Does anyone notice a reduction in sound quality when a tuner is part of ther audio chain?


I notice that when my tuner is taken out of my audio rack/chain that the sound quality from my system is significantly better. I like the sound of my tuner but when disconnecting it I find the cd player has a much quieter overall sound.  If my tuner is attached but turned off I still find the sound quality less than if the tuner is disconnected completely. Is my best option to simply disconnect the interconnects from the tuner to the preamp when not using the tuner? Would a better preamp resolve this issue or is it a matter of  RF leakage that would happen with any preamp?
128x128mitchb
I understand the noise from televisions, particularly plasma design, etc., affecting the signal but haven’t experienced any difference when using the CDP with or without my Node2 streamer on or off. Maybe its because I have set the Node2 several feet away from the rest of the system for optimal WiFi reception. I was also strongly encouraged to get a much better/insulated power cord and plugged into a power conditioner using a dedicated 20 amp circuit. But I’m assuming we are talking about noise that is being transmitted "over the air" and picked up in the audio path.
there was an interesting response here a few years ago, from Charles Hansen of Ayre, suggesting to unplug one's complete video system when listening to music system...
My first thought is grounding. What type of antenna are you using?
Does the tuner have a 3 prong plug, if so try lifting the ground and also disconnect the antenna when you have it in the system and see if you can isolate the problem. Just a though.
" I just find it real intriguing to hear that sort of experience."

Just to give you another example, I had the same type of problem when I bought a cheap mass market player (Sony 9000ES) to try SACD. When the Sony was in the system, my other components took a noticeable hit in SQ. The fix was a JPS Digital AC powercord and an ESP line conditioner.
I unplugged my streamer and some other devices after reading a one page Greg Weaver article in the Mar/2017 TAS... Cleaner AC Power

"...system sounds much better when my streamer is unplugged.."

Really? Can you please elaborate on how are your components physically organized, e.g., one on top of the other, on a rack, etc., particularly the streamer? Also, some specifics about the streamer would be helpful, e.g., WiFi or hardwired, etc. I just find it real intriguing to hear that sort of experience.

Mitchb 4-14-2017
... my tuner is out being repaired which is how I notice the difference in sound. I think it's a matter of RF which is leaking from tuner input into the rest of the preamp. I think it's not resolvable unless I actually unplug the tuner's interconnects from the preamp.I would leave the tuner plugged into ac when not in use but left off and unplugged from preamp. I'm hoping this would be my solution. Any thoughts or advice?
I'm not sure that unplugging the interconnects from the preamp will help, although it might.  I see in your system description that your MD-106T tuner is located immediately below your Pass X-1 preamp, and it therefore seems very conceivable to me that the tuner may be radiating RFI into the preamp's circuitry through the air.

When you get the tuner back it may be informative to plug it into the AC and bring a portable battery powered AM radio close to it, with the radio tuned to an unused frequency and its volume control set to a position you would normally use.  If you hear a lot of noise from the radio when it is brought close to the tuner and/or close to the connectors on its rear panel, even when the tuner is turned off, it would say that the key to a solution may be to relocate the tuner.

Good luck.  Regards,
-- Al
 
It also depends on the preamp. Some tuners can bleed into the unbalanced inputs if the tuner has a high gain.
This happens all the time. The cause is usually noise from a digital source contaminating the rest of your system. I don't know what kind of tuner you have, but you're options are to get a higher quality tuner, a PC like the JPS Digital AC, or a power conditioner that isolates the outlets from each other.

If you call Cable Company and explain your problem, they'll know what to send you (demos that you can try first to make sure a product fixes the problem).
Not an expert, but I think that the IF amplifiers in tuners can be pretty noisy and emit a lot of noise. If you leave them on all the time then this would explain it.

This is kind of how radar detectors detectors work, they pick up on the IF amplifier output.

Best,

E
Yes for sure better gear will help. RCA connections share ground. XLR is a better option.

Glad to see you don’t buy into the idea that your gear is so resolving that simply the proximity of the tuner will affect it. There are many tin toilers here who believe that detrimental effects on the music from extraneous factors like cables etc. indicates their gear is highly resolving (instead of realizing that something is faulty with the setup).
Thanks for all your input. In fact my tuner is out being repaired which is how I notice the difference in sound. I think it's a matter of RF which is leaking from tuner input into the rest of the preamp. I think it's not resolvable unless I actually unplug the tuner's interconnects from the preamp.I would leave the tuner plugged into ac when not in use but left off and unplugged from preamp. I'm hoping this would be my solution. Any thoughts or advice?
Tuners need more maintenance that most components that they seldom get like alignment, recaping, etc . So they  can and often do cause noise 
This should not be the case i dumped by tuner 30 years ago never had a problem with sound quality.
I have no problems if it is an older, fully analog tuner, that has a real on/off switch...have avoided digital tuners in main system...system sounds much better when my streamer is unplugged