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Why spend megabucks on a tuner?

I've seen old Marantz and McIntosh tuners sold here on Audiogon for a fortune. My question is: Why?

Most radio stations now have highly compressed dynamics. Most of the few that don't (for my location, anyway) are located on the fringes of reception. And then what happens when you move to a different location, which may have even fewer good listening choices?

At least with a turntable or CD player, I feel that you have a lot more choices. And, it's not location-dependent. With streaming audio becoming a reality for most people, and now HD radio (which I'll admit I haven't heard yet), why is there still such a market for high-end tuners?

Michael
sufentanil

Showing 1 response by unclejeff

unclejeff
1,313 posts
 
I listen to FM more because I like to hear new material or songs I don't own bur remember fondly.

Yes, I would agree that most FM listening is now via car radios. This is where I get most of my FM listening. Yes, compressed music in an automotive environment does make sense....I am, first, driving my car somewhere...while filling in the time with my music.

At home I usually go for streaming audio when I am not listening to my playlists. Some years ago I found an old Fisher Series Eighty AM/FM (mono!) tuner. I gave the man $15.00 for it. I spent a pretty fortune having it restored and it does sound sweet.

But I have a slimdevices Transporter now and it's own DAC is really good. It is rare that I now power up the old Fisher.
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