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Old FM Tuners....O.K., Great or Folklore...

You can name most of them, Like the Sansui 719 and more. Has anyone actually had the chance to compare an older well thought of tuner to the better current manufactured units..like Magnum Dynalab..etc.? The high end Audio hobby/passion is filled with nostalga. As an example, I put much money into a 1960 Corvette..when done my Dad said, "you know what you have there.....an old car". When I got some newer cars I learned he was right. So is older audio gear more than a trip down memory lane? And I know there are some classic models from ARC, CJ and more..... so ie: are some old classics simply old classics compared to more current high end technology and components within those units? Just asking.
whatjd
elliottbnewcombjr
5,112 posts
 
most people have never heard great FM, everyone is shocked at how good FM sounds at my house.

No matter what, get a dedicated FM Antenna.

I am in love with my tube tuner/preamp from McIntosh, mx110z, made between 1962 and 1969. Simply Awesome.

https://positive-feedback.com/Issue77/vintage_mcintosh_experience.htm

"When operating to spec, the mx110 tuner section is superb. McIntosh engineer (way back then) Richard Moderaffi (who originally designed the MR77 & MR78 tuners) (performs modifications on McIntosh tuners) said there is nothing he could do to improve upon the original design of the mx110 tuner section. It was (and still is) that good".

https://www.audioclassics.com/mods

.................................

I also have a great modern, ’advanced’ technology, my prior favorite, Carver Asymmetric FM Tuner TX-2.

http://www.carversound.com/carver-tuners/tx-2/

No doubt Carver is an amazing tuner, but, I prefer the tube FM. It’s just outstanding.

No prior FM, SS or Tube tuner has come close to either of these. If you don’t want tubes, prefer solid state, need help with signal strength, run and get the Carver!!!

Cost: the Carver’s are one of the best bargains around, people are giving them away, many don’t listen to radio except thru their computers, if at all.

mx110z are not inexpensive, but I am sure glad I bought mine. It’s also a magnificient tube preamp, many inputs, two MM Phono, ...







big_greg
6,554 posts
 
Check out https://fmtunerinfo.com/

Everything you'd ever want to know about vintage tuners. 
whatjd OP
1,139 posts
 
Yes the tuner info site is informative, but it is like all other opinions out there, it is in the end result someones opinion.  No site dealing in any interest/dicipline is the word of God...simply some human's opinion.  Unless you go back to the early days of the Wine Advocate with Robert Parker, then you were dealing with the word of God...esp. when it came to what a wine would sell for after a positive review by Mr. Parker.  The whole "walking on water" thing is still of questionable use. 

roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
I have several, including a McIntosh 77 and a Scott tube tuner. But in my area (Tampa/St.Pete) there are only two FM stations with a signal/music program worth listening to. WUSF 89.7 (NPR and late-night Jazz) and WSMR 89.1/103.7 (NPR Classical). All the rest are commercial dreck.
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