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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
tablejockey OP
3,941 posts
 
"Depending on your local FM fare, it can really be worth the trouble."

florida71-
Its comments like this that rattle my cage! Just to see a "10" on the tuning meter
keeps me thinking about going to the hardware store and getting the ladder out!

I get between an 8 and 9 on good days moving mine a couple of inches.
This however  doesn't work on the rock stations which are a 7 at best. Same station on my $200 Cambridge Audio sounds almost as good as the Mac!

tablejockey OP
3,941 posts
 
alanholvey-
your insight was an interesting read.

Until I acquire an Rel, my tuner lust just won’t be satisfied. Something about the look just speaks to me-besides the obvious sonic attributes.

Im quite fond of the MR71, but gimme the REL, Marantz 10B and for good measure-the Scott 4310! I’m leaving a couple others out, but the rack is already full!

You mention TV. I don’t have cable and get fabulous reception and a spectacular picture/audio on my plasma(I know, now prehistoric) with an ultra cheap Terk I have hanging for the window sill.

alanholvey's avatar
alanholvey
96 posts
 
tale jockey-                                                                                                         yes, although I require cable here in Boulder, I have heard that the reception on the latest high definition local tv broadcasts have truly super quality for both audio and picture as well.  Which, if true, means that cable tv quality sucks.  Pay more for inferior product.  But you get so much more.  Just like internet radio, in fact.  I could even go into the subject of quality of movies audio reproduction between the up to early 1950's mono, but tube driven, to today's surround, high definition and solid state driven electronics.  Yes, it is true.  At 73 years old, I remember how totally involving movies used to be.  With tube electronics and the high quality speakers that were used at the better theaters in those days, yes movies overall sounded better.  And more involving.
tablejockey OP
3,941 posts
 
"I could even go into the subject of quality of movies audio reproduction between the up to early 1950’s mono, but tube driven, to today’s surround, high definition and solid state driven electronics."

alanholvey-
Somewhere in the early 90’s Sony made their last tube Trinitron in 16:9 format?
I think it was 480ED (not even HD) capable? I still believe it holds up to 4K OLED in many ways. OLED is pretty amazing, but I could be happy with the ancient Sony.


harrylavo's avatar
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harrylavo
346 posts
 
I have two FM tuners in my two main systems .... a Carver TX-11 in the secondary and an udated Fisher FM-90B in the main.  We have an excellent NPR station here in Western Mass, WFCR and its satellites.  The play classical daytime 9:00-4:00 with live hosts, then again 11:00pm - 5:00am with recorded programs.  5:00 - 9:00am and 4:00 - 7:00pm are filled with NPR news, and the 8:00 - 11:00pm slot filled with a really good jazz program hosted by a terrific and knowledgeable jazz host.  We are truly blessed, and it is good reason to consider Western Mass for retirement.
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