http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm
the link above has a very comprehensive test and review of the sony. The tester states that the sensitivity is the best he had ever seen. Also, you can read a review in The Audio Critic. Pete called it the best tuner in the world. :), mentioning the audio critic usually brings an immediate attack, but I purchased the tuner before I read the review. I listen to a local college station also. I picked it up with no problem for years, then one day noise and static appeared on my Marantz ST-6000 tuner. The noise was also on all my table radios and receivers. While reading a blog, a guy mentioned that he had a similar problem and the Sony was the answer. I bought one, and he was right!! No more noise or static. The noise is still there on the receivers, but not the Sony. I am not sure which tuner 'spec' affects this. I use the common T shaped antenna that came with my receiver. Of course, since it's such a great product, Sony has discontinued it. Sony is infamous for such actions. I used the Technics ST-9030 years ago in Germany. It was great but I can't remember it in enough detail to compare to the Sony. German FM Radio is techically excellent, so maybe a lot of it was the signal. The sony also receives High Def signals.
the link above has a very comprehensive test and review of the sony. The tester states that the sensitivity is the best he had ever seen. Also, you can read a review in The Audio Critic. Pete called it the best tuner in the world. :), mentioning the audio critic usually brings an immediate attack, but I purchased the tuner before I read the review. I listen to a local college station also. I picked it up with no problem for years, then one day noise and static appeared on my Marantz ST-6000 tuner. The noise was also on all my table radios and receivers. While reading a blog, a guy mentioned that he had a similar problem and the Sony was the answer. I bought one, and he was right!! No more noise or static. The noise is still there on the receivers, but not the Sony. I am not sure which tuner 'spec' affects this. I use the common T shaped antenna that came with my receiver. Of course, since it's such a great product, Sony has discontinued it. Sony is infamous for such actions. I used the Technics ST-9030 years ago in Germany. It was great but I can't remember it in enough detail to compare to the Sony. German FM Radio is techically excellent, so maybe a lot of it was the signal. The sony also receives High Def signals.