Tuner old or new Q's

mhardy6647

Most of the "modern" hifi sets (mid-1970s and beyond) included AM as an afterthought. The best performing AM tuners will be from the brief AM-FM simulcast stereo period (late 1950s/very early 1960s) before the FCC endorsed compatible multiplex FM stereo. These tuners were designed to have AM sound quality comparable to FM (since the simulcast stereo signal was broadcast one channel on AM, the other on FM!). Fisher, EICO, Heathkit, and many, many others made "AM-FM stereo" tuners - they are pretty easily recognized, as they'll have totally separate AM and FM tuning facilities (dials, pointers, and tuning knobs). The EICO ST-96 is an example; see http://oldaudioarchives.com/radio.htm?radio=80

The AM section in the Sherwood S-2000 mentioned earlier is excellent. N.B. I paid $50 for that tuner; it has needed no restoration (to date).

Surprised to see that Pioneer SX-1010 above has only a 4-gang FM tuning capacitor. The contemporary Yamaha CR-1000 receiver had a 5-gang FM tuning cap as did the CT-1000 and CT-1010 tuners. All of these feature good if not world-class FM performance.


Here's the innards of a Yamaha CT-1010 AM-FM tuner, FWIW:



EDIT: Many of the vintage McIntosh tuners (vacuum tube and solid state) are among the very best ever made. Other "best of the best" contenders include the Marantz 10B, Day Sequerra Broadcast Reference tuner, and the REL Precedent.

hearingimpared

Thanks for the info Bro.

disneyjoe7

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Surprised to see that Pioneer SX-1010 above has only a 4-gang FM tuning capacitor. The contemporary Yamaha CR-1000 receiver had a 5-gang FM tuning cap as did the CT-1000 and CT-1010 tuners. All of these feature good if not world-class FM performance.

Yes I was also less impressed by that tuner section after seeing it myself. Nice stuff you have there, and very impressive knowledge you have of tuners. I assume you have have a FCC license but I could be wrong.

Polkersince85

Someone should jump on this one and bring it back to life.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310198811684&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

mhardy6647

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Yes I was also less impressed by that tuner section after seeing it myself. Nice stuff you have there, and very impressive knowledge you have of tuners. I assume you have have a FCC license but I could be wrong.

Nope, I just dink around with the stuff.
My father, though, was a broadcast engineer in the 1950s.

I have mostly junk when it comes to tuners... really good tuners are 'spensive :-(

Here's the Holy Grail, as far as I am concerned. This one belongs to one of the local vacuum tube hifi gurus.

Knucklehead

mhardy6647 wrote: »

you're kidding right? :-)


http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72548&highlight=Sherwood

SWEET! That Sherwood is just an awesome looking piece of gear IMO.:D

dc55110

I picked up one of these (Magnum Dynalab ST-2) open box a while back. Crystal clear, signal is strong as hell.

hearingimpared

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Yes I was also less impressed by that tuner section after seeing it myself. Nice stuff you have there, and very impressive knowledge you have of tuners. I assume you have have a FCC license but I could be wrong.

LMAO! Wow you just sparked some brain matter. I got all my FCC licenses including Radar Endorsement back in '74/'75 and can't remember anything about it!:eek:

disneyjoe7

LMAO! also I was learning about FCC Licenses when they where Class A (I think, if I remember right) I was less interested when it changed to General Class so I stopped. What was that 1982 or 1983?

hearingimpared

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

LMAO! also I was learning about FCC Licenses when they where Class A (I think, if I remember right) I was less interested when it changed to General Class so I stopped. What was that 1982 or 1983?

Yeah man, IIRC it was; you had to get your third class, then second class, then first class licenses then you could augment the licenses with various endorsements. Again that was back in the mid '70s.

These tests were comprised of 100 multiple choice questions.

disneyjoe7

So what's a good price for a Pioneer TX-9500II?

mhardy6647

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

So what's a good price for a Pioneer TX-9500II?

dunno. folks like 'em (especially cosmetically) so they probably go for more than they should. Check completed auctions on eBay or TICs valuations (which are probably somewhat out of date).

disneyjoe7

I played around with one on ebay for $90 it went for $137.50, there's one on Audiogon for $220 I offered $190 + ship I see if he counters back. Around 2 for a good one? Or is it slightly under 2?

mhardy6647

Is there $200 worth of good quality programming on good-sounding stations in your area? If so, probably "yes". Just my hardly humble opinion.

billbillw

You can get a great sounding tuner for $50 if you look out for deals. 9500II is overkill for a suburban flatland setting, especially if you are primarily listening to one strong station. You can probably expect to spend at least another $100 to get that 9500 aligned and brought back to spec unless it has already been performed. Don't think that a 30 year old analog tuner will be operating like it should unless it is serviced by a tuner expert. I send all my tuners (even my digital ones) to get aligned by RadioX. The difference is incredible. I'd take more time and look at the various reviews at FMtunerinfo. Look for the ones with excellent sound quality, not for DX ability.

