Guide to the best Vintage FM Synthesizer Tuners

[PabloTincho]

I was looking in a Japanese website and I found this, http://nice.kaze.com/av/tuner_hist.html
I guess the guy who run the website has a repair shop, and he reviewed each tuner that he has repaired
The PDF is a translation to English using Google Chrome, is not the best but you get a basic idea.

here are the best tuners

All the Accuphase tuners
SONY ST-J 88
SONY ST-J75
Aurex ST-S07 = to a Kenwood KT-770 ( I had the chance to buy one in the usa, the guy wanted $30, I did not think the tuner was a good one, that why)
YAMAHA T-2x is T-80 in the USA
YAMAHA T-2000
KENWOOD KT-929 (Hidden masterpiece)
KENWOOD KT-2020
KENWOOD KT-3030
KENWOOD D-3300T
KENWOOD KT-1100D
KENWOOD KT-V990
SANSUI TU-α 707 is a TU-X 701
SONY ST-S333 ESX
SONY ST-S555 ESX
Pioneer F-717 (maintenance performance of Pioneer synthesizer tuner is pretty bad, seem not to be a good tuner after all)
SONY ST-S333 ESX
Victor FX-711 is JVC FX-1100BK
A & D DA-F 9000 is Akai AT-93
YAMAHA TX-2000
KENWOOD KT-7020
Sansui TU - X 711
SONY ST-S333 ESG
SONY ST-S333ESJ
SONY ST-SA 5ES

the list is not in a particular order ( check the pdf for the whole list )
-------------------------------------

The KENWOOD KT-5020 is not a top tuner according to the author.
He was not impress with any Technics tuners, the same can be said about Pioneer
Also the KENWOOD KT-880 seem to be better than the KENWOOD KT-880F version (The front end is above the KT - 880F . In the part directly linked to performance, it costs more money than KT - 880F, KT - 880 will be higher. Therefore, KT-880F is, cost down + enhanced version of the KT-880 I think that it is. ) It goes against what the website http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/.

here is the website

http://nice.kaze.com/av/tuner_hist.html
http://nice.kaze.com/av/synthe-tuner.html and all the reviews
Just use google Chrome to translate to English

What do you guys think ?

 

[Raynald]

An interesting site for FM fans, I have done some looking around on it. Not all the tuners he tests are available around here but it is still fun.

 

[Punker X]

If he never repaired a KT-5020, then he probably never reviewed it and wouldn't be on his list. There are plenty of tuners I have never seen on the bench

 

[amptramp]

I have a Heathkit AJ-1510A that will provide hours of fun for people making the necessary modifications to keep it operational. See post #6 of this thread where I have deposited a document on how to get one of these into excellent working condition:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analogue-source/195272-heathkit-aj-1510-tuner-help.html

I am not sure how to add a large file here or what size would have to be zipped, but I can add it here for anyone who is interested.

 

[PabloTincho]

If he never repaired a KT-5020, then he probably never reviewed it and wouldn't be on his list. There are plenty of tuners I have never seen on the bench

yes he did
http://nice.kaze.com/av/kt-5020.html

 

[jlovda]

There seems to be a lot of demand for a very limited number of Technics ST-G7 tuners on ebay. Someone seems to like them or wants one. Or the people who own one don't want to part with them.

 

[39cross]

There seems to be a lot of demand for a very limited number of Technics ST-G7 tuners on ebay.

Interesting stuff, always fun to read Japanese translations via Google!

The Technics tuners in the list seemed lower end, if he listed the ST-G7 I missed it. (Edit: Thanks Pablo, here it is: http://nice.kaze.com/av/st-g7.html). But it did make me dig out mine today, I'm listening to it right now. I will probably never acquire the matching pieces, they do look very cool.

 

[PabloTincho]

1. ◎: Super excellent (we can recommend)
   　○: Excellent (we can recommend)
   　△: Same (although we can not recommend it, if you really want to use it you can manage it somehow)
   　×: Insufficient performance (we can not recommend)
   
   the Technics ST-G7 get a 3/4, not bad but in not the same category as the Sony or Kenwood