NAD MR-20A to a good home...
 

About a year ago I reported focus problems with this set. Replacing a few
strategically located electrolytics did no good, but the focus suddenly
snapped back to normal, and the set worked properly for a few months.
However, it went south again, and has never come back. When turned on, the
focus is terrible. After it's warmed up a few minutes, the focus becomes
(sort-of) acceptable to a /very/ casual viewer doing something else and not
much interested in fine visual details (such as captions).

The NAD MR-20A is my workroom TV. I'm employed again, so I bought a 32"
Vizio to replace it. I /could/ take the NAD to a nearby
electronics-recycling company, but they want money.

So I'd rather give it to someone who collects classic TVs. And the MR-20A *
/is/ a classic. When introduced in the early 80s, it got rave reviews
(including one from yours truly in "Stereophile"). It was one of the first
non-Sony color TVs with a really good picture (arguably better than any Sony
of that era) and an array of inputs and controls. the CRT is a Toshiba "FST"
(flat, square tube) and early attempt to make a CRT with flat faceplate.
It's not perfectly flat, but it's a long way from the obvious curvature of
other CRTs.

The set also has sentimental value. I had a technical question (about chroma
bandwidth), and NAD referred me to J. Gregory Lefebvre, who had been the
project manager. When we spoke, we were instant friends, a friendship that
lasted until he passed on in 2005.

It's my opinion that the problem with this set lies with the flyback, which
is no longer available. So the set likely cannot easily be restored to its
original condition. However, it's in excellent cosmetic condition, missing
only the protective pane of glass over the CRT. **

Any /serious/ collector or restorer may have it. I don't have the original
shipping carton, so they'll have to pick it up. I live in Renton, outside
Seattle.

Please contact me directly. Thank you.

* The first version was the MR-20. The MR-20A included a few revisions,
including one that reduced the visibility of "hanging dots".

** I didn't like reflections from the glass, so I removed it, placing in a
plastic bag in the garage. About six years ago I accidentally banged it (not
very hard) against some boxes when moving it, and it disintegrated into
hundreds of pieces. Greg and I had a good laugh over that. (The mounting
clips are intact, so anyone who wants to invest in a replacement sheet my do
so. Zero-reflection glass is available, but it's pricey.)