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Help: AM antenna and AM reception

Hello all: I would like some suggestions and advice on AM reception. I know this may not be a popular format but a couple of the stations I enjoy broadcast in AM only.
My experience with AM reception using the "mainstream" FM/AM tuners has been very dissapointing (said tuners being JVC FX1010, SONY SA5ES and Denon TU-800). I tehn bought the Denon TU-680NAB (supposedly optimized for AM performance) but still no luck. OTOH, a pre-wired whole house intercom system with am/fm radio does a FAR better job with the AM stations! This creates a problem with my spouse who says that I spend so much on tuners which are unable to compete with much cheaper syatems! So, what gives? Why does a $300-$600 tuner fail miserably while an "el cheapo" combo am/fm/intercom does so much better? I should say that the antenna used for separate tuners has been the Terk AM indoor type. How do I improve upon this? My location is central NJ. Thanks.
PS: Do let me know if I need to provide additional info.
upgrade1394

Showing 1 response by sean

sean
6,231 posts
 
Sugar is right on the money. Get the longest piece of wire that you can hide hooked up to the tuner as an antenna. This should help. AM is such a low frequency that the wavelengths are quite long. The longer the wavelength, the longer the antenna that you need to work efficiently. Even with this, the AM section of a stereo tuner may not be all that hot, but it should at least be acceptable. Sean
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