Tuner - FM over the air - suggestions


OK, so I kinda miss being able to just tune in my local over the air classical music station and let it run all day long... So...

I'm looking for suggestions for a good new over the air tuner, with remote.  I don't want nor need to go super expensive, so let's keep it at under $500, and preferably more like 300 or less but I'm willing to consider.  This is not for a super-critical application, just background music mainly when I want to set and forget and go about my day.

I know there are loads of vintage tuners out there too... but I'm trying to keep it simple.  Perhaps if there's a decent vintage with remote for not too much money, ok... but I'm leaning towards new, based on my recent success with new stuff.  It'll be hooked into my Marantz Ruby amp via RCA in.  

Sangean?  Rotel?  Rolls?  DST?  Teac, perhaps...?  

 

curtdr

if you don't want vintage, Magnum Dynalab sells their excellent refurbished tuners with warranty...

@tablejockey

thank you for the Sony receiver suggestion, it’s a good one, amazing for the money really... I actually have that exact model of Sony receiver up at my Minnesota lake cabin, playing a Pandora shuffle over an old iphone and cds via a legacy JVC cd changer through updated Epi m50 "The Mite" speakers that sit on my fireplace mantle reinforced modestly through a judiciously placed compact Pinnacle sub down in the corner where I store the firewood, and that Sony does an admirable job in that setting.

The tuner is for my setup back in Pasadena, which has a Marantz Ruby as the heart amp. I could hook up the excellent Marantz nr1200 to the Ruby and use that as my tuner (and streamer for that matter), but the nr1200 is designated for office duties.

@jl35

I’ll look into that! I’m into refurbished gear and other such bargains.  And the MD tuners look amazing, even their oldest one which is aprox $300 refurbished and would probably be all I'd need.  

I'm going to start with that free Pioneer that's been offered, and that'll take the edge off the hunt and will mitigate for my purposes for now... that said, that MD suggestion is very interesting and I'm still looking for more suggestions based on my budget and purposes.  The Pioneer will work in my circumstances, but eventually radio, like TV is likely to go all digital... however, in the meantime, over the air on the Pioneer, here I come!

I’m appreciating all the suggestions I’m getting here! Thank you!

 

@curtdr Might be moving to Tucson, AZ

Green Valley has a really good classical station. I'm not a huge classical fan but my tuner is on more than any other source. Local, good quality, ease of use. 

OP,

I lived in Tucson for 25 years. I loved it.

You do know it is ground zero for climate change? Water problems as they are mining irreplaceable ground water… etc. We reached the tipping point for climate change a few years ago and the heat is getting worse and much longer. I don’t know how the electrical grid is holding up.

There are lots of forecast maps published showing the expected increasing heat and other effects. These are probably underestimated.

 

Something to consider.