What are some of the better tuners out there?

I thought I would update this thread with my thoughts on the Accuphase T-101 compared to my brand new MD108T. I used the same antenna, located in the same spot, along with the MD Signal Sleuth on both and had the same perfect reception.

I was going crazy on the past with my MD102 that was not picking up the station I liked (likely needed an alignment). The station broadcasts from Santa Monica, 100 miles away, and re-transmits from Santa Barbara, with the transmitter likely 15 miles from where I am located. I do not seem to suffer from Multipath issues, likely because I am in a residential area near the ocean.

The Accuphase is SS but has a very tube like sound to it. A very relaxing sound, but the details seem to be there in the music. The soundstage is huge and imaging was great. These were all much better than the old MD102 which cost me $2500 in 2005ish. The MD102 did have sharper outline in the images. However, overall the much cheaper Accuphase is an easy winner since the music sounds more engaging. This is not a stock unit and has been optimized by the seller.

The MD108T uses tubes but it sound less tubey than the Accuphase T-101. The MD108T sounds less warm than the T-101. Compared to the MD102, it has a bigger soundstage, better imaging, and just better sound. The increased clarity on the MD108T over the Accuphase T-101 gives it top rung on the tuner hierarchy in my house but the T-101 is incredible for one 7th the cost. I can see how the folks on fmtunerinfo.com select gear like the Accuphase over the MD108T. The likely prefer the warmer tone of the vintage tuners.

In a few days the Sansui 9900 gets delivered to me. It was recently refurbished by these guys.

Vintage Stereo Restorations | Sansui Repair ~ QRX-9001 Repair ~ Specializing in QRX-9001, 9090, 9090db and the Sansui QRX line (qrxrestore.com)

The reason I am getting all of these tuners is that the station I listen to has some of the best music I have ever heard and I am hearing them for the very first time. Music from all over the world, all years, and all genres. I want a tuner for each of my systems.

the key is you are having fun ;-)

What are some of the best tuners out there? I now have the following 4 tuners.

1) Magnum Dynalab MD108T (just incredible)

2) Sansui TU9900 - this unit was recently recapped and cleaned up. It sounds so nice in my downstairs system. Way better than my Sony xdr-f1hd (modified by the XDR guy).

2) Accuphase T-101 - this unit was cleaned up by the guy who sold it to me and is an audio engineer. I posted a link above somewhere. This unit is also amazing.

4) Sony xdr-f1hd - not going to use this one now. I will keep it around since it is pretty good and very small.

I cannot believe how good these almost 50 year old (cleaned up) tuners sound. Incredible bargains for a person like me who now does most of my listening on the FM dial.

Seek out the semi-hostile fowards Pacific Rim tuners Stereophile review.

Disinformation B.S. is rampant in some of those responses, but seeking out the review would be a good FIRST step to separating the crap from actual FACTS.

 

The F-93 Elite isn’t (and never WAS) part of an $800.00 rack system. (Lie #1.)

From there, there is quite a bit of room for discussion about why the sending end of the equation (along with all manner of EM/RF/Solar activity influenced hijinks and last and most of all the "WETWARE" misaligned of participants/listeners or more accurately perhaps the hopelessly biased) about why subtle differences in tuners don’t really amount to much. I’m not in that camp, but it’s a justifiable assertion.

 

Yes, it absolutely DID smoke the Day-Sequerra in RF sensitivity, in both Stereo and Mono. Why do you think so many domestic tuner manufacturer’s reps lined up all the negatively biased reviews they could AGAINST it? (It was a coordinated effort. Connect the review dots.)

I absolutely advocate for giving away tube tuners. (If sarcasm/cynicism is going to be the coin of this realm...) They’re not stomp box preloaded, distorted guitar amps, where I believe tubes make a positive difference. They’re midrange bloated and dynamically compressed devices that everyone who loves them has every right to love, irrespective of how they sound. You should seek out the F-93 ELITE. Just don’t conflate it with other tuners with similar model numbers from much later-those WERE never sold as free-standing components. (Details should, but apparently don’t, matter for those who insist on being bereft of them.) Then have a truly GREAT day! That’d be a great way to start one.

 

 

Swapping the fuse which came with the MD106T for a Synergistic Research purple fuse has improved the sound of the tuner very much.