Favorite vintage or new FM tuner?

Yes, it looks like it was once there. Someone probably removed it to fit a 2 prong extension cord..? Thanks Ronm

 

Cut the end off, and wire a new, proper 3 prong end on.

 

Will do exactly that.

 

I've had the Sansui TU 717 which was calibrated by RadioX and it sounded good. I have a Kenwood KT5020 which is much better (top 10 of fmtunerinfo list). And, as I stated earlier, I just received an Aragon 4T2, which is a bit more strident (harder, not lush) than the Kenwood but is much more spatial (more air), which pulled me more into the music. I really like the Pioneer SX ?3? series, but you need a good Tech to service them, and could get costly.

 

My Revox B-760, which I have used for many years, is now in need of service as it does not power up. I replaced the external fuse but that has not helped. Perhaps an internal fuse has blown but I do not want to mess around with opening up the cabinet ...

 

Here is another one of my vintage tuners, the Tandberg 3001 I have not powered on in ages ...

 

On a different note, this
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-XDR-F1HD-Radio-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00168Q248
was reviewed as having the best measured performance ever, even in non-HD mode. Sound and Vision or somebody. Are you looking for quantity of stations? Or what are the criteria? Magnum Dynalab seems to have been the gold standard.

But I think this is a bit like talking about headphones without discussing what drives them. The ANTENNA probably makes as big a difference as the tuner I would think.

 

The Grace tuner that runs off my WiFi is really my go-to tuner these days. It is nice not having to bother with either the rooftop or electronic antenna ...

 

Another aspect I like about the Aragon was the pre-set capability.Did not care to have to scroll through the dial for the few stations I do enjoy.It is really a very simplistic tuner which suits me at this point in FM listening.

 

My MR67 is the best sounding tuna I've ever heard in my system, but it requires strong signals. My Luxman T-117 is the best sounding Solid state tuna I've ever heard, and is also quite sensitive and selective.

 

I have one of these. Its too bad that its sound is comparable to that from an AM radio. I'd use mine all the time if the sound was any good.

 

I don't think these Grace tuner/radio do hires streaming. I believe they only do MP3 and 128 kbps is the best they can manage ...

 

I might have a new favourite tuner shortly, Accuphase T-100 coming in a few days. It will be paired with my E-202 integrated than has just had a fresh rebuild. Of course the T-100 might just end up in the main system....

 

Let us know how that works out. I have heard really good things about that tuner.

 

An Akai AT-V04 is a fantatsic tuner for DX-ing. However, sound quality was mediocre at best. I got an Integra at a yard sale for $5, and it stomped the Akai to pieces. But, what I did with the Akai is run the audio out straight to the jacks, bypassing the level control. It became a whole new tuner. On measurements, it not only equalled, but surpassed the Integara. And these Akais are CHEAP on Ebay. You could probably get one for $25 or less. However, you MUST do that little mod. Otherwise you wasted $25.

 

Is Integara a higher-priced line of Onkyo?

 

1980 Sansui TU-717 sounds pretty fine. Amazing really.

It's nice.

 

That's what I've heard, my only foray in the Integra brand was a preamp that failed after a few months. Covered under warranty but I did not like the sound and
ended up donating to Goodwill.

 

Yamaha, Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony (ES line) and Akai are the only Japanese-made equipments I have owned over the years. I have no experience with Onkyo gears ...

 

Yep. When I hear "Onkyo" I think "Cheap amplifier module" but they did make a foray into genuinely decent components.

 

You can see the twin FM beams on the roof. I could get stations from Atlanta to Washington DC, and that's a pretty good range. I called the station in Atlanta to let them know I was picking them up in NC, and they didn't believe me!

 

I have a TU-717 that Mike at RadioX Tuners refurbished and upgraded. It sounds amazing. The last tuner I will ever need. (May have mentioned this earlier in this very thread.)

Thinking of selling my Marantz 2130. It is a very cool tuner, and sounds good, but not as nice as my TU-717. It might be comparable if similarly refurbed/upgraded but I'd rather put those funds into some other aspect of my system, e.g. my turntable.

 

Best tuner I had was an older Carver tuner that I purchased used for $150. Retail was about $1000. Wish I still had it.

 

Hmm. Most rooftop antennas will have problems picking up decent FM signals much beyond 50 miles ...

 

Which model was that? I still have the TX-2, which is an excellent tuner for its price ...