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Astonishing Sony XDRF1HD Tuner

Ah! Vintage Holds the Edge in Musicality!

Hmmm. Interesting. What is there for HD Radio programming in Boston? I am an FM hound who lives on WHRB, WERS, WGBH. WBUR, WUMB and WMBR. I am overwhelmed with fine radio programming - but I am always up for adventures in that medium. What's the scoop?

pbda said:
At some point I'll haul the Marantz 2600 out (which has the best tuner section that I own) and compare it. My friend who recommended the Sony has a Sansui TU-9900. He feels that the Sansui has a slight edge in musicality, but that the superior tuning ability of the Sony more than compensates for this.
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PeterFCassidy said:
Hmmm. Interesting. What is there for HD Radio programming in Boston? I am an FM hound who lives on WHRB, WERS, WGBH. WBUR, WUMB and WMBR. I am overwhelmed with fine radio programming - but I am always up for adventures in that medium. What's the scoop?
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There's a fair amount of HD in the Boston area. I've got ~15 HD presets. I pretty much live on WGBH after 8PM and WZLX HD2 (blues, essentially commercial free) during the day. I'm running the Sony through my KR-9600 and tend to prefer it but frankly I enjoy both. I have a .47F cap sitting here on my desk destined for the Sony memory one of these days.
JimB
 
Brian Beezley's modifications to the Sony XDR-F1HD are contained in his analysis of the tuner. I have installed all but the display shut off. I didn't need it, as I switch off the AC power to the tuner when not using it. The presets and clock time are preserved by the 3 farad memory capacitor I installed. The op amp de-emphasis correction noticeably improves the audio quality of the tuner and also augments the already excellent low frequency response because it eliminates two series coupling capacitors in each channel. The audio quality of the modified XDR is second to none of my best vintage tuners, and it's RF performance is unparalleled. I also recommend the addition of a cooling fan as described by Beezley as the tuner does run rather warm.
These modifications should not be attempted by someone without considerable experience in electronics. Though all the information needed to perform them is in Beezley's article, it is not for neophytes. The service manual is essential. Google the Beezley tuner info by typing in "Sony XDR-F1HD tuner" and look for the "k6sti/ham radio" header on the first google page that comes up.
 
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PeterFCassidy said:
Hmmm. Interesting. What is there for HD Radio programming in Boston? I am an FM hound who lives on WHRB, WERS, WGBH. WBUR, WUMB and WMBR. I am overwhelmed with fine radio programming - but I am always up for adventures in that medium. What's the scoop?
Click to expand...

We listen to the same stations. I've spent most of the morning listening to WGBH; they have three HD feeds (one is whatever's on their normal analog programming, one is a alternative music feed and the third seems to be an "NPR all the time" feed (not so necessary with WBUR just up the dial, but nice to have).

WERS and WBUR have HD feeds, but not WHRB or WMBR.

Lots of HD broadcasting in Boston beyond 'GBH. Here's a "finder" link: http://www.ibiquity.com/hd_radio/hdradio_find_a_station.
 
2chanman said:
Brian Beezley's modifications to the Sony XDR-F1HD are contained in his analysis of the tuner. --snip-- Google the Beezley tuner info by typing in "Sony XDR-F1HD tuner" and look for the "k6sti/ham radio" header on the first google page that comes up.
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An excellent site.
 
You don't need HD to enjoy the little Sony. Because it uses DSP on the analog signals it will work very well on stations that have multipath issues as it will kick the reflected signals out. Possibly this will be the biggest strength for many who can not rotate their antenna for each station.
If you live out in the country and can put up or have a decent antenna this little guy will pull far away stations very well.

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
On the same antenna, a Channel Master UHF/VHF/FM model from 20 years ago, not moving it in any way the score is:

MR78- 42 stations and this is using the selectivity controls and accepting some slight noise on a few stations.

Sony- 43 stations, no noise, 20 of which are in HD. Add to this 18 HD second channels on the HD -2. Often these secondary stations have the more interesting less commercial programing which may or may not resemble the main station programming. You might have pop on the main and chill out trance type music on the second with no or almost no commercials.

Both tuners could probably pull another 10 stations if I rotated the antenna and this would allow the 78 to be noise free.

On a strong analog station I prefer the MR78 with its sonic presentation. This is a very strong 78 with high end parts through out the analog section and very precise alignment.

