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What are the Best FM tuners?

This is an often asked question. This is my current list of favorites:
A. Good out of the box, judging sound quality only, not in order of preference because each has merits:

1. Very rare Accuphase T-103
2. 1 out of 10 Tandberg TPT 3001As
3. Onkyo T-909
4. Bogen TP-100
5. Akai AT-S7
6. JVC FX-1100B
7. NEC T-710
8. Onix Audio BWD-1
9. Kenwood KT-990D
10.Crown FM-2
11.Marantz ST-17
12.Sim Audio "Moon"

B. Modified tuners, both RF and audio performance, in order of preference:

1. Kenwood KT-727
2. Kenwood KT-3200D
3. NEC T-6E
4. SAE 8000
5. Accuphase T-101
6. Sony ST-S550ES
7. Onkyo T-4500
8. Tandberg TPT-3011A
9. McIntosh MR-74
10.Luxman T-110
11.Onkyo T-909
12.MD-102, early version

Sure, there are others -- and you may have your own opinions -- but these have proven to be excellent choices over the past 20 years.
bdscott
bdscott OP
22 posts
 
I recently upgraded a Nikko Gamma 5: additional IF filter, swapping out one linear-phase IF modules in favor of two standard ceramic IF filters, improved audio output IC, better audio output caps, improved high blend. It is hard to believe it gets much better -- WOW! 35-40dB adjacent-channel selectivity in Narrow with no ill effects.
mootsdude
51 posts
 
Don - I just today hooked up the Nikko Gamma 5 that you sent to me. I'm running it without the Winegard Yagi antenna, which I just recieved today. Initial impressions - WOW!!! It's receiving many stations with 75' of coax just coiled and laying on the ground level floor. I'll check back in once I have the antenna rigged.
Regards, Mike
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Hi BdScott,
I have a stock H/K Citation Eighteen tuner that I like very much. Are there any mods available that will focus on improving the sonics? I believe this was manufactured @1977.Thanks.
jimmyblues
56 posts
 
There are so many good tuners when properly aligned, with many subtle differences. And making a considerable investment in a tuner doesn't always mean that you will get better sound.

If you live in an area where you receive many stations without reception problems, a simple and inexpensive tuner with clean circuit topology is all that's needed.

I have such reception and have found that inexpensive tuners like my NAD 402 and Sansui TU- 217 perform quite well, and sound great.

Some of my other tuners have better DX'ing capablities, but they're really unncessary here.

I have owned many excellent tuners over the past few decades including a 10B and Sequerra FM Studio. However, for less than the price of one of these I have more than ten tuners that are all great performers. And with vintage gear like this, it's nice to have so many pieces of equipment so that you don't over tax them.

Vintage gear's not meant to be a "daily driver" so to speak. It's meant to be used sparingly like a classic automobile.

Some of my tuners:

ReVox B261
McIntosh MR-65B
Tandberg 3011A
Sansui TU-217
NAD 402
Pilot MKIV

Three recent purchases which are on the way:

Kenwood KT-5300
Pioneer TX-7800
Yamaha T-1

And I am still at least $500 away from what it would cost for a nice Marantz 10B these days.

Sold my rack mounted 10B back in the mid 1990's for $1800. Given inflation (thanks to the Federal Reserve Bank) that would equate to about two and half grand these days.

Regards,
JimmyBlues
rubinken's avatar
rubinken
102 posts
 
I'm wondering if anyone has listened to the Accupahase T-1000 tuner. It's a pricey puppy!
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