Who's listening to FM Tonight? What tuner?
- Thread starter Old_Tech
- Start date
DEAFASABAT
Well-Known Member
Thanks for asking.
Right now the Coast to Coast AM show, on a new local FM talk station which replaced an AM station that was sold. Earlier this evening it was the super clean KCBX NPR @ San Luis Obispo, Ca. Main Carrier F is translated locally (65 Mi. SSE of SLO, on 95.1 MHz, 10 watts ERP) located somwhere up in the local hills.
FM broadcast as a media would have a big resurgence if every station was as clean sounding and processed with minimum audio compression.
FM broadcast received by my Pioneer TX-9500 II tuner. Formerly owned by, and presumably modified by the Late, Great James Bongiorno.
Right now the Coast to Coast AM show, on a new local FM talk station which replaced an AM station that was sold. Earlier this evening it was the super clean KCBX NPR @ San Luis Obispo, Ca. Main Carrier F is translated locally (65 Mi. SSE of SLO, on 95.1 MHz, 10 watts ERP) located somwhere up in the local hills.
FM broadcast as a media would have a big resurgence if every station was as clean sounding and processed with minimum audio compression.
FM broadcast received by my Pioneer TX-9500 II tuner. Formerly owned by, and presumably modified by the Late, Great James Bongiorno.
MCM_Fan
AK Subscriber
Inspired by this thread, I dug the little Sansui TU-217, the baby of my tuner family, out of the closet yesterday.
Listening to KINK FM 101.9 tonight, with an NAD 3150 doing the driving through my restored/reimagined JBL L36 Decades while I apply some Howard's Restore-A-Finsh to a pair of Wharfedale W60Ds. Even with just a cheap Radio Shack dipole, the signal strength meter is at a solid 4.7. This simple little no frills bottom-of-the-line Sanui tuner sounds pretty darn nice. It makes a cute partner for the for the little, but deceptively powerful NAD.
Listening to KINK FM 101.9 tonight, with an NAD 3150 doing the driving through my restored/reimagined JBL L36 Decades while I apply some Howard's Restore-A-Finsh to a pair of Wharfedale W60Ds. Even with just a cheap Radio Shack dipole, the signal strength meter is at a solid 4.7. This simple little no frills bottom-of-the-line Sanui tuner sounds pretty darn nice. It makes a cute partner for the for the little, but deceptively powerful NAD.
Last edited:
JimmyEJames
Super Member
Is this one with no back light?
I had one and matching integrated machine and sold or gave away can not remember? ; - (
JJ
MCM_Fan
AK Subscriber
Yes, that's correct. The TU-217 was Sansui's entry level model at the time. You had to move up to the TU-317 too get the lighted dial. The TU-317 is the exact same tuner, except for the lights, and much less common than the TU-217. That said, unless the room is completely dark, I don't find seeing the dial a problem. There is enough contrast to read the dial even in dim light.
This little tuner has a simple elegance, in both appearance and internals. I think that simplicity accounts for the surprisingly good sound. Evidently, it's also an easy model upgrade/mod for DIYers. I'm probably going to move it along to someone else, as I also have a TU-717 and TU-919, but for now, I'm enjoying this little guy.
JimmyEJames
Super Member
I had one just could not remember the model just came out when down sized components were trending
Can not remember amp model either but was common to be sold as a pair
Very decent
That tuner is good one no matter where it was in line up easy to make more quiet too
Easy to see or not no lamps made no sense from company like Sansui! : - )
JJ
MCM_Fan
AK Subscriber
I think what made even less sense was to have a lineup of five different tuners. Given that they did, they needed some way to differentiate them. So, they had the TU-317 with lights and the exact same tuner without lights in the TU-217. I don't know what the selling prices were at the time, but evidently, they sold a LOT more of the TU-217. I guess people looking at entry level tuners were very price conscious.
JimmyEJames
Super Member
Who knows now we never will but light bulbs for a radio scale pretty basic! ; - )
Difference in 5 models internal gangs front end etc
Lamps no lamps just odd
JJ
The TU-317 and AU-217II I had was a sweet-sounding combination (the MkII giving 10-extra watts/channel over the original to 40). I had a TU-217 as well but replaced it with the 317 .... primarily as it matched the styling of the MkII a bit better, was in better cosmetic condition ... and when the TU-317 popped up for sale with the rack handles that my TU-217 lacked I pounced. Why did I sell it? Downsizing at the time and enjoying my AU-777 better. I've since picked up a TU-555 for it.
My main amp right now is a AU-7700 and I have the matching TU-7700 ... the pair having been in the family since new. Unfortunately I don't have room in my rack right now for the tuner, so I can't report listening to anything ... but if I did it would probably be 92.9 KISM Classic Rock out of Bellingham, WA.
My main amp right now is a AU-7700 and I have the matching TU-7700 ... the pair having been in the family since new. Unfortunately I don't have room in my rack right now for the tuner, so I can't report listening to anything ... but if I did it would probably be 92.9 KISM Classic Rock out of Bellingham, WA.
They probably didn't even notice the lack of lights until they got it home! It was probably purely a $ thing.
FMtunerinfo.com has the TU-217 at $190 and the TU-317 at $240, both in 1978 ... the TU-417 at $275 (1980) and the TU-517 at $300 (1978). I suspect someone buying a AU-217 at the time wouldn't normally gravitate to the 417 or 517 tuner due to the size difference. If they had the money they probably would have upgraded on the amp as well.
And don't forget there was also a AU-117 (15 wpc) and AU-117II (25 wpc) that would have been paired-up with the TU-217. There was no TU-117.
Nyycebro
nyycebro
Various stations in the Charlotte NC area on McIntosh MR71
View media item 8686
View media item 8686
59volvo
Super Member
http://kislavalon.com/dj-resources/
Last edited:
Jazz Impressions on 89.3 WNUR Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois. Onkyo TX-2500 > B&W DM4.
