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FM tuners - Are they OBSOLETE ?

As much as I a have liked tuners in the past - and probably kidded myself that older ''vintage'' tuners sound better (after owning quite a few), I really don't see much use for them except maybe a nostalgic bridge to days past, or bragging rights to pride of ownership with McIntosh gear or whatever.

With the newer technologies giving access to hundreds of stations around the globe, it just seems like THE proposition to discover new music.

I of course know that some high-end tuners sound very good - but let me tell you - a clean 128 digital feed into a DAC (from a digital transport like the Wadia or Cambridge Audio's new ID-100), is pretty impressive...

Sort of make kilo-buck tuners seem futile and very expensive by comparison.

What do you think ?
soniqmike
isochronism
2,893 posts
 
Rgs92, FM in Metro NY area is great! We all had a crush on Alison Steele:) While recently putting my system together, my only source was FM for a few months. (Magnum Dynalab 106T, Signal Sleuth, ST2). Now with internet radio, my local public stations are receiving more $upport during their fund drives, which may actually help keep broadcasting alive. I hope so.
swanny76109
382 posts
 
I love my squeezebox run into my Bel Canto DAC3. I get the world at my finger tips, and my local NPR music channel sounds great streamed at a pretty high res rate. I agree FM is dead for the most part, and isn't it true also that the analog FM signal will soon go the way of the analog TV signal--as in gone, and we'll need a digital converter?
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,533 posts
 
I use my Magnum Dynalab FT 101A tuner more than my turntable or cd player. I am lucky to have 2 excellent in the Boston/Providence area and I listen to them all the time. I have heard a lot of great "new to me" music I wouldn't know about otherwise. My tuner was one of the best investments I have made in my audio system.

Bob
unsound
7,344 posts
 
I think it depends on whether or not you have local FM stations you like. It's hard to imagine there isn't at least one or two, and IMHO that's enough to warrant further consideration. Now it comes down to whether or not those preferred stations sound better via FM or internet. Without actually trying, it's really hard to know. Good used FM tuners are available for less cost than most here spend on interconnects. For about $100 not including interconnects or antenna (a whole nother important consideration, which can vary from place to place considerably) one can buy a decent used tuner. I have two stations in my locale that I listen to so often, that it makes my tuner my most often used source.
has2be's avatar
has2be
555 posts
 
I,m with Bob. My Magnum Dynalab MD 108 is used everyday. I also listen to FM exclusively in the car. Found a lot of "new to me" music to as well as programs dedicated to playing the history of bands and played on vynil. Randy Bachman had a show on CBC 1 where he played his guitar explaining differant styles in between playing the bands music and the sound quality was wonderfull. Psychedelic Sundays is great for a lazy sunday when its raining or snowy out or while making the housework less of a drag.
Cheers
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