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TUNERS..anyone?

Hey all,Im getting back into the FM thing since I was given a Adcom GFT-1A
The antenna is a $15 Radio Shack cat.# 15-1843 it is about 4"x4" and 1/2" thick.It seems to pull in stations really good and lights up the signal strength meter on the tuner to 5 out of 5.
I love the sound of this tuner and it's my first adventure with good FM.I can't believe how transparent,warm and smooth this thing sounds.My only complaint is the drums(rock music/metal) coming through with lack of slam.The drums seem like they are far away,distant like.If I crank the volume that helps some but they still just don't have the slam Im use to with vinyl and CD.
1) whats up with that?
2) WHY does FM sound so DAMN good??
3) Whats a KILLER tuner (used) for <$1K?
david99
brianmgrarcom
1,317 posts
 
Correct me if wrong, but wasn't it Stereophile that compared the Fanfare FT-1, Rotel RHT-10 and one of the MD's years back? If I remember correctly, they liked all sonically, each having slight differences, as all tuners do, but they thought they were on par with one another; yet they gave the nod to the Fanfare for it's remote and presets.

Even though the signal we receive today, for the most part, is far from what could be, I enjoy using my tuner a lot and it is my most used source.
chaskelljr2001's avatar
chaskelljr2001
476 posts
 
Hello David:

I see no one seem to mention anything about the Magnum Dynalab FT-101 (not the FT-101A version). I happen to own one, and may I say that I have been a happy owner for almost two years now. I will go out on a limb and say that my Magnum Dynalab has a pretty good bass response, and that it will go "toe-to-toe" with any of the vintage super tuners of yesterday in that department, and it will stomp the living s**t out of any modern tuner out there today with regards to sound quality, and also selectivity, sensitivity and FM quieting and separation.

My Magnum Dynalab FT-101 is a mid 80's vintage tuner (the first ones came out in 1985). It has a tight and well defined bottom end, a nice, clean midband, with a smooth and sweet sounding top end. And best of all, it is also reasonably priced. You should be able to land a used one for WELL LESS than $1,000.00 if you look hard ($400.00 to $550.00 should be the norm).

MAGNUMS ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!! DON'T CARE WHAT NAYSAYERS SAY!!

Hope you land your "super tuner" real soon.

--Charles--
viggen
838 posts
 
I have an old Luxman T-240. How does that rate among tuners?
brf
1,715 posts
 
The reason FM sounds so darn good is because it is FREE and exposes you to both different artist and types of music!!!!
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Luxman, Sansui, Kenwood all made tuners in the late 70's and early 80's that will put most of todays tuners to shame. I 'upgraded' from a Magnum Dynalab FT-101A to a Sansui TU-717 and was surprised that I was able to make such an improvement, while spending less than half the money. It wasn't as sleek, but it pulled in more stations, and sounded sweeter. Of course I'm selling it now, but not to upgrade. I've just tired of all the talk on radio now. Not enough music. I find myself not listening like I used to.

John
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