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FM Radio, anyone?

I was a kid in the 70s. I remember listening to Detroit Tiger baseball on WJR AM 760 on summer evenings - the voice was Ernie Harwell. And I remember listening to music on our local FM stations, and FM sounded so much better than AM (well, of course it did!). 
I remember the glow of the dial on higher end FM tuners, or on receivers. We had a Pioneer that was nice. But a neighbor had a beautiful Marantz with the heavy horizontal tuning dial. Today I own a Model 19 and a 2215b.

So, today I also own a McIntosh MR87 and I plan to showcase it in a whole house audio rack, with a rooftop antenna for the best possible reception. I also have a Magnum Dynalab MD-108 and I’m not sure where to put it, but it sure is pretty! 
Yeah, I know, the SQ is crap compared to just about anything else these days. And radio stations just aren’t as good as they used to be, or as I choose to remember them (the exception being WXRT in Chicago). But I cannot let go! Anyone else?

mattsca
kisawyer2's avatar
kisawyer2
2 posts
 

In the 1970s, Milwaukee had a great classical FM radio station - WFMR.  I use to listen to it with my Marantz 10B tuner and KLH Nines speakers.  The sound was holographic!  Better even than LPs.  Never experienced anything close to that sound since.

mapman's avatar
mapman
23,613 posts
 

FM….the original wireless hifi.  
 

Antennas don’t count. 

yyzsantabarbara
5,560 posts
 

I listen to KCRW out of Santa Monica on the FM dial. This station is so good (the DJ’s play what they feel that day) that I purchased a Magnum Dynalab 108T tuner specifically for KCRW. I also have the MD Signal Sleuth to strengthen the FM reception. I also have a Accuphase T-101 tuner that was modded by a tuner savant and that also sounds great. My third tuner is a Sansui TU-9900 that was refreshed by some Sansui techs in Oregon.

My 3 systems have a tuner each. I also have a local university station less than a mile from my home. That is sometimes good.

I have 2 MD ST-2 antennas and a recent purchase from MD or their ST-3 antenna. The ST-3 seems better from some quick tests.

BYW - some DJ's on KCRW bring in albums to play because they think it sounds better than digital. At least they are thinking about things like that.

bassbuyer's avatar
bassbuyer
893 posts
 

I setup a stereo and speakers inside and outside st the family lake house.  It has a Bluesound Node N130 for streaming Qobuz and a carousel CD player and my brother still listens to the local classic rock station.  FM lives including the commercials. 

zx10
146 posts
 

Hello all. Pleasantly surprised to see how many FM radio fans like me there are. I clicked on the list posted on one comment of tuner ratings. Cannot say I agree but the guy is a real Kenwood fan. I have a KR bought new in the 80's stored away , has a remote size of a suitcase but you can only scan at the receiver. It was o.k. 125 wpc. I also have the Luxman 117 and the Sansui T-717 the reviewer liked but in my humble opinion nothing beats my McIntosh MR-71 tuner , last tube job they made before going solid state. It has one more gang than the previous MR-67 so the reception is a bit better. The sound is superb. Live up in the mtns in the sticks but we have several local stations , one oldies , one classic rock only broadcast at 500W , even lower at night. I have a indoor amplified rabbit ear antenna that picks them up fine. Went thru a bunch of them but this is the one you want. It is a NAXA purchased on line at Home Depot for under $20 free shipping. My MR-71 is pumped thru a McIntosh MA-7900 and vintage JBL speakers.

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