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As far as Tuners go of the Vintage Era Yammies, the T-1, T-2, and T-7 are excellent choices.
From reading, for the digital tuners, the T-80 is a good bet along with the 1000. The T-85 is better.
Now the big stuff.
The T-1 is huge. If you are changing stations at night, it is the most legible. If you loose that green booty in it, you are outta luck. The T-2 and T-7 are great; however, the T-2 is the Yamaha Reference for FM reception, period. Take a look at the number of tuning capacitor gangs. Nuff said.
The T-7, IMHO, is the best compromise of all. Not the best looker, definitely not the fattest, but it is A BETTER Performer than a T-1. The problem is getting a good example of one.
I obtained my second T-7 and loved every bit of it except that the battery backup was dead and could tell someone attempted something. Wierd that the original battery was in place, though, loosely. The tuning motor also whirred constantly. Going inside to check the voltages, I noticed by pure coincidence that the 2SD400 transistor was loose (hence all the questions EW, DA, ...). Touched it in place, it would stop and sonic nirvana. However, I could not turn the dang thing off! It's switch is bad--another one of those eprey deals (in defense, seller refunded 15 of the dollars). I then tried to remove the transistor from another T-7 that could not remember the presets when turned off for a while or that might, when left on, stop memory tuning. A quick turn on off would fix it.
When removing the transistor from another model, I botched the job with too much heat with those little truncated legs, I believe. Crappola.
One thing I learned is that when the tuner is memory tuning, the turn dial does not move, just the dial. My first one, the one from which I removed the transistor, would not spin both. Maybe the clutch was outta alignment or something. Dunno.
All in all, the T-7s are great if you can find a good example and replace that battery backup (I did on both already). Otherwise, if space were not a problem, I'd go with the T-1.
If money were not an issue, get the T-2 for sure, PERIOD. Well let me stop being absolute. Period if ya don't need AM.
One other caveat that I'll be modding to correct on the T-7 is that the tuning dial is not lit. Good luck at night. The presets help but aren't perfect at 5 per band. That's why I wanted 2 T-7s and a T-2 or T-1 for manual tuning. If I were lucky enough to get four of those puppies, I'd pair a T-7 and T-2 for preset tuning and reference listening respectively. I'd put the other T-7 and T-2 in the bedroom for preset tuning and manual tuning respectively.
I have too C-4s (who said the C-2, C-2A, or C-2X sound better?) that according to the specs are identical to the C-2A model. Sorry, been wanting to understand the canundrum on that topic. I guess you pay more for less? In the Audiophile world, the more minimal designs carry heftier price tags than models with more stuff (except for the C-1 which ain't minimalist at all!). Anyway, got the C-4s cause they would let me do more with vinyl. Didn't and still don't know much bout vinyl as just getting started, but those adjustments are far more variable in the C-4 than the C-2 family. At some time will sit down and look over the schematics. C-4=poor man's C-1.
Sorry bout the ranting. Not trying to steal thread.
Anyway, all are good tuners except for that OTS stuff inherent in Yamaha's separate tuners. I believe that in the T-2 may have the addition of a mono switch. It sure ain't there on a T-7. :worried:
If ya can get hold of a T-7 that performs stock, then that's the ticket! Got money and no need for AM, T-2. Like going big or have several stations and like AM too, T-1.