FM reception

Frank D
Frank D Posts: 10
edited March 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
Good afternoon all. I live in Montgomery, NY about 65 miles northwest of NYC. It amazes me how my car radio will receive NYC stations all the way home from work to my front door but my receiver will not even give me a flicker of sound when I try to tune in these stations, nothing but static noise. Is the fm section of receivers that weak? I am presently using a 14 year old Pioneer sx-253r which replaced my venerable Sansui 8080 when the left channel died. I know the Pioneer isn't anything special and I was considering replacing it. My question, Is there any receiver or tuner for that matter out there with an fm section strong enough to pull in the stations from NYC that I want to listen to? I have been looking at a lot of receiver specs on line but the tuner specs all look similar. I should add that I live in an apt and cannot put up any outdoor antennas. I use a Terk PI powered antenna but no help. I was considering a Yamaha RX-797 which in the reviews the reviewers claim excellent fm reception even one where the user claimed receiving NYC stations in Philadelphia or a HK 3490 that one of the guys that works for me has and raves about but he doesn't live as far north as I do. While we're on the discussion, are there any better indoor antennas I could use? Thanks for your help.
Post edited by Frank D on
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited March 2009
    Welcome to Club Polk Frank. If you use the search function here I believe you will find answers to your questions.
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,082
    edited March 2009
    After trying a few different ones I found a $5 set of rabbit ears did a better job than a $45 Terk powered antenna!

    It all depends on your location, and of course your tuner. Car stereo will most of the time be better.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited March 2009
    Look at Godar antenna's.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited March 2009
    A vintage Mac will have no problem pulling in those stations.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Norm Apter
    Norm Apter Posts: 1,036
    edited March 2009
    Hello,

    I was having a somewhat related problem last summer. I live in L.A. and was having difficulty pulling in a station from Long Beach with what seemed to be a relatively weak signal.

    First, I should mention that I happen to have the Yamaha RX-797 that you mentioned. It serves as areceiver/tuner in a second two-channel rig, and yes for integrated tuner/receiver it has very strong/clean FM reception. While many of the other stations came across superbly, the Yammie could not quite pull the jazz station in static free -- I went from dipole to some heftier rabbit-ear /rotating style antennas from Radio Shack, but nothing seemed to work.

    At the advice of some forum members, I splurged for a Magnum Dynalab ST-2 indoor/outdoor antenna (it can be mounted outdoor however I live in apartment complex so thats not an option for me). It runs about $110 new, but I found an open box unit from Audio Advisor for slightly cheaper. Since I installed it last July, just about any station I desire to listen to comes across clean (though I do use it in conjunction with the MD Signal Sleuth which helps)

    You might consider the ST-2 -- check with Audio Advisor on their return policy. Though $110 might seem pricey for an antenna it still might be cheaper than replacing your tuner / receiver and thus worth a shot (especially if you have the option of returning it to AA).

    http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MDST2
    2 Ch.
    Parasound Halo A23 Amp
    Parasound Halo P3 Preamp
    Parasound Halo T3 Tuner
    Bada HD22SE tube CD Player
    Magnum Dynalab Signal Sleuth
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 antenna
    polkaudio Lsi9s (upgraded cross-overs)
    MIT Shotgun S-3 Bi-wire Interface Speaker Cables
    MIT Shotgun S-3 Interconnects (3)
    IegO L70530 Power cords (3)

    HT
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    polkaudio RTi A5s (fronts)
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    Signal Cable Analog II Interconnects
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  • Polkersince85
    Polkersince85 Posts: 2,883
    edited March 2009
    Just be sure, pop the top on the receiver and make sure the antenna connector wire did not get twisted loose inside.
    >
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    >This message has been scanned by the NSA and found to be free of harmful intent.<
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  • wizzy
    wizzy Posts: 867
    edited March 2009
    Antennas.

    Rule #1 - The higher the better.
    Rule #2 - The outsidier the better.

    You could always try the trusty old dipole before spending more

    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062691
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited March 2009
    The new Sony HD tuner works pretty well for pulling in those hard to get stations and if they have a HD signal it will have a very quiet background.

    Of course it all depends on your location.


    Scott
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • Frank D
    Frank D Posts: 10
    edited March 2009
    I'm going to try a rabbit ear stereo antenna. How does the Pioneer sx-253r stand in comparison to some other receivers out there and are the Harmon Kardon receivers made in China and what is the opinion of them?
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  • MLZ
    MLZ Posts: 214
    edited March 2009
    I couldn't get very good FM reception, so I switched to an internet feed and my soundcard to my amp and doing an A/B, the internet connection at 128kbps was superior.
    The only problems I have is I do not get sports and there is a delay if I have FM radios tuned to the same station.
    On the plus side, there are a lot of internet radio feeds and you do not need a tuner.
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,082
    edited March 2009
    Frank D wrote: »
    I'm going to try a rabbit ear stereo antenna. How does the Pioneer sx-253r stand in comparison to some other receivers out there and are the Harmon Kardon receivers made in China and what is the opinion of them?

