I happen to live in an area with an exceptionally good NPR station .... WFCR, hub of NEPR (New England Public Radio). This station puts out a state of the art FM signal, as well as three digital sub-channels (which I ignore). It provides not only the NPR newscasts, but live-dj'd classical broadcasts every day between the morning and afternoon news broadcasts, and a 3-hour evening jazz broadcast live DJ'd by nationally-recognized Jazz expert Tom Reany. On weekends the nightly jazz is "world jazz" with an emphasis on African rythymns, and on Western Hemispheric hispanic jazz-influenced music.
All this to say "who needs streaming". I have three systems in the apartment, fed by three different tuners (as well as sacd/cd players and turntables). The three tuners I use, in order of quality of sound:
1) A Dynaco FM3 that has been maintained and updated over the years by an expert audio technician.
2) A Fisher FM90B overhauled and updated about 10 years ago by a good technician.
3) A Carver TX11, stock and in use since the late '80's.
Notice that sensitivity is not my main criteria, only audio quality of a strongish signal. All three are very good in this regard, the Dynaco and Fisher tube units exceptional.
At one point I plugged the Dynaco directly into my VTL ST-85 tube amp (the Dynaco has a front panel volume control). Thought I had died and gone to heaven ..... "Live from Tanglewood" was "live". "Live from the Met" was "live". So far none of my preamps has met the transparency test.
I offer this for what it is worth to you. You don't need megabucks. You do need knowledge of what tube units to buy, and they do need to be updated sonically. But most of all, you need a state-of-the-art station that meets your listening needs.
All this to say "who needs streaming". I have three systems in the apartment, fed by three different tuners (as well as sacd/cd players and turntables). The three tuners I use, in order of quality of sound:
1) A Dynaco FM3 that has been maintained and updated over the years by an expert audio technician.
2) A Fisher FM90B overhauled and updated about 10 years ago by a good technician.
3) A Carver TX11, stock and in use since the late '80's.
Notice that sensitivity is not my main criteria, only audio quality of a strongish signal. All three are very good in this regard, the Dynaco and Fisher tube units exceptional.
At one point I plugged the Dynaco directly into my VTL ST-85 tube amp (the Dynaco has a front panel volume control). Thought I had died and gone to heaven ..... "Live from Tanglewood" was "live". "Live from the Met" was "live". So far none of my preamps has met the transparency test.
I offer this for what it is worth to you. You don't need megabucks. You do need knowledge of what tube units to buy, and they do need to be updated sonically. But most of all, you need a state-of-the-art station that meets your listening needs.