Antennas for FM Tuners in Urban Setting

Look for Magnum Dynalab I think it is an ST3  about $100 decent ant.

They are also one of the very few companies still making FM Tuners in the high end market they can direct you to who and where you can procure an ant if they are not making any these days.

Good Luck

Dave and Troy
Audio Docftor NJ

The best antenna is going to be a roof mounted antenna on a mast.  Unfortunately there aren't many being made. 

I recently purchased the ST3 antenna for my bedroom system and was not that impressed.  For an indoor antenna, I found that the less expensive  Magnum Dynalab SR100 worked better (for me).  I'm in a remote area pulling in distant stations.  I can't say if the ST3 might work better in an urban area.

I suggest checking out fmtunerinfo.com and the Yahoo FMTuners group.  Lots of great info about tuners there.

Unless you can rig a rooftop antenna, getting reception will be spotty with any of the indoor models. Depends on your location.

Start with a cheap dipole ($6.00)from Parts Express, you may surprised.

I can get my Mac MR71 to dial in a couple of stations to "8/9" strength

I use a  FANFARE - FM-2G Antenna, very similar to the Magnum Dynalab. 

I have 2 Mac tuners, an MR85 and MR88 and use Magnum Dynalab ST2 antennas on both.  My house is in a valley and I have no problems picking up the Boston stations that are 50 miles away. 

I have the Magnum Dynalab ST-2, not an ST3 as I said in my earlier post.  Too late to go back and edit it.

big_greg

The best antenna is going to be a roof mounted antenna on a mast.

Not necessarily, even though that's often good advice. In an urban setting, there's usually plenty of gain, so sometimes a cheap 99 cent dipole wire is all that's needed for good reception. However, if multipath is an issue - which is common if you're among tall buildings - then a directional antenna might be necessary to minimize multipath distortion. However, you might then run the risk of overloading your tuner input. That can be remedied, but it's easiest to try the cheap dipole first.

Nothing better than a directional antenna . I use this type mounted in my attic. BTW, there are not many companies making outdoor FM antennas anymore!
https://www.amazon.com/OUTDOOR-ANTENNA-FOUR-ELEMENT-DIRECTIONAL/dp/B00NRHAV2K/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&am...

Is ST2 omnidirectional or directional?
Would a directional antenna mean choosing a direction and therefore getting great signal with certain channels while limiting the total number of channels I'll receive compared to omni?
Unclear at the moment but I might be able to mount on the roof. If not it looks like the ST2 could be mounted right outside a window. 

When is the approx. distance from the transmitter(s) to your residence?

The ST-2 is omnidirectional. With a directional you have to point it towards the station you want. IMO, a directional is so much better!
http://www.magnumdynalab.com/st-2-omnidirectional-fm-antenna/

   I have four McIntosh tuners..they all perform great with a ST-1

Finding a good antenna involves trial-and-error.  Many overlooked antennas outperform their counterparts.  Many factors are more important than the antenna: station proximity, your building, what is in your building ... .  Many times an inexpensive properly placed antenna outperforms an expensive poorly placed antenna.  

As the son of a TV serviceman (anyone remember those guys?) and antenna installer, I recall him teaching me there are three primary criteria with antennas for TV and FM.

One was pointing towards the  source of the broadcast antennas. These were directional antenna that typically have 3-5 arms making them more capable of receiving weaker signals and provides a stronger output to your tuner. An electric rotator can better point to a variety of broadcast sources. As many have stated, omnidirectional antenna receive signals equally from all directions but are usually a single whip metal rod yielding a weaker signal. 

Two was that TV signals were primarily "line-of-sight" or straight line signals making antenna height directly related to distance from the signal--further away means mount it higher. Some were even mounted on home towers 75-100 feet tall. 

Three is outside mounting is MUCH better than inside. Walls and roofs block signals and weaken their strength.

Hopefully this helps you decide which to choose for your situation and narrow the trial and error process.. Generally, if you're within 50-75 miles of the FM broadcast antennas you want to listen to, you'll likely find many options. 

If you have a small space near the tuner where you can put the antenna you can buy a Bic Beambox FM 10 used; they sell a few dollars in the States and capture a lot of radio stations.