tromprof Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 Apparently they don't make it anymore but I love my Sangean HDT-1X HD. It is an HD tuner with an optical out so I can run it through my DAC if I want to. The reception is very good and the sound is better than any analog tuner I have owned, and much better when run through the DAC. My 1978 Yamaha CT-810 sounds pretty good too, and wins in the looks dept., but it can't touch the Sangean sound-wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdog Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 I can't see spending any real money on a tuner. Most stations are probably playing mp3 type files and then compressing the $&%# out of them. I imagine there are still a few classical or jazz stations somewhere that might still sound OK but I don't know where. I do not even have an antenna hooked up to mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBZink Posted October 27, 2012 Author Share Posted October 27, 2012 Same as playing lp's that have been loudnesses I can't see spending any real money on a tuner. Most stations are probably playing mp3 type files and then compressing the $&%# out of them. I imagine there are still a few classical or jazz stations somewhere that might still sound OK but I don't know where. I do not even have an antenna hooked up to mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBZink Posted October 27, 2012 Author Share Posted October 27, 2012 Or playing cd's while download hi-rez are available from loudness recording Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBZink Posted October 27, 2012 Author Share Posted October 27, 2012 The heck buying music while ipod are so good and bluetooth to tv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDBRbuilder Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 I still have my old Dyna tuner FM-3, which worked pretty well even without an antenna hooked up when I lived in Fort Smith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBZink Posted October 27, 2012 Author Share Posted October 27, 2012 I understand they are the best, but the tube they need are rare! A friends of mine(2) got one, but are not for intensive usage like i do, around of 30 hours radio listenning per week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skonopa Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 I got rid of all my Tuners after I got a Squeezebox Touch.....Now I use MOG which provides better fidelity than any Tuner I've heard. True CD Quality. This is with the SBT plugged into a High Quality DAC. I am in the same boat now. My Pioneer Elite N-50 is pretty much now my "tuner". I didn't even bother to hook the antenna up to the tuner on my pre-amp. There are just no more stations in this area that I have any desire to listen to anymore, especally since "Crap Channel" ruined FM102.1 in Richmond. I found plenty of internet streaming channels that I much rather listen to than anything that is being broacast over the air around here now-a-days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 I am in the same boat now. My Pioneer Elite N-50 is pretty much now my "tuner". I didn't even bother to hook the antenna up to the tuner on my pre-amp I don't have an antenna hooked up to my system. With internet radio, V tuner, Pandora, MOG, Grooveshark and DLNA, there are more than enough music and listening choices. I do understand the nostalgia of having a tuner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I saw a beautiful S A E tuner on the internets somwehere, just accidently, $109SAE had terrific sound and performance in its day. I had their large 100 w/ch IIICM in the 1970's and loved it. Should be hard to beat at the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 July 2001 Reviewed by John Potis Onkyo TX-DS989 Audio/Video Receiver Description Price: $3200 USD Dimensions: 17.125"W x 7.7"H x 17.75"D Weight: 48.5 pounds Warranty: Two years parts and labor Features THX Ultra certified THX Surround EX 7.1 decoding Dolby Digital and DTS decoding Features (continued) Open Architecture for updates and upgrades Linear PCM 192kHz/24-bit DACs for all channels RS-232C port for control, communication and upgrades Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry Digital Upsampling mode Nine digital inputs (eight assignable) Two digital outputs (one coaxial and one optical) Dual subwoofer outputs Multi-room/Multi-source capability Component video switching 7.1 channel inputs/outputs IEEE 1394 upgradable My very first audio purchase once I was out of college was of a system I picked up off the shelf at a local discount-electronics hut. It was a big mistake, and my fascination with it wore off very quickly. Shortly after that came my first researched audio purchase: a bunch of boxes labeled "Onkyo." Im talking about the very early '80s here, and at the time Onkyo was not a very widely known name. I was only able to find Onkyo products at one