Still using a Sansui TU-9900 for 42 years now. Sounds great with WBGO Jazz station out of Newark NJ. Available on the web as well (of course), its a listener supported station, hence no commercials, but the occasional fund raiser.
129 responses Add your response
I came across a Kenwood KT 5500(1979) in pristine condition. Truly an entry level tuner, but, according to my technician it has alot of the same components that Kenwood used in their higher end models. It just has a cheaper chassis. We cleaned it up, re-tuned it and installed blue LEDs so it would match my existing modern equipment. Works just fine for me as I only occasionally listen to the radio. |
Most expensive tuner I have on hand (among several, including a tube stereo Scott) is a McIntosh MR77. In present use is a Mitsubishi (Diatone) DA-F10. Here in the Tampa/St.Pete area the only quality FM stations we have are WUSF 89.7 (NPR and Late Night Jazz) and WSMR 89.1 and 103.7 (Classical) . The rest of the dial remains a musical desert of commercial dreck! |
Sansui, Yamaha, Technics, Onkyo, Hafler and JVC are some that I’ve used over the years. I got off the tuner merry go round after buying a modified sony xdr-f1hd by the xdr guy. If one still listens to am and fm, the xdr is tough to beat. The unit is sensitive, selective, small in stature, sounds great and has a remote control. It’s the only piece of gear in my systems that I’ve never contemplated replacing. It’s used with a Magnum Dynalab whip antenna outside about 25 ft up. Very nice. |
An old SS TEAC remains my primary audio source among the many. Local NPR station programming and engineering are good enough to hold my interest without resort to LP, CD, stream, cassette (!) etc. Got the current model NAD in reserve for when the TEAC dies (all prior tuners have died in <15 years). Nothing fancy in the stable and not shopping used market for ancient exotics. A/B between analog tuner & live stream of same station is a satisfying exercise. |
Recently I overhauled my Carver stack - m500t amp, C1 preamp, and TX-11a tuner (kayoed by a party spill). Had to actually replace the tuner, but I was lucky enough to find another TX-11a on ebay in excellent condition for just $125. What a relief to fire it up and hear my stations again, clear as a bell. I may not use it everyday, since I started Qobuz (streamed to a Bluesound Node 2i and thru my Schiit Yggdrasil dac). But nothing really replaces radio. The tube guys may have me beat, but I think that Carver ss tuner is nice for the money! |
I have a Sansui TU-X1. I’m a jazz fanatic. There’s only one jazz station in LA. I've always considered my tuner as a tool to find new jazz music. Consequently it doesn’t get much use due to bounty of jazz stations all over the world via streaming...along with Tidal & Pandora Premium. As good as my tuner is, it’s turning out to be more of a nostalgic piece of audio sculpture. It is a gorgeous beast, and I’ll never get rid of it. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/876#&gid=1&pid=4 |
tubegb makes an excellent point. I have a college classical station and a tech college mainly Jazz/some classical and all the other stations are mainly this country/rock/mainstream mix of "bar" music. For all the pleasure that exist in good audio gear, many people have their car radio and the bar jukebox as their musical reference...not exactly the absolute sound. |
Not entirely on topic, but I do still own a McIntosh MR71.
Over the years, and living on the left coast, there were excellent FM stations
to listen to. Classical music, a college jazz station and two classic rock
stations were just some of the choices.
Over the years many excellent tuners came and went from the
likes of Marantz, Sansui, McIntosh, Fanfare and Yamaha. Sadly, I now live on
the right coast in a large city that is an FM wasteland. The MR71 remains…packed
away. I’d have to say I miss all that great free/quality music. Sorry, I think I’ve been locked up for too many days already. |
I've owned numerous vintage tube tuners over the years, including two different Marantz 10Bs, a 1954 REL Precedent (as you probably realize, that's Radio Engineering Laboratories, no relation to the modern British subwoofer manufacturer), a McIntosh MR71, and several made by H. H. Scott and Fisher. Among more modern solid state designs I've only owned a Carver TX-11 and a Kenwood receiver, both during the 1980s. By far the most sensitive of these were the 10Bs and the REL Precedent, which were similar to each other in that respect. Despite the Carver's unique sensitivity-enhancing circuitry its sensitivity was easily bested by those two. The best sound quality of all of the tuners I've owned was provided by the REL Precedent, which I used in conjunction with vintage tube-based "multiplex adapters" made by H. H. Scott (model 335 or LM35) and Fisher (model MPX100). (The REL is mono by itself, but it provides a multiplex output from which these adapters can decode the stereo). Unfortunately, of course, both the 10B and the REL go for multi-thousands of dollars these days, at least if in good condition. In terms of value per dollar the best in my experience was an H. H. Scott 310D used in conjunction with one of the multiplex adapters. It goes without saying, of course, that condition can make all the difference with any of these older pieces. Best regards, -- Al |
