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Best Tuner under 500?

I'm in the market for a tuner and have been looking at the Rotel RT-955 ($499). I live in a tiny town 20 miles outside of New Olreans, and listen mainly to out of town AM talk shows while the wife enjoys top 40 FM radio (when I'm nowhere to be found!). Any thoughts on the Rotel? Are there better tuners for about the same price or cheaper? Will I need an external antenna or possibly one I can mount in my sizeable attic for extended AM access? (Homeowner's association restrictions on external extrusions). If it matters, other components include Acurus ACT-3 pre-pro, Adcom GFA-6000 amp (soon to be upgraded), B&W DM-640i mains, and Paradigm PS-1200 powered sub. I recently upgraded from a 1994 model Yamaha Pro Logic receiver which had terrible AM reception. My vehicles' cheap factory head units reception out performed the receiver's FM and AM by a long shot. What's the deal here?
herbl4
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
For solid state and digital tuning, if you look around you will be able to find a mid 1980's Onkyo Integra Tuner models T4015 & T4017. These two have unbelieveably good reception and sound. They can be had for $50 usually. More money, but with excellent sound is the late 80s model T4087 (around $100 to $150 depending on cosmetics). The T4087 is the one with the Rosewood sides. It is the closest thing to the T9090-II which is the best thing they evey made around $350 to $400 used. May not sound much better than the T4087, but has excellent reception. Of the more modern 1990's vintage Onkyo Integra Tuner (are R1 remote capable), the only one I thought sounded good was the T4500 and T4700. Did not care for the most recent T4711. What can be said about the Onkyo Integra's is excellent reliability.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
PS: The Onkyo Integra T4017 and T4087 have a variable output knob (volume), so I guess you could skip the preamp and run it right to the power amp like many do with their CD Players.
abstract7
541 posts
 
I would second Woodfield on the FT-11, I own one and love it. However, as you may already know--it's FM only and it sounds like you really need both. I don't really listen to AM, so I really can't help you there--but I wouldn't want you to buy a tuner used only to find when it arrives it is FM only as some of the high end tuners are.
rcprince
3,060 posts
 
I think the NAD 4300 was an AM/FM tuner, an excellent sounding tuner for FM and inexpensive on the used market. The AM sections of many high-end tuners are not that great, though, and Hpk makes a good point about electrical noise; I never used my old NAD for AM, I couldn't tell you, unfortunately, how it sounded.
tsquared
32 posts
 
I'll third Woodfield on the FT-11. A great little tuner. If you must have a remote, I would get the Jolida. It runs around 350 new. I had it for a while, but sold it expecting a big improvement with the FT-11. I think I even liked it more than the FT-11 that I currently am using. The Ft-11 does pick up channels a little cleaner than the Jolida using the same antenna, and you can pretty precisely fine tune the Ft-11. The overall musicality of the Jolida was a little better. (It is a tube tuner- a cheap tube that will last years). Anyway, hope this was helpful. You can usually get an FT-11 used around 275-300 if you can find one. You can get a new Jolida for about the same if you look around. You will almost never find the Jolida used, probably for a reason. There's something to be said for owning such a piece. Hope this helped.

Todd
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