modern tuners

[phree]

That would to a large part depend on your budget and whether or not you want to DX. Based on my limited vintage tuner experience, 7 over last 2-3 years, I feel comfortable recommending the Kenwood TU-8300. One in excellent condition can be had for around $300. Stock they are very nice, however modded they are reputed to be among the best for the $, if not just performance.

Yes, what are your needs/wants?

Do you want to pick up stations a long way away i.e. DX performance (high sensitivity)?

Or are you after the best sound from strong local stations (overload resistance and audio stage)?

Or what mixture of either extreme would you prefer?

Are you in a city with a very congested FM band? Or in a rural situation with just a handful of interesting (to you) stations (selectivity)?

What are you preferences for looks/ergonomics/colour?

And of course, what is your budget for the core tuner that you may then mod/upgrade/repair/align as necessary?

Just a note of caution, like you, I decided to get a tuner a while back. I now currently have ~20 "vintage" tuners, plus all manner of test equipment, antennas, rotator, piles of capacitors, etc. Most of them have some feature/s that I really like. Others are practice mod/alignment fodder. None yet, even modded, satisfies me completely. It can be addictive, this tuner thing.

Cheers.

 

[hemiram]

My friend has been hitting the local garage sales and scored an old HH Scott tuner, a 350B for 10 bucks. It's in nice shape, and works fine, except for a slight 60hz hum that has decreased since it's been left on for a while. I will be changing out the filter caps and most all of the electrolytics soon anyway,and that should solve that issue. I blew out all the dust yesterday, and cleaned the jacks up and wiped down everything with a damp rag. I give it about a 9, except for the top of the case, it's got scratches on it. If it wasn't for that, and a couple of tiny spots on the chassis, it would look new. It sat on some old guys' shelf for about 45 years, and never moved until he died, and his kids sold all his stuff. My friend saw some guy lugging away a new looking Technics direct drive turntable, and one of the big Technics SL-P1200 or 1300 CD players as he pulled up. That guy wanted the Scott tuner too, but didn't have any cash left.

You really don't realize how bad some of the newer receivers and tuners sound until you listen to them side by side with an old one. Once the hum is gone, it will replace his old Pioneer (Can't remember the model) that is having afc issues, at least until it gets fixed. I think the Scott, even with the slight hum, blows away the Pioneer, which sounds a lot better than the tuner in his new Onkyo 605 HT receiver does. The Scott running through the Aux jacks sounds great. Very smooth. There are a couple of really good sounding local FM stations that show how bad some stuff sounds.

 

[handyman720]

still using my pioneer TX-900, think it was later 60's when i got it. has two crystal filters in the i.f. stage. been great all these years.

 

[VinylHanger]

I second the KT-8300. It changed my perspective on FM. I still spin vinyl nearly 100 % when I have the rig going, but when the college/NPR station has music programs I want to hear, it makes it so very nice to have a good tuner.

 

[Paul C]

The Onkyo tuners from the mid '80's to mid '90's are pretty decent, especially the Integra line. T-9090 and T9090II (one just sold on that auction site for nearly $500) bring a hefty price tags, but some of the lesser known models, T-4087, T-4500, T-4700, T-4310R, T-4711, T-4017 are pretty nice.

Check the Tuner Information Center

http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/onkyo.html

With a little more work, they can REALLY suck in the stations. You might want to read over a thread I did about a T-4017.

Also, with a good tuner you just may find a number of stations you like that you didn't know existed before. I know I have!

 

[RxDx]

The Onkyos from the mid '80's to mid '90's are pretty decent, especially the Integra line. T-9090 and T9090II bring a hefty price tags, but some of the lesser known models, T-4087, T-4500, T-4700, T-4310R, T-4711, T-4017 are pretty nice.

Check the Tuner Information Center

http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/onkyo.html

With a little more work, they can REALLY suck in the stations. You might want to read over a thread I did about a T-4017.

10-4 on the 4711. It beat both the Yamaha T-85 and TX-1000 I had at the time for reception, selectivity and sensitivity. (A chunk of the write-up on the 4711 at tunerinfo is mine). I'd say the Yamahas sound a tiny bit better on FM, and the 1000 is the best digital I've heard on AM.

I just got a Kenwood KT-7500, and the writeup at tunerinfo says it should be close to a match for reception, esp. if modified. Well, stock, it ain't. It doesn't come close on selectivity, and it's a step or two down in sensitivity.

Your article has inspired me, though, and may break out the soldering iron and try some tighter filters

 

[RxDx]

New filters helped the KT-7500 on selectivity. It's still way behind the Onkyo T-4711 in sensitivity, though.

 

[Mr. Orange]

I'm quite happy with my Sansui TU-719 which has been gone through by Joseph Chow at http://www.componentplususa.com/pages/upgrades.html :thmbsp: I'm just using a Godar FM ant for now and it sounds pretty good. I'm looking at several McIntosh tuners but I'm not ready to buy yet. Going that direction I'm kind of liking everything I've read about the Mac MR74.

 

[DanTana]

I have a Denon TU-1500RD, a very good all-around performer. The RDS feature is nice and is remote capable.

 

[ponderbear]

Several new tuners I have checked out just don't have the filters right, or don't have any flexibility so you are stuck.. Or they are decently sensitive but not selective. Sometimes they are a teense wide and a bit off center. Narrow filters help with marginal signals and no one has problems with marginal signals in the new digital-everything age, right? Sheesh. So most new tuners i've heard are a little out of focus causing problems from sibilance to crosstalk. You just can't go wrong with a five gang or higher analog or digital tuner made from, what, 1976 to 1982 or so. Don't quote me on the years, it's very approximate, and there are big, big exceptions like the Sony ST-A6B or the Sherwood 3000s. If you don't want to spend much, an upper-line Yamaha digital like the T-80 would be a great place to start, or a Kenwood analog like the KT-815 or KT-7500, also good. I got my 7500 in great shape for $50 and it's a great performer, much better than anything you can buy now that is not a super-high end esoteric tuner. the other nice thing about vintage tuners is you can play the field without breaking the bank. Don't like your Sony? Get a Marantz! Get a Kenwood! Get THREE Kenwoods!

Read the reviews at fmtunerinfo. There's a lot of info there, and guys here will be more than happy to share their opinion about something

 

[riverrat]

...You just can't go wrong with a five gang or higher analog or digital tuner made from, what, 1976 to 1982 or so. Don't quote me on the years, it's very approximate, and there are big, big exceptions like the Sony ST-A6B...

I am curious what you mean here with regards to the Sony ST-A6B. What is it that you feel this tuner is an exception to? Please explain!

 

[RaymondLeggs]

I`m looking to buy a modern turner instead of vintage,thinking it will pick up stations better.So what modern one`s have any of you had? That`s good? Thank`s Dave

Actually it's the opposite.

 

[Danger Boy]

modern tuners for the most part especially in receivers.. are almost an afterthought. they don't really compete with vintage tuners.. the likes of Sansui, Pioneer and many other's really peaked in the 70's.