Help needed...FM dead zone

[sleepyweasel]

I work in a factory that produces alum. welding wire. The building doesnt let many tuners/radios pick up very many stations(metal roof and aprox. 1 million pounds of aluminum wire all over the place). I'v tried a few different tuners and a few boomboxes, and most will only pick up 2 listenable stations, and 3-4 with alot of static.

Everyone has a radio and every once in a while one of us will find one that will get more stations, say 6-8(cheap "all in one" goodwill bpc). So it is posible.

I am thinking a Sony XDRF1HD might be able to pick up these weak signals, but I'm open for sugestions.

 

[Raynald]

Since some signals do make it in, the Sony will make the most of them. Nothing comes close, new or used, for the price. About $80 delivered, but you will need an amp and speakers.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

The Sony would work good on reception. I don't like their sound quality stock. If your IT dept allows, Internet radio might be good to enhance your listening options.

 

[sleepyweasel]

Since some signals do make it in, the Sony will make the most of them. Nothing comes close, new or used, for the price. About $80 delivered, but you will need an amp and speakers.

I run the same machine most days, and already have an amp and speakers. I'ts nothing fancy, just a fisher 60wpc int. from the mid/late 80's ,cd player, and some 2 way jenson speakers. It's a fairly harsh environment, as the machine give off some heat(100 deg. days are not uncommon in the summer) and the amp runs for 8 to 20 hours per day at a lever just under audible distortion.I installed a pair of dc fans from a computer under the hood of the fisher to keep it cool. I wont bring anything in ther thats worth much because the wire process involves mineral oil and it gets on the gear a little.

I like the fact that the sony is small and I could just unplug it and take it out of the shop at the end of my shift so it wouldn't get desroyed by others....

The Sony would work good on reception. I don't like their sound quality stock. If your IT dept allows, Internet radio might be good to enhance your listening options.

I will be listening to it through hearing protection since there is 80+dbs of ambiant "noise" in the shop.

I heard that the sony sounded really good????but even if it isn't "hi-fi" quality, not a deal breaker, mainly looking to have a few more stations to choose from.

 

[outlawmws]

Replace the tuner with a 5 disk CD player or a music server. :yes:

 

[santa]

Can you run Coax outside and string a dipole antenna?
Those can be easily concealed.

 

[Raynald]

Depends what you mean by sounding "really good". I had one that had a basic mod to improve sound quality and it fell pretty far short of most vintage tuners I have tried for careful listening on a high end system. In the environment you describe it should be fine. The sound is nice and clean, reception is clear so go ahead and enjoy. I would chose something better for home use or have it extensively modified, but for what describe it will do a great job of bringing a wider choice of music into your work environment for your enjoyment. If you find the sound bright, turn down the treble or use the Loudness button, no point getting too purist for your very valid intended use.

They do tend to run hot to begin with, so pointing a fan at it along with installing some taller feet to allow for better air circulation might not be a bad idea.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

In your factory environment, the Sony would serve you well and sound is good enough for that use stock. Cheap and very competent. Just make sure it is ventilated well and kept from overheating (it runs hot). :tresbon: