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

I have used a Denon TU-680 NAB for nearly 30 years year. Great sound; so sensitive and selective it' picks up stations after they've signed of (just kidding). I'm thankful to have a 24/7 local Classical station that uses no compression or processing whatsoever, WDPR 88.1. And,, a local school system has a share-time FM that through the day, programs Jazz with only modest processing. The Denon was designed to be an off-the-air monitor for radio stations, so it had to be of high quality. (In case you don't know, in the 90's, radio stations in the U.S. had to monitor their over-the-air signal in the studio so that whoever is on the air knew if the station was off the air. Not as much need now as digital monitors are even better.)

@Table jockey 

Wow, that REL is beautiful! The other Turners are super nice also. It does bring back memories of a Marantz Receiver I had in the 80's. Thanks everyone for your replies. I think I'll continue to live without a Tuner for now. 

Deadhead

 

I have a Technics ST-9038 tuner I recently upgraded with better OPAMP, decoupling caps, MUSE bipolar coupling caps and it sounds better than ever. Just acquired a matching MICOM timer unit for it I’m reconditioning (it works after a fashion).

I grew up listening to FM, “Underground Railroad” on WUSF out of Tampa, FL in the early 70’s, stations in San antonio, Monterey (What was the station out of Watsonville? KAZU?) San Diego and other places I’ve lived. I listen to local WAMU for Hot Jazz Saturday Night (and nothing else), FM 89.7 WTMD out of Towson, MD and a few rock stations around DC (101.1, 100.3).

deadhead 1000-

1957 REL Precedent was the benchmark for Marantz developing the 10B.

If I remember correctly, the Precedent was inspired by the Art Deco movement, with the Chrysler Building in mind.

An even cooler tuner is the REL 646B(The Green Monster) which precedes it.

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Amplifiers :: REL 646B tube HiFi Receiver before REL Precedent 646C (hifitown.com)

 An ULTRA RARE, very cool piece that only a tuner geek (like me)can appreciate.

(597) REL 646B Tube Receiver 10 watt 7C5 "Green Monster" (before the Precedent" - YouTube

Find a Cambridge Audio 550T for $100 or less. 

cambridge_audio_azur_550_17404.jpg (800×600) 

I keep one as a "break glass in case of emergency".

Quiet listenable with a remote and the cool RDS display for the current song playing.

 

Try listening to your FM tuner >> EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. <<.

It’s amazing how it can sound even better with less airwave traffic going on.

Fired up the Magnum Dynalab FM tuner early on the all-tube system today.

98 Rock never sounded better, and the throwback sound can be enjoyable.