djb Posted January 3, 2009 Posted January 3, 2009 tuners i have learnt quite a lot over the last year from this site – so thanks . time to put something back! with the recession setting in and likely to worsen now might be time to consider low priced source options. i have noticed how few SNA members list tuners in their signature profiles this is a shame as there is amazing value to be had on ebay. To buy a top 25 turntable will set you back in excess of $15,000. I suspect i'm being conservative here! You can buy a top 25 tuner for $300. HISTORY While tt and amp technology continues to improve the best tuners were made in the 1980's. when FM stereo became popular there was a huge interest in gaining the best possible reception . This interest was strongest in the USA and Japan. Now when the japanese adopt a hobby or a fad they do it with PURPOSE. The Japanese were manufacturing and selling tuners for in excess of US $2000 that is about $25,000 in todays dollars. fashions change and as discussions here at SNA show hi fi is on the wane and quality components are out of fashion. What to buy? This can be difficult for a beginner you have to do a lot of reading listening and question asking to learn the ins and outs of classic turntables. Not so with tuners there is a master source a 'bible' of almost every tuner produced in that hay day worth buying >TUNER INFORMATION CENTRE [tic] is the very best reference listing makes alphabetically and model numbers in sequence followed by detailed expert reviews and in some cases competitive 'shoot outs' between close competitors [not quite blind testing but close]. TIC even provides US ebay price ranges [ i add 20% as they are a bit out of date]. Ebay is an excellent and HONEST market place for tuners. Collectors are all using TIC asa reference ther are almost always a few experts in the bidding so its hard to be ripped off or to get too big a bargin. IF you research beyond TIC there are sleeper bargins to be had – sorry i'm not quite generous enough to do that bit for you. TIC does NOT provide an actual top 100 list you have to suss out the best for yourself. This takes careful reading as you have to cross reference average prices with different makes and models along side your specific needs re distance reception, digital or analogue display, remote control, looks, ease of modifying..... [one factor we can safely ignore is the american need for fine tuning between stationssituated close together on the fm band]. Read the reviews carefully there can be a difference in the quantity and quality of adjectives that give hints of which may be slightly better. Be patient in your search i bought quite a few tuners- about 10 in a 6 month period-yes i know i had a problem its under control now- ive moved on to turntables! if i ever think i have a real problem i just think of danter. i assumed near enough was close enough ie a HMV el34 must be equal to a HMV el35.- THEY ARENT. Lots of fun to be had here and only a few dollars to be spent. What do i own .Well first none of the ten tuners have been wasted the best outside my top 3 went to family and friends as gifts none of whom have any idea how good they are! sorry earle might be an exception. Lesser models go to mates of my 14 year old -he wont let them buycrappy modules rather he sets up real beginner systems and gifts them with my excess tuners. there are parents out there who hate me. What has he kept? i have three tuners i consider to be arguably in the top 25 [a very subjective call this]> Hitachi 5500 mark 2 [careful the 5500 is much inferior] this cost $220 including postage from German ebay. Sansui 417 analogue display [probably not quite top 25] cost $140 local pick up melbourne. amber model 7 [but the only tuner they ever sold!] bought new from local retailer gulp $600. this was bought first and before i new about TIC and before ebay existed. Some one with more detailed historical knowledge might want to correct mistakes as some of it is generalised and based on asumption rather than research. There is no other way to add a key source of quality sound of the highest quality for $300. IF you dont have a quality tuner you have an under utilized system . remember the rudd govt has moved digitalizattion out to at least 2013< i think those of you with quality tuners please add contradict expose errors here david oh nearly forgot IMO
proftournesol Posted January 3, 2009 Posted January 3, 2009 the only component in my stereo that has not changed in over 25 years is my Tandberg tuner. I remember at the time going into a local hi-fi store - The Soundcraftsman to by a $200 tuner - it sounded like crap so I bought one that sounded good, and despite upgrading every other component in my system many times over this still more that holds it's own against $6k CDPs and a $12k turntable.
Monkeyboi Posted January 3, 2009 Posted January 3, 2009 tunersi have three tuners i consider to be arguably in the top 25 [a very subjective call this]> Sansui 417 analogue display [probably not quite top 25] cost $140 local pick up melbourne. david oh nearly forgot IMO I got my Sansui TU-417 tuner for $25 along with a Sansui AU-417 integrated amp that need a bit of work. The tuner is very good IMHO and apparently very moddable for audiophile improvements. Both units are also cosmetically A1 Cheers, Alan R.
