FM Tuners


I would like to add a tuner to my system.

I am only beginning to research this, so anyone with experience that could help narrow my focus would be appreciated. I'm not looking for vintage receivers with built-in amps. I'd like a tuner to run into a Van Alstine SET 120, which is a control amp with a passive pre-amp section.

A tuner with a built-in pre-amp is not necessary, but I'm wondering if that might just be the ticket.

Thank you for sharing your experience!

128x128imaninatural

A very good tuner is the Cambridge Audio T500. It is the same as Creek t43....excellent reception and sound. Although I’m using an attic Arial for mine, so your results may vary....you can find the t500 on ebay for about $120....Alternatively you can buy mine, as I have 2...message me if interested....also have a Marantz st6000. 

I use a Pioneer F-90 into a passive volume control to a EL84 SE amp. The sound is nice. I remember that when I got it I had seen somewhere that it was voted the 22 best tuner. From where I am some FM stations sound very good, even better than the Internet/raspberry pie/hifi-berry combo I also use for de-materialized music.

This thread inspired me to buy a $10 antenna

Amazon.com: Bingfu 75 Ohm FM Antenna and AM Loop Antenna for Pioneer Onkyo Yamaha Marantz Indoor HD Radio FM Radio Bluetooth Home Stereo Receiver AV Audio Vedio Home Theater Receiver Power : Electronics

and put my Sony XDR-F1HD back in on my office system. This tuner has regular FM and HD FM which is useful when my fav station does news. They basically re-read, NYT, WSJ, etc. Their HD frequency is 24 hours of music (but not as interesting as the DJ based regular programming).

The reception with this antenna is amazing. As I stated above, the best reception I have on my 4 tuners is with this Sony.

Anyways, this Sony is such a good tuner. Ebay has them listed for under $150. I have mine modified by the XDRGuy.com so maybe why this sounds so good. There is a switch in the back that the XDRGuy added that has a big difference in sound. I need to read up on what that switch does, but I think one setting is his mods.

The mods were only a few hundred dollars. I think I paid under $500 long ago for the tuner and mods as a package.