Tuner old or new Q's

disneyjoe7

Nice, I looking to get my Sansui TU-717 back soon I hope

mhardy6647

I should take a decent photo of my TU-717...


maybe I will...

Jetmaker737

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Nice, I looking to get my Sansui TU-717 back soon I hope

I just shipped mine to be modded last week. I should have it back a week from Monday. :cool:

disneyjoe7

PM the name used and what was being done. I know mine was a heavy redo.

Jetmaker737

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

PM the name used and what was being done. I know mine was a heavy redo.

PM sent!

disneyjoe7

Ok I got it back due to everything going around me I didn't pay him quickly but I got back 6/29/10. My fault not his.

I love how this tuner sounds now, during the align he found two broken slugs, I thinking someone else tried to tune this tuner.... Maybe why I didn't like how this tuner sounded when before it was updated.

In short what was done.

Extreme Alignment
5 matched filters 280/280/280 wide 230/150 narrow

Sense 12dbu - THD .08% - Separation 58db

Add IEC connector

Upgrade Power Supply
Replaced electrolytic caps, upgraded mains from 470uf to 2200uf. Rectifiers to hexfred.

Upgrade Audio Coupling caps and select filter caps
Simac II audio coupling caps, Muse for bipolars, Panasonic FW for filters

Add F connector

Add 1 pair of Cardas RCA's

His work is very nice.

www.radioxtuners.com

mhardy6647

He's one of the best there is.
How does it sound?

Jetmaker737

I had my TU-717 done by Joseph Chow at Audio Horizons. I've had it back for about 6 weeks. Below is the work that was done:

1. Replace the power cord with an IEC input. (I’m using a Pangea AC-14 PC)
2. Install a high grade AC line filter in line between the IEC input and the power supply.
3. Replace and upgrade the wire from the IEC to the Power supply PC Board with low noise, high Q wire.
4. Upgrade the RCA outputs with new gold plated Teflon RCA outputs and new high Q Teflon wire run from the new RCA’s to the PC Board.
5. Replace all audio stage coupling capacitors with coupling grade Blackgate capacitors.
6. Replace the power supply capacitors with larger, higher voltage, upgraded capacitors.
7. Replace the audio stage Op Amp IC’s with Burr Brown or similar quality.
8. Check narrow and wide band filters. Replace if necessary.
9. Replace DC power supply rectifier diodes with High Speed Soft Recovery (FRED) Diodes.
10. Replace critical audio path wire with high Q wire and if necessary reroute.
11. Add F connector
12. Clean and lubricate the tuning mechanism.
13. Align the tuner.

The tuner sounds fantastic. I’m very happy with it. Immediately noticeable was the increased bass response. It just hits you how solid and fine it sounds. The sound quality has improved noticeably from the mid-ranges through the bass. The music from this tuner is very rich and detailed, with "heft". The highs are a bit laid back, which is fine. Certainly not fatiguing, though I may try some different IC’s (silver?) to bring them a bit more forward.

I wish I had DK’s method to record before and after with this tuner. Otherwise I have my Onkyo’s digital tuner as a reference. The Onkyo tuner sounds very thin and hollow compared to the Sansui, with the highs way too dry sounding. Plus the Sansui’s reception with just a bipole is much clearer and cleaner.

The upgrade wasn’t cheap. But since we have an excellent public-supported radio station in Seattle that I listen to all the time, it was worth it for me.

disneyjoe7

I'm using some of those Ben's silver wire interconnects between the tuner and the CV-5 pre amp. Like the silver cables seemed to bring forward to vocals and didn't have much effect on the low end.

inspiredsports

bikezappa wrote: »

The most important item for quality FM audio is the ANTENNA.

. . . and toobs !!! :biggrin:

I just snagged a Fisher KM-60 that I'm going through with a fine tooth comb, checking all resistor values, replacing electrolytic/paper caps, rectifier and adding some NOS Mullards and Telefunkens.

I'll be curious how it compares to my (favorite) modded Kenwood KT-5020 and my big Sansui's, but I have a feeling Scott tube units and/or more Fisher tube units are in my future.

mhardy6647

inspiredsports wrote: »

. . . and toobs !!! :biggrin:

I just snagged a Fisher KM-60 that I'm going through with a fine tooth comb, checking all resistor values, replacing electrolytic/paper caps, rectifier and adding some NOS Mullards and Telefunkens.

I'll be curious how it compares to my (favorite) modded Kenwood KT-5020 and my big Sansui's, but I have a feeling Scott tube units and/or more Fisher tube units are in my future.

Just be careful making any changes in the tuned circuits... unless you can do the realignment yourself or have easy access to someone who can do it for you.

55LS70

Interesting thread. Some nice tuners also. Over the years I had quite a few tuners with my favorite being a Rotel (I don't remember the model number) I had in the late 70's and early 80's. Currently I'm listening to a Pioneer TX-6500II with upgraded caps. It's a little noisy, but a has a fairly large soundstage for a solid state component. Hopefully soon, though, I'll be able to change that out for a tube unit as I'm sending my Scott 330D AM/FM tuner and 335 multiplex in for complete rebuilds. When I get them back I'll probably have them fitted for custom cabinets. I'll post some pics and write a short review after I put a few hours on them.

danger boy

55LS70 wrote: »

Interesting thread. Some nice tuners also. Over the years I had quite a few tuners with my favorite being a Rotel (I don't remember the model number) I had in the late 70's and early 80's. Currently I'm listening to a Pioneer TX-6500II with upgraded caps. It's a little noisy, but a has a fairly large soundstage for a solid state component. Hopefully soon, though, I'll be able to change that out for a tube unit as I'm sending my Scott 330D AM/FM tuner and 335 multiplex in for complete rebuilds. When I get them back I'll probably have them fitted for custom cabinets. I'll post some pics and write a short review after I put a few hours on them.

Pioneer TX-6500II tuner is pretty basic in design and is pretty much no frills all around.. step up to the 9500II or 9800 if you like silver faced Pioneers.

55LS70

I agree, they're not much. The cap upgrade helped immensely, but still they're a very basic low performing tuner. It was an interim thing when I acquired it as I was looking for a tube tuner.