meant to say any1 KNOW OF some good FM tuners/recommendations?

RandyWilliamson

I've been putting this off for awhile now...so im looking for good reception and sound. Hopeful this unit will be the cheaper of most of my other stuff.

Thanks all. And hello to everyone I havent been around in awhile but have been enjoying my rig. Looking to add some good radio sounds now.

mhardy6647

New production or vintage? Solid state or vacuum tube?

The great bargain in current production by all accounts is the Sony XDR-F1HD, an HD (hybrid digital) tuner. It is inexpensive, very good in "stock" form, and can be upgraded, it is said, to world-class performance (both AF and RF). Less than a C-note for the stock version.

http://theaudiocritic.com/plog/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=35
http://theaudiocritic.com/plog/gallery/1/XDR-F1HD.jpg



upgrades? See Mike Williams' site: http://www.radioxtuners.com/

Now, if you want to talk vintage things can get interesting...

seeclear

Take a look in the Flea Market---

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118643 AND

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118571

Conradicles

The Sony XDR-F1HD is a giant killer. Don't sleep on the Denon TU-1500RD either.

RandyWilliamson

I'm certainly glad I asked...that Sony looks tough to beat.

Question these are free over the antenna stations? we don't have to subscribe?

From what i read it does seem free...the stations are broadcasting in HD...you just need a nifty gadget like this to catch those waves.....my pre-amps a GFP-710 nothing too high end you guys think it'll work well with this type of unit?

Who can argue with that price? The only downside is the namebrand...:biggrin:

But a bargain none the less!

Polkie2009

You'll probably be fine with the Sony unit Randy. Being that you're in a well populated area ,I'm sure there are a number of HD radio stations to check out. There's a website to see what HD stations are available around the USA. I use a Sangean unit,it's decent, mainly use it to listen to Dr. Savage in HD-AM in the late afternoon/evenings.

cnh

HD radio is free..the only problem is that you should check the area you live in. In mine such a device would be fairly useless as I don't think we even receive '1' HD broadcast. As far as this tuner beating any 'other' FM tuner--that's a bit overdrawn and even in the review itself, the reviewer states that there are a couple of things that the Sony does not do as well as a more traditional FM Tuner.

Also, the idea that the Internet is the solution to your problem, assumes that you have invested the monies into sound cards, computer DAC units with USB ins, etc. That involves some coin. You can stream directly to an AVR and I do that as well with my PS3 but I don't find that to be a significant improvement over the analog broadcast--maybe that's just me? I certainly do not and cannot, at the moment, feed a decent signal from my laptop into my 'system'. My college station for example, comes in 'much better on a tuner than it does off my laptop'. The problem also includes how good your internet service is--mine is borderline for download speeds. The Digital age is great but it is usually people who have good access and who are 40 or younger who sing the death knell of 'analog' broadcasts--and that's OK because they will eventually be correct. In the meantime, some of us old 'geezers' will still use those archaic devices we call tuners. lol

As mhardy points out. Don't rule a quality Tuner out. But if you're within 'striking distance of a metropolitan area that Sony HD might be the ticket?



Good Luck!

cnh

mhardy6647

The Sony HD tuner has very good RF performance. It will receive conventional analog FM as well as HD (although, if memory serves, it automatically switches - one of the modifications is to convert the analog/HD switching to manual). It is, by all accounts, a very good FM tuner by any standards... at its price, it is well-nigh unbelievable.

RandyWilliamson

mhardy6647 wrote: »

The Sony HD tuner has very good RF performance. It will receive conventional analog FM as well as HD (although, if memory serves, it automatically switches - one of the modifications is to convert the analog/HD switching to manual). It is, by all accounts, a very good FM tuner by any standards... at its price, it is well-nigh unbelievable.

Yea im ready to buy...just can't find one in stock!!

On3s&Z3r0s

Damn, that sounded good enough I was sold on one too. Of course the marketing geniuses at Sony discontinued it. (You can still buy plenty of 300 disc CD changers from them of course.) Anyway, here's one on the 'Gon. http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?misctunr&1306982617&/Sony-xdr-f1hd-new-in-box

Hard to shell out $200 when you know they sold for $50 after rebate a year ago. :frown:

mhardy6647

They did?!? Crap, I'm sorry... I had no idea.

pitdogg2

yep I believe they were 99.00 but had a rebate if I'm correct. At 200.00 you're close to some of the cheaper Sansui's or Kenwoods.

On3s&Z3r0s

pitdogg2 wrote: »

yep I believe they were 99.00 but had a rebate if I'm correct. At 200.00 you're close to some of the cheaper Sansui's or Kenwoods.

Makes me wish I was paying attention to tuners a year ago. Damn my NAD receiver with its good-enough tuner section! :biggrin: If the Sony's as good as everyone says it could be worth twice retail for one of the last new ones (assuming it really is unused) you're likely to come across. Somebody else needs to buy it before I succumb to temptation.

inspiredsports

I've had great luck with a Sansui TU-417, TU-717, TU-917 and TU-919, a Kenwood KT-9300 and KT-5020, NAD 4155, Crown FM Two, Onkyo T-9090 and Fisher KM-60.

I won't be bashful either. I have 2 nice units for sale in the Classifieds right now. The Onkyo is probably better by a percentage point.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118571

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118643

Someone above mentioned these (Thanks!) and I will work with you if we are reasonably close on price.