FM Tuner for audiophiles-is it a bad idea today?

@tablejockey KCRW broadcasts on 2 bands, FM and HD radio. The HD radio broadcast is 24 hours of music a day but it is not as good as the FM band selections. On the FM band you hear the DJ’s select and play whatever they feel like that day. I love that. Sometimes the DJ’s bring in vinyl because they think it sounds better (mostly the male DJ’s). It a bit of Deja vu listening to KCRW since growing up  in Toronto, back in the 70’s and 80’s, stations allowed the DJ’s to have more say in what got played.

My favorite music these days seems to come out of Africa. There was a French DJ playing at midnight on Fridays I think and he had the amazing music from Africa. With Covid all the DJ’s and programming is messed up. They seem to not have the auto-tune crap. Almost all my new Tidal album additions are from music I heard on KCRW. This station is my last lifeline to radio.

I have a Magnum Dynalab Signal Sleuth and the MD indoor antenna for the MD102. I don’t think the Sleuth helps me since I am around mountains.

Is adding a high-end FM Tuner pointless- Yes, IMO.

Instead, download the streaming app, there are several to choose from. You do pay a monthly fee but you get a much better SQ and you’re also in a driving seat as far as what you like to listen.

I have been listening to Qobuz at home or on the go. 

Thanks all, very informative. I haven’t researched yet, but there’s probably a good chance there are good FM stations where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I like the idea of a DJ picking what he/she feels like rather than a pre made playlist.

I guess that once I get my Tidal+Qobuz+vinyl up and running, then if I have a strong enough curiosity itch and/or find FM station(s) that I’ll like, I’ll probably get an FM Tuner + antenna. Still on the fence between the top rated Accuphase or a tube tuner like a Sansui though. Perhaps it’s a tube vs SS preference. Since I have a SS preamp+amp (Constellation Inspiration) I need not worry about too much tube midrange warmth.  Also, if I get a used FM tuner and later decide I don’t like/want it, I could resell - I’d expect to recoup most of what I paid for it - seems like I’m talking myself into getting an FM tuner.

@kennyc I bought my MD 102 when I lived in Los Altos Hills. That is your area and there were a few worth while stations up there. I loved the station that played Latin Jazz on Sunday (Jessie "Chewie" Vera sp?) was the DJ. That was a decade ago. The MD102 sounded like CD quality on the Bay Area FM stations.

I'm fortunate to get good reception of KUSC (91.5 FM) classical music 24/7 with no commercials on a Magnum Dynalab FT-101A tuner. Rivals the sound quality of CD playback.