    The Harman Kardon receivers are my favorite and have very good tuners compared to the competition at the same price level. My old HK-3480 pulled in more stations in the same spot in my house than any other receiver I ever owned. I may purchase the new HK-3490 in the next few days. Enjoy!
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  • Frank D
    Frank D Posts: 10
    edited March 2009
    Conradicles, if you do get a 3490 would you let me know what you think of it? Thanks.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited March 2009
    www.fmtunerinfo.com

    If you enjoy FM....get a dedicated unit and a solid external antenna from Channel Master or whip Magnum Dynalab....just to name a couple. You can find vintage tuners on the cheap.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited March 2009
    Interesting subject FM reception
    lookup FM signal strength
    AGC - automatic gain control
    Receive Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI)
    lots more on FM too.
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  • Blownrx7
    Blownrx7 Posts: 137
    edited March 2009
    Frank D,
    I used to live in an apartment and went through a few different antennas - Rat Shack powered, Terk powered, rabbit ears, dipole and the best I came across was the Magnum dynalab ST-2 or the Fanfare FM-2G.
    They are both omni-directional OUTDOOR antennas.
    Directional antennaes (a dipole is directional btw) can offer better reception but because they are directional, you have to constantly fiddle with them to optimize the reception. It depends on where the signal is coming from.

    Omni-directional antennaes are a bit of a compromise but for a no fuss setup (esp if you listen to stations that are from different areas), it is the best option.
    Now here's the cool part, just put it high up behind a curtain or in the corner and you will get great reception. Now, if you ever move into a place where you can mount an antenna outside, you are all set!

    In most (all?) cases, powered antennaes are not necessary. In fact, my experience has been they add a lot of noise...
    HTH
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,082
    edited March 2009
    Frank D wrote: »
    Conradicles, if you do get a 3490 would you let me know what you think of it? Thanks.

    Changed my mind and went with some NAD gear. My tuner should be here in the next couple of days and it made the top 50 @ www.fmtunerinfo.com

    The Godar antenna's look interesting...
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited March 2009
    Frank D wrote: »
    Good afternoon all. I live in Montgomery, NY about 65 miles northwest of NYC. It amazes me how my car radio will receive NYC stations all the way home from work to my front door but my receiver will not even give me a flicker of sound when I try to tune in these stations, nothing but static noise. Is the fm section of receivers that weak?

    Yes digital FM tuners in most receivers of the last 20 or so years have been POS. Having an external antenna if possible helps.. but still the sound leaves a lot to be desired.

    Not until I bought a 30 yr old analog Pioneer stand alone tuner did I realize how good FM can sound. Full, detailed and decent soundstage. The tuner in my pre amp for the most part is worthless even with an antenna. Analog tuners I think are much more selective and better able to pull in far away stations.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,082
    edited March 2009
    There are some older analog Sansui tunas on e-bay now that look very cool IMHO.
    (I hear they sound good as well but never heard one that I can remember)

    Bout bought one the other day, but decided to go with the NAD to match the rest of my gear.
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  • Blownrx7
    Blownrx7 Posts: 137
    edited March 2009
    danger boy wrote: »
    Yes digital FM tuners in most receivers of the last 20 or so years have been POS. Having an external antenna if possible helps.. but still the sound leaves a lot to be desired.

    Not until I bought a 30 yr old analog Pioneer stand alone tuner did I realize how good FM can sound. Full, detailed and decent soundstage. The tuner in my pre amp for the most part is worthless even with an antenna. Analog tuners I think are much more selective and better able to pull in far away stations.

    I agree!
    RF technology is a dying art that is being left behind by the digital age.
    If I was in the market for a tuner now, I would pick up a clean example of a Sansui TU-717, bring it to one of the recommended techs on fmtunerinfo and get it aligned and enjoy some of the best FM sound available at a VERY reasonable cost. One of the best looking tuners too imho.
    CAUTION: EBay tuners (and most older analog tuners) usually require an alignment at the very least so always figure that expense into your total cost.
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  • Roy Munson
    Roy Munson Posts: 886
    edited March 2009
    Carver TX-11a or 11b is a great tuner that can be had used for not much and can rival many Sansui tuners. FM radio has gotten so bad here that I rarely if ever turn mine on anymore. At any rate most vintage tuners are much better than what's on the market now.
    2 Channel:
    Amp/Parasound Halo A23
    Pre/Carver C-1
    Tuner/Carver TX-11a
    CDP/Jolida JD 100A
    Turntable/AR XB-Shure V15 III
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,082
    edited March 2009
    Blownrx7 wrote: »
    CAUTION: EBay tuners (and most older analog tuners) usually require an alignment at the very least so always figure that expense into your total cost.

    Cool. How does one go about getting a tuner alignment?
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  • Blownrx7
    Blownrx7 Posts: 137
    edited March 2009
    Conradicles wrote: »
    Cool. How does one go about getting a tuner alignment?

    Simply take it to a reputable tech that knows tuners. Tuners are a different animal than other electronics and not any tech will do. Tuner alignment requires special equipment that not every shop owns. The proper equipment is not cheap and knowing how to use the equipment and knowing your way around the rf circuitry is an expertise that not every tech has.
    Check out the techs listed on fmtunerinfo as I suggestd previously.
    :)
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