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Budget tuner?

I was thinking of putting a tuner on my system just for periodic FM listening. If possible, I'd like to keep the price under $100 used. However, if there's nothing decent in that range please let me know. I don't know anything about tuners.

I've seen some for $50 and some for $500. I don't know what the difference is. I just want to listen to the radio.

I appreciate any help you can give. I'm using a NAD 370 integrated amp.
exander

Showing 2 responses by aroc

aroc
760 posts
 
I'd get one of the early ca.1980 solid state tuners off of ebay. Something like my sansui I got off of ebay for $7. On the right jazz broadcast, it betters my redbook front end. If FM is really, really good in your area, you might strong for one of great old tube tuners and either restore it yourself or have it professionally restored.

Many of the new tuners seem to be a notch or two below in sound quality compared to the old ones. And two, the FM broadcast is going to be the limited factor be the SQ of my $7 sansui tuner is. Even for uncompressed stations. Something to think about.

Aaron
aroc
760 posts
 
Would I not get a "top" echelon Sansui right off of the bat, but rather one of the second tier tuners, like MWilson suggested. Then see if your FM listening patterns require something better. For most of us you may not want or need to proceed further. I know I have no desire to do so. My $7 Sansui T-77 (solidstate) is a knockout on a great uncompressed jazz broadcast, live classical broadcasts, and probably overkill for compressed FM rock/pop/talk.
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