Budget tuner that is cheap and not expensive

NeilGabriel
NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
edited May 2007 in Electronics
I have never owned a tuner, but would like to add a junkyard model to my new listening room...primarily to sit and listen to espn radio on the local fm station....andmaybe a little NPR...I tried running my battery operated portable through the amp..but that seemed pretty low class. For under $75, what brands? Marantz, JVC, Sansui, Kenwood....I'd like Carver since the other components are C, but their used stuff is pretty pricey.
Post edited by NeilGabriel on
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,021
    edited May 2007
    cheap and not expensive? at the same time? :-)

    You want a Sherwood S-3000 (FM) or S-2000 (AM/FM). You'll also need a Y-connector, since they're both (EDIT) mono. But they are excellent sounding tuners, and also have decent enough RF performance (sensitivity and selectivity). Either is readily available in good condition for about $50 (last time I looked).

    S-2000
    LRhifi.jpg

    S-3000
    TX2andbottlehead.jpg
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,887
    edited May 2007
    Neil,
    Unless you are stuck on having an analog tuner, I would recommend looking for any of the Sony ES tuners. They pop up on Ebay all the time, and often sell for less than $50. The 550ES is a nice tuner for the money, but don't spend more than $50 on it. They are common and come up all the time.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited May 2007
    Vintage Sansui & Pioneer (TX series 7XXX/8XXX/9XXX and others) are the some of the best that were ever built.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,021
    edited May 2007
    Vintage Sansui & Pioneer (TX series 7XXX/8XXX/9XXX and others) are the some of the best that were ever built.
    Well... not the best, but quite good. The better Kenwoods of the 1970's are quite fine too.

    The modest little Sherwoods still sound better :-)

    FWIW, here's the best tuner ever built. Out of my price range, though...

    RELPrecedent.jpg
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  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited May 2007
    I've got a Kenwood kt 5700 that does a pretty good job. I no longer using it as I don't really listen to the radio that much, besides my denon has one, and is good enough for the amount of radio I listen. If your intrested give me a PM.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2007
    You can have this tuner for free if you pay the shipping.. that's all. i had it serviced.. so it's been gone thru.. it has just two issues... neither the VU meters work. The signal strength or tuning. The local repair shop said it's very common for these meters to quit working. Everything else on it is good.. and the sound is not bad.

    PM me and this offer is open to anyone else too.. just pay for shipping and it's yours. I have $45 invested in it.. but i'll let it go for just the cost of shipping if anyone needs a stand alone MCS 3701 tuner. Would be a good garage tuna . hint, hint. :)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,021
    edited May 2007
    Go for it, NeilGabriel (unless you live in Auckland, or someplace like that, to which shipping costs would be exhorbitant).
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