specialty store in my area. Since that time, Onkyo has made it into Circuit Cities all over, and the name is much more well known. Wondering if Onkyos engineering department had managed to keep pace with their sales department, I was anxious to review the TX-DS989 receiver. My first impression, as I strained to lift the almost 50-pound receiver from its packaging, was that this was one sturdy unit -- good-looking too. My second impression came while splicing it into my home-theater system: I was impressed with how easy the task was. Labeling on the back of the unit was easy to read and straightforward. The remote, as well, was handy and intuitive. Within minutes, and never having cracked open the manual, I was up and running. I was ever so grateful when I got to the setup menus to find that the level-setting procedure put me in complete control of which speaker the setup noise was sent to and for how long it was to stay there. Thank you, Onkyo. Im more than sick of trying to adjust channels at the receivers pace, trying to dial in just the right amount of signal before the receiver decides that I should have it by now and moves onto the next speaker. Also, unlike with some other units, I also had the capability to adjust the level of both the right and left speakers independently. Some processors and receivers assume that you have perfect right and left balance and demand that you set everything else relative to them. You know what they say about assumptions. Something else that the Onkyo TX-DS989 gets high marks for is the adjustment procedure for setting the delay for the center and rear channels. I didnt have to dig up the manual, look at a graph and try to calculate the delay times for each of my speakers. Instead, I was able to measure the distance from my seat to the speaker in question and dial that distance (again very easily) into the receiver via the remote control. From there, the receiver took over and performed the calculations for me. It was the next best thing to the Parasound AVC-2500u surround processor that I reviewed in January, which uses a calibrated microphone and makes all the adjustments. The Onkyo TX-DS989s procedure probably took less time! One quirk I found was that once I adjusted a parameter of performance, I had a hard time getting back to the starting place on the on-screen menu. I had to turn the menu off and then on again. Eventually, I discovered the logically placed button on the remote that solved this problem. The moral? Read the manual, no matter how simple things seem. One thing about the Onkyo TX-DS989 that I suspected might become a problem never did. Some people see a cooling fan on a receiver and cross the receiver off their list, figuring that the fan would be a noise problem. Not here. As a matter of fact, I couldnt even tell you what it took to get the fan going because never once did I hear it! And I pushed the amps hard. I also left the receiver turned on for days at a time, with a DVD player perched on top of it, no less. As the receiver sits about six feet from my seat, I can pretty much testify that fan noise is a non-issue. Getting down to it (finally!) I used the Onkyo TX-DS989 with three different speaker systems in my home-theater room. Each system was helpful in identifying at least one sonic attribute. The AAD Q-series system, specifically the AAD Q40s, proved that the TX-DS989 can do bass. These large floorstanding speakers utilize dual 10" bass drivers and posed no opposition to the Onkyo receivers 130Wpc of muscle. Gladiator is a great demo disc with lots of good bass. Fortunately, its not all of the boom-boom variety (though theres no shortage of that too). I was particularly impressed by the double basses in the musical score; not only was their rumble deep and solid, but it was stirringly musical and melodic. The Onkyo TX-DS989 reproduced the bass drums from the same movie with awe-inspiring ease. I also recall the sound of the attack on those drum skins. You could sense the reflexive nature of the skin as it repelled the drumstick back into the air, and thats an impressive feat. It means that the transient of the strike is cleanly reproduced and quickly decays only to be followed by the resonation of the drum, once again immaculately reproduced with no overhang at all. The DTS soundtrack from the Eagles Hell Freezes Over DVD is a much-improved version of the PCM track. Bass, in particular, is much better represented. The drum kit, though somewhat unevenly miked, is recorded very well. It is uneven because as the drummer moves down the drums, specifically as he moves from tom-tom to floor-tom number one and onto floor-tom number two, the sound not only gets deeper but much more powerful. It was impressive as reproduced by the Onkyo/AAD system. Bass power, control and tone -- it was all there. The Tannoy Saturn system demonstrated just how rich and warm the Onkyo TX-DS989 sounds. The Onkyo TX-DS989 followed my own Yamaha