What is the best hi-fi tuner ever made?

onemug said:
100% on that! Listening to mine right now. :music:

Also, IME... I haven't found a better sounding tuner than it, SS or Tube. The only ones that come 'real' close is the original Sequerra and, surprisingly, the SAE Mk6... both SS. My Marantz 20 is 'very' close.
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Consider yourself a very lucky dog! :thumbsup:
 
rmp said:
Three tuners: Scott 310B w/LM4500 MPX, late Scott 312C w/ICs, and modified Hafler 330.
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I have the Hafler Iris which is a evolution of the 330, very good tuner, very selective and sensitive, is a keeper for sure

Recently I pull the Luxman T-117 from the storage, the T-117 is the most sensitive tuner in my collection, more sensitive than a Onkyo 4711.
In addition the Luxman has 2 detectors, pulse count detector for normal listening levels and PLL for challenge situations.
This tech in japan was able to get a separation of
Stereo Separation (1kHz) wide 76 76 dB

https://hirokun.jp/av/luxman_t-117.html

I would like to mention the Arcam Delta 80, very good tuner, only 2 filters in the if path, still very selective and sensitive, I like the Arcam better than my Audiolab 8000
The arcam came in the late 80s and very pricey, here some pics of the inside
Full of film capacitors Riffa
 

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Here's my novice experience. I have a Sansui TU X1 and X701. I am a regular listener of KRBX(89.9) in Boise area. I am at the transition between distant/fringe, X1 picks up this station with a pair of rabbit ears. Reception is in stereo with a faint hiss in the stereo background...

However, the 701 picks up nothing when in stereo and unlistenable static in mono.

I also have a Revox B760 but I don't want to turn it on often until I get rid off the Frako/Rifa exploder caps.
 

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Hyperion said:
Looks impressive but I wonder how much tuner performance is compromised having a CRT - if that's what the display is? (and associated voltages) in the same cabinet.
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The original Sequerras used a CRT. If you have lots of money, you can send your Sequerra FM Reference in and get a TFT display. Unlike a CRT, it should outlast the tuner.

FMR Key Features — DaySequerra $3800 for the package...

Interestingly, Sequerra says:

"Another benefit to eliminating the CRT is a substantial reduction in internal heat and electrical noise on the ground plane caused by the original high-voltage CRT drive circuitry."

The upgrade includes a post-detection filter to reduce degradation caused by HD radio. Ironic as DS is a big seller of HD transmission gear...

The CRT didn't stop the Sequerra, SAE VI or any number of Marantz tuners from getting rave reviews, FWIW.

Actually, the Marantz 120 and 125 are said to be pretty similar except for the scope. Tuner Information Center - Marantz Tuners Please buy ten of each, measure and report back :-).
 
What information does this CRT/TFT monitor ?

On some of the tuners I have, there are multipath RCA outputs. One can simply buy a cheap pocket oscilloscope nowadays and visualize the multipath just as good as DS does ?
 
Maybe this thread should be expanded to include “the best looking hi-fi tuners ever made?”

If I were a collector of audio components (I’m not; I have only ever owned one tuner at a time—currently a Modafferi-modified McIntosh MR78), I could imagine a lineup of 7 or 8 beautiful, classic tuners—all lit up. I’m not interested in displays of any other audio components. But tuners can be pretty sexy—even more so now that many believe they are obsolete, and everything is digital.
 
Bushikan said:
Maybe this thread should be expanded to include “the best looking hi-fi tuners ever made?”

If I were a collector of audio components (I’m not; I have only ever owned one tuner at a time—currently a Modafferi-modified McIntosh MR78), I could imagine a lineup of 7 or 8 beautiful, classic tuners—all lit up. I’m not interested in displays of any other audio components. But tuners can be pretty sexy—even more so now that many believe they are obsolete, and everything is digital.
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6f600d8c-a64f-47de-afa7-1320f3bd7d47.jpg

I like the simple look of my NAD 1600.
 
Bushikan said:
Maybe this thread should be expanded to include “the best looking hi-fi tuners ever made?”

If I were a collector of audio components (I’m not; I have only ever owned one tuner at a time—currently a Modafferi-modified McIntosh MR78), I could imagine a lineup of 7 or 8 beautiful, classic tuners—all lit up. I’m not interested in displays of any other audio components. But tuners can be pretty sexy—even more so now that many believe they are obsolete, and everything is digital.
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Pretty sure if you seach, there is already a thread that went over this years ago.
 
Bushikan said:
Don’t doubt it. I’ve probably contributed to it.
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2006

nailer

Thread 'Best/Coolest Looking Tuners'

My top 3 are:

1) Day/Sequerra Studio/Reference Am excluding the original Sequerra due to it's red lights that show which swithces are engaged. These make it look too busy for me.

2)Yamaha CT7000B Super clean look. Has to have the wood cabinet.

3) SAE Mark Six One of the first, if not the first, with digital readout. On my top three due to way too cool Nixie tubes, and scope doesn't hurt either.

2012

sony6060

Thread 'Best looking tuner'

Here is my pick.

attachment.php
 
Punker X said:
2006

nailer

Thread 'Best/Coolest Looking Tuners'

My top 3 are:

1) Day/Sequerra Studio/Reference Am excluding the original Sequerra due to it's red lights that show which swithces are engaged. These make it look too busy for me.

2)Yamaha CT7000B Super clean look. Has to have the wood cabinet.

3) SAE Mark Six One of the first, if not the first, with digital readout. On my top three due to way too cool Nixie tubes, and scope doesn't hurt either.

2012

sony6060

Thread 'Best looking tuner'

Here is my pick.

attachment.php
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I didn’t join AK until December 2017–not that I’m unable to do a search.
 
Bushikan said:
I didn’t join AK until December 2017–not that I’m unable to do a search.
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Been here since 2002... Moderator of this tuner forum since it was created. Just pointing out what has been covered. Not that it can't be added to. There's no need to expand this thread. Which in itself has been covered before..

2008

E

Thread 'Best tuners of all time are ?'

Hi to all,
Can somebody do a list of all time best tuners (tube,transistor,etc) and best looking tuners from the past and current (if any manufacturers still bother to make high quality tuners...) and not necessarily most expensive.Let's see what we can come up with.

Thank you.
:tresbon:
 
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