2. analog
  3. 129530-1660

FM alive and well here...curious question

SoCal listener here. 

Last night, the Classical station finished their listeners  top 100 with Ludwig B's 9th.
I got sucked in listening to the end of the 4th movement.  I can't remember what conductor/orchestra, but fantastic performance.

My Mac 71 with a $20 indoor antennae is able to get a  signal strength reading just over "8" with dead center tuning according the meter.

Ludwig B was sounding clear,quite and simply fabulous. 
 
Im aware a "real" roof antennae is the way to go. Wondering if the effort to get a "10" reading on the tuning meter will actually be heard as even better sonics?

Just for kicks, I spun a few minutes of a minty 59' Living Stereo to compare. 
WOW! The record naturally wins, but my beloved Mac isn't far off. Considering the broadcast was a CD, it was reasonably convincing. It certainly was just as good as my generic CD deck(no fancy outboard DAC)

My 71 is stock, tuned with NOS glass. I'd love to hand over $ 1K for the RM mod, but ain't gonna happen.

LONG LIVE FM! Hopefully?


tablejockey
yyzsantabarbara
4,937 posts
 
I bought a Magnum Dynalab Signal Sleuth (demo unit) last week so that I can try to pick up S.Cal's KCRW better. I get the Santa Barbara signal from 88.7. I managed to get marginal improvement with this unit and my Magnum Dynalab indoor/outdoor antenna. For that improvement I am happy because I love FM especially KCRW. My ROON/Tidal playlist has grown so much larger just because I get to hear such eclectic music for free on KCRW.

I will likely buy the SONY HD tuner from eBay auction this Tuesday just to get the lower quality HD stream for the other KCRW channels (Electic 24).

All of this equipment is running in my office on the very adaptable Benchmark DAC2 (it has 2 analog inputs). My tuner is the Magnum Dynalab 205.

When buy my big rig system (hopefully soon) I will buy the Accuphase T-1100 tuner (supposed to be the best now) just to listen to KCRW. I know FM is "dead". However, while I am still alive and great music is still available on FM I will listen.

schubert
7,386 posts
 
Stations that play single movements aka :"bleeding chunks" and go disc-jockey assume their  listeners are not knowledgeable .

If you want to hear the exact opposite stream Wisconsin Public Radio Classic , most pro I ever heard .Why listen to junk when anybody can stream the best? WMFT out Chicago and WCNY out of Syracuse also are pros.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,896 posts
 
I would schubert, but don't own a streaming device, whatever that is ;-). Such a luddite!
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Don't need one , computer will do just fine . Stations are online .
tablejockey OP
3,941 posts
 
"Don't need one , computer will do just fine."

schubert-
is the sound quality of playing an  online statin equal to a nice tuner?
I have zero knowledge how this method works.

Are you using a digital out from thePC/laptop soundcard plugged into DAC? 

The availability of stations would be nice, but seems dependant on the outboard gear for sound quality?

Plugging from computer via analog audio outs to an amp seems lofi.



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