Best Inexpensive Tuner?

Hands down, no competition in my experience, you can't beat the little Creek T43(retailed for $700) tuner, which can be had or $400 range used! I would put this tuner (with good antennae) up against anything for this price range..anything! It's very very very good, and pulls good stations.
go find one, and you WILL NOT be dissapointed. Good luck

Real cheap, worth every penny: Denon TU 260II.

I totally agree with Lthkeepr about the Creek T43, but there is better news. The Cambridge Audio T500 is basically a copy of the T43 designed by Creek with slightly cheaper controls and the like. Once the T500 breaks in it is scary how well it images, let alone how it actually pulls in stations all for a mere $279 from Audio Advisor. Don't forget Audio Advisor has a 30 day return policy. My T500 was a great purchase that really surprised me.

Agre with the Yamaha T2.I got one as a fluke (part of a whole stereo as a package on the cheap from somebody who was moving) and founf it had a cult status/I have always like tunes with the highly selctive Schotz circutryas in older NAD 4 series and Nakamichi ST7's.

Denon TU-800 would be a good used recommendation especially if you live in an urban environment or where favorite stations are close to adjacent strong signals.