Have listened to/played with the following, plus some others I tried, sold, and then forgot about.
I should have made a list way back at the beginning.
I firmly blame Mr. doug s. for getting me invested in this hobby.
In no particular order:
Adcom GFT-555 II
Philips 6731
Philips 185
Nikko Gamma V
Sony ST-A7B
Denon TU-900
Onkyo T-9
NEC T-710
Mitsubishi DA-F20
Accuphase T-100 (stock and modded)
Harmon Kardon Citation 18 (stock and modded)
Nakamichi 430 (needs work)
Rotel RT-2100 (needs work)
Rotel RHT-10
Kenwood L-07T II
Luxman (a couple older models with the logo/model faded/rubbed off)
Aiwa 9700E
Aiwa 9700K
Musical Fidelity Elektra E50
Sansui TU-717 (modded)
Akai AT-93
Pioneer F-28
Sherwood S-3300
Sony ST-J75
....plus the others I forgot about...
I have ten years in this hobby, sometimes with years between powering up a unit (or multiple units) and giving them a listen.
My Nikko Gamma V left me to be overhauled, aligned, and upgraded.
I think it will be simply killer once it returns to me.
Current favorite is a Sony ST-A7B.
Dial is left on 90.7 WFUV.
Have trouble picking up the other stations I want,
89.1 W209CJ (WMNR "Fine Arts Radio" classical simulcast),
90.3 WQXW (the "new" WQXR simulcast),
and
93.9 WNYC,
in full quieting, wide stereo with my simple tuned loop.
Is it the best I've ever heard?
Voices and instruments are floating all over my head;
the bass goes way,
way down, and not bloated bass (like on the Accuphase T-100), tuneful, impactful bass,
which makes me wonder if I am damaging my hearing, listening with Sony MDR-7504 via the headphone section of an Apt-Holman pre-amp.
The ST-A7B is
not the most detailed tuner I have heard.
The DA-F20, Kenwood L-07T II, and Aiwa 9700 are all more detailed.
However, you trade that detail for a wide, deep soundscape,
rich, tuneful bass, and a very relaxed, inviting sound.
The Apt-Holman was about $30.00 off craigslist.
The headphones my dad got broken and repaired (though they sorely need new foam pads).
The antenna, a tuned FM loop that looks like some archaic religious artifact from a now extinct ancient civilization,
I built from an old broom handle, a long stick, masking tape, duct tape, and some hose clamps.
The ST-A7B was...ahh..a bit more pricey.
Voices do not sound boomy.
Differences between stations are easy to hear, as are differences between individual songs on the same station.
The display is wonky; this unit is infamous for the "rabid soldering" as noted on
TVK.
I am sure it could use an alignment and a cap refresh; it doesn't pull in some NYC stations 40 miles distant
as well as I believe it should.
It leans slightly to the "romantic" or "sweet" side (if I am using those terms correctly), and is
never harsh or strident.
I don't know what the words "tubey" or "vinyl" mean, as I don't have access to those sources,
but, from a decade of reading the opinions/experiences of others, I am guessing this sort of sound is what they mean.
When I get the Nikko Gamma V back from being overhauled, I may be done with acquiring new tuners,
unless someone who also owned the ST-A7B can suggest something they found sonically superior.
I'd love to hear a Sansui TU-X1, Pioneer F-26, Kenwood L-02T, Accuphase T-1000/T-1100...but I don't believe the differences would be tremendous as compared to the ST-A7B.
I do believe there is better out there sound-wise and reception-wise,
though I am guessing the pockets must be mighty-deep to acquire it.
I am thinking my next investment in a couple years will be a quality DAC for Internet radio streaming, unless someone here has heard something which significantly bests the Sony.
