Tuners?
- Thread starter bully
- Start date
THEWEREWOLF
Well-Known Member
The Six Tuners I've owned in life.
1. Rotel RT-925 AM/FM Stereo Tuner(Still have it. I love this puppy, she is my favorite of favorites. Looks good too.)
2. TU-S9 Tuner (Still have it. It works and is built well enough.)
3. Pioneer Tuner TX-7500 (Still have it nothing to write home about but does the job well enough.)
4. Pioneer TX-6700 AM/FM Stereo Tuner (Tossed it. Junk what was I thinking.)
5. Pioneer TX-960 FM/AM Digital Synthesizer Stereo Tuner (Still have it junk but I like it for its looks and features. Sounds OK!)
6. Pioneer Stereo Tuner TX-6500 II (Tossed it, cheap junk sounded terrible.)
I went down the rabbit hole into standalone FM decoders.
I have a late Fisher MPX-100 and a Scott 335; the Scott came from the estate of Foster Blair.
I learned the hard way that neither of my Sherwood solid-state tuners drives the tube decoders well. The Pioneer TX-9500 does well on both.
I haven't had either tube decoder in the system enough to state conclusions.
In complete tuners, during Covid I got a Scott 310-E; I had been looking for years. I expect to own it as long as it can be kept running.
I had owned a Scott 370 long ago but wasn't that impressed. I got an estate-sale one last year for $12; it needs work but sounds shockingly good except for hum.
I've still got a lot to learn about MPX decoding and have plans for experimentation.
I have a late Fisher MPX-100 and a Scott 335; the Scott came from the estate of Foster Blair.
I learned the hard way that neither of my Sherwood solid-state tuners drives the tube decoders well. The Pioneer TX-9500 does well on both.
I haven't had either tube decoder in the system enough to state conclusions.
In complete tuners, during Covid I got a Scott 310-E; I had been looking for years. I expect to own it as long as it can be kept running.
I had owned a Scott 370 long ago but wasn't that impressed. I got an estate-sale one last year for $12; it needs work but sounds shockingly good except for hum.
I've still got a lot to learn about MPX decoding and have plans for experimentation.
Descartridge
Stereos been berry, berry good to me!
Highly ranked, aesthetically pleasing:
McIntosh MR-78
Marantz 20B
Pioneer TX-9500
Yamaha T-85
Mitsubishi M-F01
Denon TU-460
Pilot 780
Dynatuner FM-1 (w/MPX)
Sherwood S-2200
Sherwood S-2000 (mono)
The MR-78 is in my main (living room) system. The Yamaha has the best reception (but I only listen to local stations) but is disappointing ergonomically and aesthetically. The Pioneer is excellent, too. The Marantz is beautiful, but for some reason I have never warmed to it--I need to give it another chance. The Mitsubishi is from their high end "executive" mini-system and is very cool. The Denon is nothing special (I have been trying to give it away but have had no takers even with OBM.)
The Dynaco has really surprised me, but obviously not for those in difficult FM environments. The Pilot is intriguing (very rare, apparently) but needs work. The Sherwood S-2200 shows potential, and I like the funky early 60's look.
Marantz 20B
Pioneer TX-9500
Yamaha T-85
Mitsubishi M-F01
Denon TU-460
Pilot 780
Dynatuner FM-1 (w/MPX)
Sherwood S-2200
Sherwood S-2000 (mono)
The MR-78 is in my main (living room) system. The Yamaha has the best reception (but I only listen to local stations) but is disappointing ergonomically and aesthetically. The Pioneer is excellent, too. The Marantz is beautiful, but for some reason I have never warmed to it--I need to give it another chance. The Mitsubishi is from their high end "executive" mini-system and is very cool. The Denon is nothing special (I have been trying to give it away but have had no takers even with OBM.)
The Dynaco has really surprised me, but obviously not for those in difficult FM environments. The Pilot is intriguing (very rare, apparently) but needs work. The Sherwood S-2200 shows potential, and I like the funky early 60's look.
sound hound
Super Member
Rotel RT-955 Two of these, one is in my main system.