If you have many high end tuners and I do, this could be disturbing. I look at it as progress and a plus for FM radio as we will have a new generation of very cool tuners to play with. DSP FM has a whole bunch of advantages which are evident on the McIntosh TM-2 tuner module for the MA6600 and the little Sony.
With the business case for the satellite radio systems looking shaky at this point it is nice to have the HD option. I wish the implementation in the HD design could not have negatively impacted some of the older tuner's performance but it is here so we have to live with it for now.

As a side note My 10B will pull 41 stations and is very enjoyable sound wise.

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
Mine is on it's way!

This looks like a little gem. I needed a tuner with a small footprint. I was considering a KLH 18 until I found out about this Sony. I only have one HD station in all of Mississippi (NPR), but thats no biggie since it's regular fm reception seems good.
 
jdrum1 said:
Mine is on it's way!

This looks like a little gem. I needed a tuner with a small footprint. I was considering a KLH 18 until I found out about this Sony. I only have one HD station in all of Mississippi (NPR), but thats no biggie since it's regular fm reception seems good.
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This little sucker's worth it for its noise-free analog reception alone.
 
Has anyone compared this to the Sangean HDT-1 tuner? I have the Sangean and while it can sound good, staying locked to HD stations especially AM can be a real challenge if not impossible. Signals have to be just about perfect for it to work consistently. And if it does drop the HD signal on FM, it will revert to the analog programming which will likely be totally different format than what it was tuned to.

Also can the Sony be force switched to analog? My Sangean can't, but Sangean fixed that little omission with the HDT-1X right after I bought this 1st gen version.
 
Ed in Tx said:
Also can the Sony be force switched to analog? My Sangean can't, but Sangean fixed that little omission with the HDT-1X right after I bought this 1st gen version.
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No, but it is possible to modify the tuner as per Brian Beezley.

I am planning to attempt this one, and the filter replacement over the holidays.
 
Yep looks like Beezley has done his homework. I remember his review on the Sangean I have when I bought it.
 
Woah! This is News!

Interesting. So a station can have more than one HD 'channel' separate and distinct from their normal workaday analog programming? Do you default to analog on stations with HD feeds - or do you always default to the HD alternative? I will futz with the link and dream of new radio adventures. I love all my sources, but I am radio bozo, in part, because there is so much good programming locally.

pbda said:
We listen to the same stations. I've spent most of the morning listening to WGBH; they have three HD feeds (one is whatever's on their normal analog programming, one is a alternative music feed and the third seems to be an "NPR all the time" feed (not so necessary with WBUR just up the dial, but nice to have).

WERS and WBUR have HD feeds, but not WHRB or WMBR.

Lots of HD broadcasting in Boston beyond 'GBH. Here's a "finder" link: http://www.ibiquity.com/hd_radio/hdradio_find_a_station.
Click to expand...
 
Two actually, one analog, the same in Hybrid Digital and a second HD of alternative programing. The second station HD feed is usually less commercial in music content. Also has less or no commercials.

thanks,
Ron-C
 
PeterFCassidy said:
Interesting. So a station can have more than one HD 'channel' separate and distinct from their normal workaday analog programming? Do you default to analog on stations with HD feeds - or do you always default to the HD alternative? I will futz with the link and dream of new radio adventures. I love all my sources, but I am radio bozo, in part, because there is so much good programming locally.
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I often listen to the "alternate" feed, just for a change.
 
Nice - probably gives programming innovators space to experiment . .

I will look at pricing for this unit on Boxing Day and see what happens. See if it can be fit into the budget in 2008 as a way into HD! Not dropping the Gamma V!

Peter

pbda said:
I often listen to the "alternate" feed, just for a change.
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Apparently when these were released a few months ago, one could obtain a $50.00 rebate! A shame to have missed that one.
 
I missed the rebate, but got mine for $81 off of Amazon and it is truly a great buy. I also like the small footprint which allows me to place it next to my Bellari VP129 Phono preamp on the same shelf. It does pull in stronger than the 4 vintage tuners I have had - a Yamaha CT1010, T1020, Sansui TU717, and Kenwood KT5300. Sounds pretty close to them too. I only use FM for casual listening so the remote is nice too!
Regards,
Jim
 
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