Does anyone listen to the radio anymore?


My tuner has been collecting dust the last few years. Got me thinking, how many  audiophiles even listen to the radio anymore when there are so many other options available?

cdc

Yes, quite often (in the car, garage, etc).

KALX 90.7 in the great state of Berkeley

 

Favorite DJs: Berkestir, Control Issues, Excuse My French, Kowalski, Rare Earth, 

Sex 14s, Tumble Weed, and Vernal Pools

I sold my tuner many years ago. I listen to Qobuz while driving, and occasionally tune in to NPR.

I listen in my vehicle to Jazz station KNKX through the week while in the greater Seattle area and also to Jazz station KOHO out of Leavenworth when home on the weekends. Really enjoy my Accuphase T-101.

Like many here only in my car.  95.9 The Krush Santa Rosa CA and The River 97.7 for Northern CA.  I'm much like @nicholsr in that I enjoy the obscure artists and the wonderful DJs who have the common decency to tell who you just heard and probably some interesting insight into the artist.

Also the local news and some interesting shows such as weekly interviews with the Mendecino County Marijuana Board members.  Just great to hear a human voice and the most complex algorithm, the DJs brain taking us in directions we didn't know we wanted...

I then put that info to use on the home system via streaming.

I   also LOVE antique radios from the 1925-1950 period.  So I decided to figure out the radio on the cover of The Spirit  Of Radio.  The key clue came from a picture on a Rush website from the album that showed the radio from behind.  The three tubes visible had AL GL NP imposed one set of initials each.  Through the magic of Google lens it turns out to be a Westinghouse 30 licensed to RCA as a model 140.

For the cover art the front grill had been redone to make a suitable background for the mystic figure for lack of a better term  which made it so hard to determine  from  the front.

Here is what I find the most interesting.  I mean why this radio model?  A website, RadioMuseum is a great resource for vintage radio pics, schematics, description and period advertisements.  This particular ad started "All the worlds a stage" basically when you chose the RCA 140.  That choice of radio is no accident.

Gorgeous furniture, ALL TUBES BB ;) and some really great sound and reception!

I am incredibly lucky to have had a Farnsworth Capehart 1948 114N2 passed to me.  Cost 1748.00 in 1948 and was the last word in home entertainment.  Benefiting from post WW2 tech and a cost is no object frame of mind it is a master piece!  The 41 E record changer is unreal.  Google Bobs 41E 33 conversion. First year of the Jensen 5/15 coaxial speaker.  Weighs  300 lbs, 250 made or so.

It would be interesting to see some Stereophile type reviews of top end gear from the old days IMO.

The deep connection to this beauty is the fact that I am a Farnsworth myself and a distant relative of Philo.  Cool beyond words to look at the data plate and see  The Farnsworth Radio and Television Company.  

A gift beyond price that's almost free RIP Neil