Best FM tuner ever,
REL Precedent (an engineering work of art, more like broadcast equipment than a consumer product, Inspired the Marantz 10 and 10b).
Best SS tuner,
Sequerra Broadcast Monitor (the FCC uses this tuner for measurement and assessment of FM signals, most went to the FCC and broadcasters)
Other special mentions:
McIntosh MR 74 (their best sounding FM/AM tuner in the solid state era. Every stage designed by the best McIntosh engineer for that stage. Excellent musical sounding audio and excellent RF capabilities for all but extreme needs. Our stations have many of them in use for air monitors)
McIntosh MR 71 (their best tube tuner in the RF department. Sounds nice as well and very fine RF capability)
McIntosh MR 65B and MR 67 (my favorite McIntosh tube tuners for sound quality, not quite as selective as the MR 71 but still excellent)
Marantz 10b (one of the best tube tuners made post 1964 in the audio department. I am less than impressed in the RF department though they are very good here. Not good for overload resistance or for stations running SCA or HD carriers) A marvel of audio art and industrial design. Development and teething issues with this tuner forced Saul Marantz to sell the Marantz Company to SuperScope in 1964 and history changed, Very difficult to repair and most need some amount of repair to even play in Stereo.
Sherwood tube tuners. All are at least very fine if not superb in both sound quality and RF abilities. Underrated classics from a company who also was a pioneer in early FM multiplex Stereo.
Fisher tube and early SS tuners. Same goes for Fisher as does Sherwood. Any of them up to 1970 are worth owning. Many were also used in broadcast work.
HH Scott tube and early SS. As a rule, the best affordable tuners before McIntosh and Marantz got into FM tuners in the sound quality and reception department. Most broadcasters used them heavily in air monitoring and relay work. The 4311 was their best tube unit. The 4312 and 311D are still superb in audio and RF prowess and need less signal strength than most for reliable Stereo reception. Some of the best MPX stages ever in that era. Very sensitive too. All are worthy up to 1973. HH Scott was also a pioneer in FM Stereo and also made FM Multiplex Stereo equipment for broadcasters and collaborated with the FCC on FM Stereo.
SS Sherwood. All US made and early Japanese made Sherwoods to 1975 are superb buys. Nice RF abilities and sound. Their Micro CPU was a nice early digital display tuner and developed with Draco Labs and their last statement tuner.
Later on, I'll discuss the top Japanese makes in FM tuners and list some of the best in design, sound, and RF performance. Some of them are the best available in their glory era.