Anyone listen to Music on a FM tuner anymore?


I’m not referring to streaming, I mean an actual FM turner. I haven’t had a turner for at least 15, probably more like 20 years. I had a high-end one that went bad years ago and even then I hadn’t really used it in years. Just wondering if anyone still uses one and why?

Added info: back in my college days there were lots of reasons, some great DJ’s in the New York City area and sometimes a live concert broadcasts that were great, but those times are long gone, as is most of my hair and my 32 inch waistline.....I’m not trying to judge anyone for still listening to music on a FM tuner, just asking for the reason to do so.

Hope everyone had a good holiday season.

128x128deadhead1000

I have a Technics ST-9038 tuner I recently upgraded with better OPAMP, decoupling caps, MUSE bipolar coupling caps and it sounds better than ever. Just acquired a matching MICOM timer unit for it I’m reconditioning (it works after a fashion).

I grew up listening to FM, “Underground Railroad” on WUSF out of Tampa, FL in the early 70’s, stations in San antonio, Monterey (What was the station out of Watsonville? KAZU?) San Diego and other places I’ve lived. I listen to local WAMU for Hot Jazz Saturday Night (and nothing else), FM 89.7 WTMD out of Towson, MD and a few rock stations around DC (101.1, 100.3).

deadhead 1000-

1957 REL Precedent was the benchmark for Marantz developing the 10B.

If I remember correctly, the Precedent was inspired by the Art Deco movement, with the Chrysler Building in mind.

An even cooler tuner is the REL 646B(The Green Monster) which precedes it.

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Amplifiers :: REL 646B tube HiFi Receiver before REL Precedent 646C (hifitown.com)

 An ULTRA RARE, very cool piece that only a tuner geek (like me)can appreciate.

(597) REL 646B Tube Receiver 10 watt 7C5 "Green Monster" (before the Precedent" - YouTube

Find a Cambridge Audio 550T for $100 or less. 

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I keep one as a "break glass in case of emergency".

Quiet listenable with a remote and the cool RDS display for the current song playing.

 

Try listening to your FM tuner >> EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. <<.

It’s amazing how it can sound even better with less airwave traffic going on.

Fired up the Magnum Dynalab FM tuner early on the all-tube system today.

98 Rock never sounded better, and the throwback sound can be enjoyable.

Still use my tuners.  Have a McIntosh MR-71 in the great room, and have a MR-88 in my bedroom.  I wish I could adapt my MR-71 for HDRadio.  We have a lot HD stations around here.  The MR-88 sounds better when there is a HD signal, the MR-71 sounds better on a non-HD signal.

We have a fantastic classical and American Songbook station around here.  It is still worth listing to the radio.

The station that I love to listen to has an emphasis on high quality source material (when possible) The DJ's bring in vinyl when they can because they say it sounds better.

This station has an over the airways FM signal, internet stream, and an over the air HD radio signal. I was able to listen to the HD radio signal with the famous Sony XDR unit modded by the XDRguy.com. The radio signal was unlistenable to me (not high quality) compared to the FM broadcast. The internet stream was better than the HD radio broadcast, but not as good as the FM.