Better tuner than Denon TU1500RD for $285 budget?

I have the Yamaha T-85 which has been a fine tuner for DX'ing, and does not impart a falsely warm, and mellow quality. It certainly can receive that quality when it is a genuine attribute of the particular recording, as in a cello concerto, or cello sonata.
Choice of antenna, and rotator, has a lot to do with ability to pick up stations in all directions.

Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FMtuners/ and ask these guys. They know everything you need to know.