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Anyone listen to Music on a FM tuner anymore?

I’m not referring to streaming, I mean an actual FM turner. I haven’t had a turner for at least 15, probably more like 20 years. I had a high-end one that went bad years ago and even then I hadn’t really used it in years. Just wondering if anyone still uses one and why?

Added info: back in my college days there were lots of reasons, some great DJ’s in the New York City area and sometimes a live concert broadcasts that were great, but those times are long gone, as is most of my hair and my 32 inch waistline.....I’m not trying to judge anyone for still listening to music on a FM tuner, just asking for the reason to do so.

Hope everyone had a good holiday season.

128x128deadhead1000
johnnotkathi
55 posts
 

Here in the Phoenix area there is a solid classical station I frequently listen to on my office set up, via a Sansui 8080 receiver.

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yesiam_a_pirate
196 posts
 

Oh man! Not since my Onkyo T-9 died in '79.  I did buy a Harmon Kardon Citation 18 in the mid 80s and literally never even hooked it up.  I think the cassette tape followed by the CD craze got me. Plus I was thrilled to not hear all those irritating ads. 

I lived in the Detroit suburbs in the 60s and 70s. There were 4 Album Oriented Rock stations then- Steve Dahl on WLLZ, Howard Stern on W4, Arthur Penhollow on WRIF- man those were the days! I couldn't even burp as low as Penhallows voice was. Irreverent humor, solid B side records, competition for audiences kept the car dealer ads to a minimum. What a great trip it's been to be born in Detroit in 1962. Fantastic cars, great rock n roll, and the HiFi boom all at once. I was in heaven! 

big_greg
6,632 posts
 

When working from home I listen to KNKX on a Magnum Dynalab Ft-101a Etude tuner.  Sound quality is close to CD with my roof antenna, even though I'm about 40-50 miles from the tower.  Not all FM broadcasts are equal, but if there's a good one in your area you may be surprised at how good it can sound.

yyzsantabarbara
4,829 posts
 

I listen every workday at least until 12PM. I am lucky that one of the worlds best stations is local to me, KCRW.com. The amount of music discovery for me from this station is amazing.

My latest KRCW discovery are:

  • Island in the Storm - Mia Doi Todd
  • 38th & Chicago - Jose James

This is why I like radio still. Musical discovery, especially new releases like the 2 above.

My tuners

  • Magnum Dynalab MD108T (a great tuner)
  • Sansui TU9090 (pretty good)
  • Accuphase T-101 (modded to almost great level)
drmuso's avatar
drmuso
107 posts
 

I listen to NPR and other talk radio on tabletop FM radios.

I have two Luxman tuners but rarely use them anymore, in part because the audio quality of several local FM music stations in my isolated area has gotten pretty poor.  I would use them more if the stations sounded better.  Most of them sound better using the Tune In streaming app, although one rock station sounds even worse on Tune In--unbelievably bad, in fact.

For those who don't know about Tune In, you can use it to listen to just about any
radio station that outputs an online signal, and store the ones you like as "Favorites."  It's free with commercials or $10/mo. for ad-free.

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