What are some of the better tuners out there?

I just bought the Sansui 9900. 

Yes, there must something wrong with your equipment. There is no way that you should be replacing tubes so often! I have a MD 106T and the tubes are probably going on ten years and the tuner still sounds fine. I play it on average about two hours a day, so you can do the math. The tuner has a slow turn on which contributes to a long tube life.

I also bought the Accuphase T-101 listed above today (local pickup). The owner is a an Accuphase technical expert and a former Accuphase dealer. So I had a feeling that this guy has some good gear. Turned out I was correct. The unit I picked up sounds closer to my MD108T than the MD102 tuner that I traded in for the MD108T. This really is a Super Tuner. Wow is what I keep telling myself as I listen to crystal clear tunes on the great KCRW radio station.

I am posting this because this guy is getting rid of most of his gear and said he had more gear he was going to list. I believe some more tuners will show up.

I am listening with the the MD ST-2 antenna located outside my office window on a second floor. I also have an MD Signal Sleuth in the chain. This is the same antenna I use for the MD108T. I am getting another ST-2 antenna and will move the Accuphase to my bedroom system which has the RAAL SR1a headphones.

My MD106T tuner is sounding better with play time on the new caps and tubes. I find that the tuner is settling down nicely and sounds good. I am hoping with the work done on the tuner that the tubes will last longer than before the repair. 

I thought I would update this thread with my thoughts on the Accuphase T-101 compared to my brand new MD108T. I used the same antenna, located in the same spot, along with the MD Signal Sleuth on both and had the same perfect reception.

I was going crazy on the past with my MD102 that was not picking up the station I liked (likely needed an alignment). The station broadcasts from Santa Monica, 100 miles away, and re-transmits from Santa Barbara, with the transmitter likely 15 miles from where I am located. I do not seem to suffer from Multipath issues, likely because I am in a residential area near the ocean.

The Accuphase is SS but has a very tube like sound to it. A very relaxing sound, but the details seem to be there in the music. The soundstage is huge and imaging was great. These were all much better than the old MD102 which cost me $2500 in 2005ish. The MD102 did have sharper outline in the images. However, overall the much cheaper Accuphase is an easy winner since the music sounds more engaging. This is not a stock unit and has been optimized by the seller.

The MD108T uses tubes but it sound less tubey than the Accuphase T-101. The MD108T sounds less warm than the T-101. Compared to the MD102, it has a bigger soundstage, better imaging, and just better sound. The increased clarity on the MD108T over the Accuphase T-101 gives it top rung on the tuner hierarchy in my house but the T-101 is incredible for one 7th the cost. I can see how the folks on fmtunerinfo.com select gear like the Accuphase over the MD108T. The likely prefer the warmer tone of the vintage tuners.

In a few days the Sansui 9900 gets delivered to me. It was recently refurbished by these guys.

Vintage Stereo Restorations | Sansui Repair ~ QRX-9001 Repair ~ Specializing in QRX-9001, 9090, 9090db and the Sansui QRX line (qrxrestore.com)

The reason I am getting all of these tuners is that the station I listen to has some of the best music I have ever heard and I am hearing them for the very first time. Music from all over the world, all years, and all genres. I want a tuner for each of my systems.