring smooth and precise frequency adjustment. The movement is made particularly fluid by a heavy flywheel, giving the rotation a refined, classic feel reminiscent of the finest analog receivers of the past. Once a station is located, precise tuning is facilitated by a set of dedicated analog instruments that allow accurate signal alignment.

The front panel, elegant and understated, integrates a series of analog meters that provide essential information about the received signal. A central zero-center tuning meter ensures correct station alignment, while two additional meters display incoming signal strength and potential interference or multipath distortion caused by adjacent broadcasts. Operation is handled via a small number of manual switches that allow selection of stereo or mono mode, IF bandwidth, muting, and AFC control, maintaining an extremely essential and functional interface.

The only concession to digital technology is a large frequency display that precisely indicates the selected station, while the rest of the design remains fully analog in philosophy. The frequency readout is driven by an internal counter that calculates the position of the local oscillator and displays the actual tuned frequency.

On the rear panel, the tuner features a 75-ohm FM antenna input with coaxial connector and gold-plated RCA audio outputs available at two different levels to ensure compatibility with a wide range of preamplifiers. A 300-ohm antenna adapter is also included, further increasing installation flexibility.

Sonically, the Magnum Dynalab FT101 is characterized by an exceptionally natural and fatigue-free reproduction, with a smooth and coherent musical presentation that recalls the tradition of classic high-end analog tuners. The user experience, dominated by manual adjustment and the immediate responsiveness of the controls, provides a direct connection with the radio signal, offering a listening approach that prioritizes purity and continuity of sound over the complexity of modern digital solutions.

Technical specifications:

• Usable sensitivity: mono 10.3 dBf; stereo 11.2 dBf
• 50 dB quieting sensitivity: mono 13.2 dBf; stereo 34.0 dBf
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 16 kHz (-3 dB)
• Signal-to-noise ratio: mono 80 dB
• Alternate-channel selectivity: wide-band 55 dB; narrow-band 75 dB
• Adjacent-channel selectivity: wide-band 6 dB; narrow-band 20 dB
• Image rejection: 75 dB
• Capture ratio: 1.5 dB
• AM suppression: 70 dB
• Total harmonic distortion (THD): wide-band mono 0.1%; stereo 0.18%
• Wide-band channel separation: 60 dB at 1 kHz
• Antenna input: 75 Ω
• Power supply: 120 V AC; power consumption 75 W
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 48.3 × 9.5 × 33 cm
• Weight: 5.4 kg