FM tuners - Are they OBSOLETE ?


As much as I a have liked tuners in the past - and probably kidded myself that older ''vintage'' tuners sound better (after owning quite a few), I really don't see much use for them except maybe a nostalgic bridge to days past, or bragging rights to pride of ownership with McIntosh gear or whatever.

With the newer technologies giving access to hundreds of stations around the globe, it just seems like THE proposition to discover new music.

I of course know that some high-end tuners sound very good - but let me tell you - a clean 128 digital feed into a DAC (from a digital transport like the Wadia or Cambridge Audio's new ID-100), is pretty impressive...

Sort of make kilo-buck tuners seem futile and very expensive by comparison.

What do you think ?
soniqmike

Showing 1 response by joenies

Greetings,
I have had an FM tuner in my system for the last 43 years.
When I lived in Denver we had some very good radio stations, that gave me the oppotunity to listen to new music. The Boulder station was very good.
I now live in Anchorage Alaska and we have a decent Jazz and Clasical station.
My dogs, cats and plants like listening to Classical music (FM tuner)on my HT system, when I'm away from the house. Actually keeps them mellow.
Most of the time I use the FM tuner to warm up my system before I do serious listening.
The jazz and classical stations do play new artists/recordings, so that is a plus for me. I also listen to it if I'm doing work, sometimes I like to do work in my main dedicated listening room.
For absolute listening enjoyment I always listen to my Lp's (5000+) or cd's.
Respectfully,
Joe Nies