DSP-A1 into the system with the Tannoys, and the difference was not subtle. The TX-DS989 was warm, bass-rich and very refined. I credit the Onkyo receiver for doing its part in earning the Tannoy Saturn system a Reviewers' Choice designation. They were a synergistic team. With this combination, midrange detail was remarkably good and the treble refined. Particularly on music, the Onkyo/Tannoy system was very open, airy and detailed. Some may fear that the warmer a systems sound, the less transparent and less detailed it may be. This combo proved that this is not the case. The Negotiator is one of my favorite demo discs not only because I enjoy the movie, but also because it contains so many very different acoustic settings. Throughout the movie, dialogue was always open and airy, and the differing environments were as keenly portrayed as one would expect from such a transparent system. Die Hard With a Vengeance ends with a sonic spectacular that pairs exploding bass with the shrill metal-on-metal screech of helicopter blades against overhead power lines. The scene was every bit as successful as Ive ever heard it, but the warm and smooth balance of the Onkyo receiver made all that squealing a little easier on the ears -- and this without even using the THX re-EQ feature. Later when the Tannoys were removed and a Paradigm system based on the floorstanding Monitor 9s was inserted, the sound was open and spacious. As the Paradigms are smaller speakers than those previously used, I returned to the setup menus and set all speakers to "small" (even though the Monitor 9s could have been set to "large"). I then adjusted all levels, including the subwoofer, using the Onkyos test-tone generator and an SPL meter. Upon returning to some music, I found the system integration to be very good. The Onkyo meshed the subwoofer with all the other speakers for a seamless sound. In particular, the chanting and choral-like male vocals on "Homeless" from Paul Simons Graceland: The African Concert DVD sounded rich and warm with no undue bass emphasis, chestiness or other discontinuities. Comparison Comparing the Onkyo TX-DS989 to some of the better units Ive tested lately proved somewhat interesting. For music decoding, the Onkyo receiver would have to face off against the Parasound AVC-2500u, a preamp-processor that sells for about the same price as the Onkyo but requires five channels of outboard amplification. I have to admit that the Onkyo receiver wasnt quite the equal of the Parasound on music reproduction, due to the Parasound unit's enjoyable music modes and exemplary Pro Logic decoding, but I certainly wasnt disappointed either. This is good news in light of the price difference, and I have to think that the ease of use and setup of the Onkyo TX-DS989 will go a long way toward getting the most out of it, and this must be kept in mind when comparing it to receivers or processors/amps in its price class. The best movie reproduction Ive experienced lately was from the Yamaha RX-V1. With its Enhanced versions of both DTS and Dolby Digital, I thought it was a great unit for the cinema as it expanded the soundfield appreciably. The Onkyo TX-DS989 didnt have all these features, but it countered with a warm, powerful portrayal of movie soundtracks sans extra processing. And for those who are interested in what the director wanted you to hear and only what he wanted you to hear, the Yamahas Enhanced modes are a moot point anyway. One last thing that I havent discussed is that the Onkyo TX-DS989 is a THX-certified receiver and thus it includes the THX Decorrelation circuit, which is a real boon for those with a large collection of VHS and laserdiscs encoded with good old-fashioned Dolby Pro Logic. The effect of the circuit is to largely prevent the localization of the rear-surround speakers for those seated off-axis. To my mind, its worth the price of admission for a THX-certified product, and for many people, it just may be the element that tips the scales in favor of this receiver. So, in the end, we have a very smooth and powerful-sounding receiver that bridges the gap between the best music performer Ive tested and the best cinema performer. In the end, the TX-DS989 didnt drop the ball in any way. It must be considered a very solid performer because Ive not encountered another receiver/processor that beat it on both counts. Conclusion While I usually dig into a review piece to try to decipher what it is that sets it apart from the pack, this was particularly difficult with the Onkyo TX-DS989 because it was an excellent all-around performer. I would have to say that the TX-DS989s overall refined yet powerful sound is the main characteristic. That is not to say that the TX-DS989 was what I would call exceedingly neutral. On the contrary, it was decidedly warm-sounding. But given the bright nature of a lot of home-theater speakers out there, not to mention the preponderance of movie soundtracks, the