Rotel RT-1080
Parasound T/DQ 1600
Nikko Gamma V
Arcam Alpha 8 Two of these too
Pioneer TX-9500II
Sony ST-4950
Dynaco FM-5
Rotel RT-1080
Parasound T/DQ 1600
Nikko Gamma V
Arcam Alpha 8 Two of these too
Pioneer TX-9500II
Sony ST-4950
Dynaco FM-5
doug s.
Super Member
if you haven't found someone to repair this yet, check out the fmtunerinfo site's partner forum; soomeone there may be able to help, or help you find someone.
doug s.
Hoewieloewie
Active Member
20 years ago I posted my Onkyo T-9. Since then I used a very nice Akai AT-V04 for many years, and still have a rough one as a backup to the Sherwood S3000 V stereo tube tuner I bought about 5 years ago for it’s looks alone.
That being said, I’m seriously thinking of moving on as my new WiiM Ultra has streaming radio stations and may suit my needs. My concern about the quality of radio posted 20 years ago has only been reinforced and my listening is exclusively three NPR stations locally, even while I drive solo. The WiiM has all 3 NPRs loaded locally and I’m sure it can find other stations offering interesting content hundreds and thousands of miles beyond the range of my tuners. When we’re in my wife’s car we listen to a local oldies station or some podcasts lately. But I can guarantee that the oldies will play one of about 3 or 4 Michael Jackson songs every trip and that just is a bit much. I don’t decry his talent and popularity, but then again, I don’t listen to much 80s or later pop and have recently started to Shazam a few oft heard songs I have no clue on just to find out who the artist is.
Radio is pretty much dying in my car as streaming accesses titles I like and also curates similar content once my selections are gone. My Sherwood tuner is the only item in my system who’s value now is less than my cost and I don’t see that changing, but I’ll keep it for its classic vintage looks alone.
That being said, I’m seriously thinking of moving on as my new WiiM Ultra has streaming radio stations and may suit my needs. My concern about the quality of radio posted 20 years ago has only been reinforced and my listening is exclusively three NPR stations locally, even while I drive solo. The WiiM has all 3 NPRs loaded locally and I’m sure it can find other stations offering interesting content hundreds and thousands of miles beyond the range of my tuners. When we’re in my wife’s car we listen to a local oldies station or some podcasts lately. But I can guarantee that the oldies will play one of about 3 or 4 Michael Jackson songs every trip and that just is a bit much. I don’t decry his talent and popularity, but then again, I don’t listen to much 80s or later pop and have recently started to Shazam a few oft heard songs I have no clue on just to find out who the artist is.
Radio is pretty much dying in my car as streaming accesses titles I like and also curates similar content once my selections are gone. My Sherwood tuner is the only item in my system who’s value now is less than my cost and I don’t see that changing, but I’ll keep it for its classic vintage looks alone.
Beobloke
Super Member
Don't think I've ever contributed here! I have had a few tuners pass through my hands over the years, but I'm down to 2 at the moment:
- B&O Beomaster 5000. The one I will never get rid of. It just wipes the floor with every other tuner I've ever owned.
- Yamaha T-700. Nice tuner. No real use for it but it was a present from a friend and doesn't take up much space!
- B&O Beomaster 5000. The one I will never get rid of. It just wipes the floor with every other tuner I've ever owned.
- Yamaha T-700. Nice tuner. No real use for it but it was a present from a friend and doesn't take up much space!
doug s.
Super Member
i had one of those; bought it because it was so cool looking. but there are many that sound noticeably better and have better reception abilities.
ymmv,
doug s.
Beobloke
Super Member
Which one?!
doug s.
Super Member
where do i start? so many. have a price range you might be interested in? for inexpensive, i'd try a nikko gamma 1 or a jvc fx1100bk (or fx1010tn - same, in silver). there's a bunch more...
doug s.