What are the best tuners each company has made, and how you started?

I know this will be subjective and biased towards what a person currently owns.........but that said, what are the best model tuners you have owned.  Best, meaning sonics first, but if you want to include reliability and looks...that is understandable. 

My top tuners are:   
Magnum Dynalab 108
Magnum Etude, 101A
Sansui TU-919 & 717
Fanfare (not sure of the model number)
And there were some good ones from Sony, Marantz, Pioneer, Kenwood, & others.  I 
even had a Heathkit for you old timers to remember.  And in thinking about this, I have likely 
owned more tuners than amps, CD players, turntables and most anything else....except speakers.

I have enjoyed much for radio and tuners throughout my life, but really must thank my parents 
for getting me an early Emerson AM/FM table radio that I could pick up great AM rock & roll 
stations on....and welcome the "British Invasion" on WLS, KIOA, KAAY, KOMA and others. 
Between those stations and Ed Sullivan, my interest in music became a permanent part 
of my life.  And even though I was into Rock, the Sullivan show introduced me to Jazz, Classical 
and some of the best comedians of the day.....thanks Ed.