warm-sounding Onkyo TX-DS989 should appeal to many buyers looking to tame a harsh home-cinema experience. The Onkyo TX-DS989 is for someone looking for a well-balanced performer with plenty of power, slightly on the warm side sonically, and with an intuitive setup procedure. This is a good combination, Id say. Review System Speakers - Tannoy Saturn, AAD Q-series, and Paradigm Monitor Series (all full surround-sound loudspeaker systems) Sources - Pioneer DV525 DVD player Cables - DH Labs BL-1 interconnects, D-75 digital interconnect and original Monster Cable speaker cables. Monitor - Proscan PS36700 direct-view Manufacturer contact information Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation 18 Park Way Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 Phone: (201) 785-2600 Fax: (201) 785-2650 E-mail: onkyo@onkyousa.com Website: www.onkyousa.com Go Back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBZink Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 .??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artarama Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I think this could be the longest single paragraph post in the history of this forum. Word count anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 I was actually interested in reading SF's quote, but couldn't stand the massive effort required. So, in the excerpt below from his very long post, I inserted at each return above "Onkyo", without spaces, a less-than carat, a small "p", and a greater-than carat. Voila! --- Conclusion While I usually dig into a review piece to try to decipher what it is that sets it apart from the pack, this was particularly difficult with the Onkyo TX-DS989 because it was an excellent all-around performer. I would have to say that the TX-DS989s overall refined yet powerful sound is the main characteristic. That is not to say that the TX-DS989 was what I would call exceedingly neutral. On the contrary, it was decidedly warm-sounding. But given the bright nature of a lot of home-theater speakers out there, not to mention the preponderance of movie soundtracks, the warm-sounding Onkyo TX-DS989 should appeal to many buyers looking to tame a harsh home-cinema experience. The Onkyo TX-DS989 is for someone looking for a well-balanced performer with plenty of power, slightly on the warm side sonically, and with an intuitive setup procedure. This is a good combination, Id say. Review System Speakers - Tannoy Saturn, AAD Q-series, and Paradigm Monitor Series (all full surround-sound loudspeaker systems) Sources - Pioneer DV525 DVD player Cables - DH Labs BL-1 interconnects, D-75 digital interconnect and original Monster Cable speaker cables. Monitor - Proscan PS36700 direct-view Manufacturer contact information Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation 18 Park Way Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 Phone: (201) 785-2600 Fax: (201) 785-2650 E-mail: onkyo@onkyousa.com Website: www.onkyousa.com Go Back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyo5 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 I have a McIntosh MR78 that I like alot. Sound quality is great. I don't know if it is "the best", but it is certainly very good and available on the used market for reasonable prices. Too bad that Sony pulled the XDRF1HD tuner from the US market. It got great reviews and interest was high. Seems like Sony made a mistake and accidentally sold one of their better products in the USA, as opposed to the crap that they usually offer here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZAKO Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 BEST VINTAGE...Sequerra FM-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhoak Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Word count anyone? I was curious... It's 2026 words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 I did a crazy tuner assessment in 2006 buying 3 70s vintage and two digital tuners. I liked the Integra digital tuner and my Radio X fully modded CT 800 Yamaha. I also have a Sansui TU 717 I like. FMTUNERINFO websire is excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Maron -- you'll have an OT PM very shortly. Thanks. Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBZink Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 I have a McIntosh MR78 that I like alot. Sound quality is great. I don't know if it is "the best", but it is certainly very good and available on the used market for reasonable prices. Too bad that Sony pulled the XDRF1HD tuner from the US market. It got great reviews and interest was high. Seems like Sony made a mistake and accidentally sold one of their better products in the USA, as opposed to the crap that they usually offer here. i just check on amazon, don't know if this thread but guy chnged price from 300 to 500$, stange? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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