Asteroid Posted January 3, 2009 Posted January 3, 2009 (edited) I also have a Sansui TU-317 (same as a 217 and 417 internally), picked it up for $99 with rack handles and papers. It's definitely my favourite source, RTR FM sounds beautiful from it. Edited January 3, 2009 by Asteroid
Nude Posted January 3, 2009 Posted January 3, 2009 (edited) Luxman Lab Series Tuner (FM only) from the early 80's Cost me $200 second hand 12 years ago Still sounds great Great subject DJB Edited January 4, 2009 by Nude
snakeyfi Posted January 3, 2009 Posted January 3, 2009 (edited) I've got a Rotel RT 850 that I found at a cash converters type place for fifty bucks, not sure how much longer it will last but I just couldn't leave it there in that horrible little haven of truly terrible hifi. Edited January 3, 2009 by snakeyfi had to add a "that"
wolster Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 This topic is really interesting. I currently listen to radio through either my squeezebox(internet radio) or my CA 640R. Would a dedicated tuner, such as those mentioned, provide a better sq source for local stations? Cheers wolster
Grumpy Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 This is very interesting ! Since I now have a seperate HT and 2 channel system I've been thinking of adding a tuner to my stereo system. The HT has one in the reciever, but I'd like to use one with my 2 channel set up also.
JA Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 Many hours of happy reading: http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/shootouts.html http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/ The writer loves the Kenwood L02T Best JA
ehtcom Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 Hi David. Great read and thread. I love the pioneer F-445. It gets plenty of use on a daily basis, mainly Triple J but every now and then I'll switch to 3RPP for some Jazz. Cheers, Earle.
A9X Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 Quality tuners can be had for peanuts if you know what you're looking for and are a bit patient and lucky. I have three I've used over the years: Sherwood T5000 mono tube unit, Marantz 2285B (with cool blue display and gyro tuner) and Fisher 800C. Isn't FM due to be turned off in a couple of years?
Asteroid Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 (edited) Isn't FM due to be turned off in a couple of years? To the best of my knowledge it isn't. It is due to be switched off in the US this year iirc, but I couldn't see Australia following suit for many, many years. Take analogue tv for example; it was supposed to be gone by now yet there's absolutely no sign of it in the near future. In some ways radio is more difficult than tv because radio's largest audience is in cars, which people keep for quite a long time. Furthermore very few people are prepared to replace their car radio (if it's even possible given modern cars). I briefly had an Alpine CDA-9815 car head unit in my system, which is a few years old now but it was a quite high end unit, allowing me to compare it side by side with my Sansui. The difference was not small, the Sansui absolutely destroyed the Alpine in depth and width, with a much better image. I also tried the Alpine's cd player in my home system which sounded very nice indeed, far eclipsing my cheap dvd player. So I may look at gutting the dvd player and setting the Alpine up in it with a power supply. But I digress, this comparison idicated to me that there certainly was some merit in old analogue tuners compared to modern chip tuners, and even with the increase in demand of certain models they still offer something of a bargain compared to other sources of similar quality. Edited January 4, 2009 by Asteroid
Guest Muon Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 (edited) Not turned off like analogue TV, but just supplemented with with the addition of Digital radio broadcasts, from what I gather. Edit:Opps, beaten by Asteroid Edited January 4, 2009 by datafone
A9X Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 To the best of my knowledge it isn't. Ever since I left broadcast, I've lost all interest in it, so I don't follow what's going on. I thought I remembered the spectrum had been auctioned off, hence the future turn off.But I digress, this comparison idicated to me that there certainly was some merit in old analogue tuners compared to modern chip tuners, and even with the increase in demand of certain models they still offer something of a bargain compared to other sources of similar quality.No argument there re analogue tuners but SQ will be dependent upon who does what at the Tx end.
Grumpy Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 I've got a Rotel RT 850 that I found at a cash converters type place for fifty bucks, not sure how much longer it will last but I just couldn't leave it there in that horrible little haven of truly terrible hifi. I don't like CC's, but I think I'll have a look and see what tuners they have.
snakeyfi Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 I don't like CC's, but I think I'll have a look and see what tuners they have. You never know when your going find something interesting. But mostly ya just find old cheap receivers.
Grizzly Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 I don't like CC's, but I think I'll have a look and see what tuners they have. Why not try your local branch of Andys' favourite retail chain? Apparently the prices are quite good:D. I'm starting to get something of a taste for it as well:rolleyes:
Grumpy Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 All this talk got to me, so with just $20 in my wallet I went and had a look at cashies and came home with an old Kenwood KT-400 tuner for $15 with a 30 day warranty. It works great:).
waricle Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 I got a Marantz ST400 for $20 at the tip shop!!
wolster Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Well done Grumps. I notice Kenwood tuners feature strongly in the link provided by JA. Cheers wolster
Grumpy Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 On the back of my tuner there are 2 grounding posts - What are they for?
Grizzly Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 On the back of my tuner there are 2 grounding posts - What are they for? They're for grounding:p
mickj1 Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 All this talk got to me, so with just $20 in my wallet I went and had a look at cashies and came home with an old Kenwood KT-400 tuner for $15 with a 30 day warranty. It works great:). hi grumpy how does it compare with the one in your AVR? Cheers mick
Asteroid Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 I've connected one ground to a side of the MW loop antenna (with the other on the MW terminal). I've often read about grounding antennas but I've never noticed any difference myself.
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