Realistic TM-1000 Analog Tuner
Pycroft
Posts: 1,960
This tuner is up for LOCAL Karma only. The item must be picked up from 08043. Not far from Philadelphia, Deleware, etc. The further away, the less I'd think you'd want it. I don't want to ship - just trying to get rid of things that I'd rather not put in storage to do an upcoming move. I purchased this from George Grand who said it was one of the better analog tuners that he's had. Not much to look at, but is a fine tuner. Here is some info I found online. I'm sure with a little research, you can learn more:
Realistic TM-1000 (1975, $170/orig $160, photo) search eBay
The TM-1000 is a small tuner with 4 gangs and 3 ceramic filters that's a decent performer when modified and tuned up, according to our contributor Ed Hanlon (an unabashed Radio Shack fan): "It's as good as a TM-1001, except that the TM-1000 lacks a multipath meter and wide/narrow bandwidth settings. It's remarkably good-sounding after mods." The TM-1000 resembles the Pioneer TX-6200 cosmetically, and Pioneer did manufacture tuners for Radio Shack under the Allied brand name. However, based on input from a former Shack audio buyer, we now doubt that Pioneer had anything to do with the TM-1000. Our panelist Eric was unimpressed with his TM-1000 for both performance and appearance. Our panelist Ray, an old fan of the TX-6200, tried a TM-1000: "Considering its vintage, it's really physically a small tuner. I was surprised at how effective the 'auto-magic' tuning feature [a defeatable tuning lock - Editor] is, especially considering it predated the late 1970s rush to that technology. I only saw one IC! -- everything is discrete and thus it looks like a handbuilt prototype inside compared to the even older TX-6200. I did a little digging into the TM-1000 and that one IC is a Sanyo A3301. I suspected it was the MPX and so injected audio into its pin # 2 and yup, got deemphed audio out. The low-end response amazed me, being only about 1 dB down at 20 Hz, but it got squirrelly toward the upper end. This is yet another tuner with a time constant squarely in the mid-60 µS range. Thus the growing suspicion that products destined for the lower end of a brand were given a compromise T.C. so as to be close in both 50 µS and 75 µS markets. Other examples so far: Harman/Kardon TU615, Pioneer TX-6200 and Fisher FM-2310. These are analog tuned so AM spacing is not an issue, except for the H/K which sported a 9-10 kHz selector on the bottom cover. The TM-1000's T.C. was 62.8 µS with the typical rise above 2 kHz. Above 12 kHz it nosedived due to, apparently, a low Q pilot filter." The TM-1000 usually sells for $10-40 on eBay, but up to $75 is possible.
I will pick someone next Saturday, then we can arrange when to meet. Must be picked up before November 12th due to me moving. If nobody wants it, I will bring it with me, but it will sit and not be used. I'd rather it go to someone who would use it.
James
Realistic TM-1000 (1975, $170/orig $160, photo) search eBay
The TM-1000 is a small tuner with 4 gangs and 3 ceramic filters that's a decent performer when modified and tuned up, according to our contributor Ed Hanlon (an unabashed Radio Shack fan): "It's as good as a TM-1001, except that the TM-1000 lacks a multipath meter and wide/narrow bandwidth settings. It's remarkably good-sounding after mods." The TM-1000 resembles the Pioneer TX-6200 cosmetically, and Pioneer did manufacture tuners for Radio Shack under the Allied brand name. However, based on input from a former Shack audio buyer, we now doubt that Pioneer had anything to do with the TM-1000. Our panelist Eric was unimpressed with his TM-1000 for both performance and appearance. Our panelist Ray, an old fan of the TX-6200, tried a TM-1000: "Considering its vintage, it's really physically a small tuner. I was surprised at how effective the 'auto-magic' tuning feature [a defeatable tuning lock - Editor] is, especially considering it predated the late 1970s rush to that technology. I only saw one IC! -- everything is discrete and thus it looks like a handbuilt prototype inside compared to the even older TX-6200. I did a little digging into the TM-1000 and that one IC is a Sanyo A3301. I suspected it was the MPX and so injected audio into its pin # 2 and yup, got deemphed audio out. The low-end response amazed me, being only about 1 dB down at 20 Hz, but it got squirrelly toward the upper end. This is yet another tuner with a time constant squarely in the mid-60 µS range. Thus the growing suspicion that products destined for the lower end of a brand were given a compromise T.C. so as to be close in both 50 µS and 75 µS markets. Other examples so far: Harman/Kardon TU615, Pioneer TX-6200 and Fisher FM-2310. These are analog tuned so AM spacing is not an issue, except for the H/K which sported a 9-10 kHz selector on the bottom cover. The TM-1000's T.C. was 62.8 µS with the typical rise above 2 kHz. Above 12 kHz it nosedived due to, apparently, a low Q pilot filter." The TM-1000 usually sells for $10-40 on eBay, but up to $75 is possible.
I will pick someone next Saturday, then we can arrange when to meet. Must be picked up before November 12th due to me moving. If nobody wants it, I will bring it with me, but it will sit and not be used. I'd rather it go to someone who would use it.
James
2 Channel/HT:
Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
Harman Kardon HK354
Sony SACD Player
Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
Harman Kardon HK354
Sony SACD Player
Comments
-
Just say "In" is fine.2 Channel/HT:
Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
Harman Kardon HK354
Sony SACD Player