disneyjoe7

Well I like the sound of the SX-939 receiver but it's huge for a tuner, and with it's iffy tuner circuit, I would think a 9500II tuner would be a nice update. I can listen to both FM radio and AM radio the 939 has a better AM tuner vs. the Pioneer 84TXSi AVR which I listening to it right now.

mhardy6647

I will put in a good word for "RadioX". He (Mike) did the RF work on my Fisher 500C (even though he's not a big fan of the big ol vacuum tube iron per se). He knows his stuff.
http://www.radioxtuners.com/

(no affiliation)

hearingimpared

Sansui TU-777 AM/FM Analog Tuner

disneyjoe7

Sansui TU-777 is nice also. Did you know of one that is on sale? Or is this what you're using?

hearingimpared

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Sansui TU-777 is nice also. Did you know of one that is on sale? Or is this what you're using?

I had originally purchased it from RuSsman,way back when, and then needed some upgrade funds and had to sell it off. Bill Ayotte bought it from me but I haven't seen him around for quite a while so I don't know if he still has it or is willing to give it up. Double G might know of his whereabouts. I regret selling it now as I miss it.

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/21781-sansui_tu777__au777a_tuner_and_integrated_amplifier_combo_minty_

Steve, the above is the only place I see one on sale.

danger boy

billbillw wrote: »

You can get a great sounding tuner for $50 if you look out for deals. 9500II is overkill for a suburban flatland setting, especially if you are primarily listening to one strong station. You can probably expect to spend at least another $100 to get that 9500 aligned and brought back to spec unless it has already been performed. Don't think that a 30 year old analog tuner will be operating like it should unless it is serviced by a tuner expert. I send all my tuners (even my digital ones) to get aligned by RadioX. The difference is incredible. I'd take more time and look at the various reviews at FMtunerinfo. Look for the ones with excellent sound quality, not for DX ability.

You are right on most points. but the reason people like the Pioneer TX-9500II is for sound quality and not only for it's DX'ing . It would not be overkill for anyone to own it, regardless of where you live. True a 30 yr old tuner might need some alignments.. and well worth it too. But you're buying a component that was built when FM radio listening was at it's height.. and Pioneer did a few of their higher end tuners right. The 9500II was not the TOTL either. the TX-9800 was.. but if you read reviews... it was made with lesser quality than the 9500II.

Price also depends on condition of course like anything. Stay under $200 though.. that's getting up to high.

billbillw

danger boy wrote: »

You are right on most points. but the reason people like the Pioneer TX-9500II is for sound quality and not only for it's DX'ing . It would not be overkill for anyone to own it, regardless of where you live. True a 30 yr old tuner might need some alignments.. and well worth it too. But you're buying a component that was built when FM radio listening was at it's height.. and Pioneer did a few of their higher end tuners right. The 9500II was not the TOTL either. the TX-9800 was.. but if you read reviews... it was made with lesser quality than the 9500II.

Price also depends on condition of course like anything. Stay under $200 though.. that's getting up to high.

Yes, but there are tuners out there that go for much cheaper that can sound just as good (if not better with a few simple mods). My whole point is to not focus on one particular tuner. There are so many out there and so many of them can sound great if tuned/aligned/modded.

Polkersince85

My main tuner is the Carver TX-11a that I've had for a while. Sound quality IMO is as good as any FM station can produce. Most of my radio listening is on a GE tube Tabletop/console for AM RadioFreeAmerica. Shortwave is on a Zenith Transoceanic D7000Y.
.

disneyjoe7

A shortwave radio yes something else I need before.... I think DangerBoy should sell his TX-9500II to me, and buy something else to fit his needs.

Polkersince85

You just missed this NOS Zenith. :eek:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-NIB-ZENITH-R7000-TRANS-OCEANIC-SHORTWAVE-RADIO_W0QQitemZ110490339023QQcmdZViewItemQQptZShortwave_Radios?hash=item19b9bcc6cf

danger boy

billbillw wrote: »

Yes, but there are tuners out there that go for much cheaper that can sound just as good (if not better with a few simple mods). My whole point is to not focus on one particular tuner. There are so many out there and so many of them can sound great if tuned/aligned/modded.

Agreed. there are several other good sounding tuners in the same price range. Sansui's are one the come to mind, there are other's..

danger boy

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

I think DangerBoy should sell his TX-9500II to me, and buy something else to fit his needs.

:eek:

from my dead cold hands

mhardy6647

speaking of TOs... looky what Marky recently acquired...



(sorry to hijack yet again, I'll stop now)

disneyjoe7

danger boy wrote: »

:eek:

from my dead cold hands

Would you consider joint custody?

hearingimpared

mhardy6647 wrote: »

speaking of TOs... looky what Marky recently acquired...



(sorry to hijack yet again, I'll stop now)

I like that!