Craig6519 Posted June 5, 2003 Share Posted June 5, 2003 I love the whole tube sound and was wondering about getting a tuner, I will be buying a reciever down the road for HT and could use it's tuner but I was just curious if a tube tuner added to the sound at all. Sorry about all the tube questions but I'm used to living in the Home Theater forum. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted June 5, 2003 Share Posted June 5, 2003 I would say only if you are into to FM radio in a big way. I just don't see the point myself no matter what you do the FM signal is never that great unless your lucky with your local stations being above and beyond the norm today. But they are cool but hard to get anyone that really knows how to fix them up. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig6519 Posted June 5, 2003 Author Share Posted June 5, 2003 We'll actually I listen to the radio a lot, I like the background noise too. here are some really good stations here but I have been overseas for a long time. LOL!! Dang it Craig you can't fix these thing's up? That's what I was hoping for Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted June 5, 2003 Share Posted June 5, 2003 Craig well I can do basic repairs its the alignment that takes a qualified specialist to do. But I bet 9 out of 10 don't even need alignment. Just basic repairs Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjohnsonhp Posted June 5, 2003 Share Posted June 5, 2003 How about the Scott 355 for both pre and tuner? The Scott tuners are cool looking and according to the HHScott site the one must have Scott product. You could also connect the cable/sat audio channels--less commercials. I, however, rarely listen to FM radio. I spin a stack of records for background. Tonight I bought a classical music box set in mint condition for 50cents at Half Price Books in the clearance bin. I've got Schoenberg for my background instead of condom and head shop commercials on the radio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisK Posted June 6, 2003 Share Posted June 6, 2003 Craig's, Tube tuners have very little, if any advantage over solid state. I've tried various tuners over the last 2-3 years including a Marantz 10B and 2 Scott 350's. I found that the older (pre 1980's) Japanese made analog units (Sansui, Kenwood, Pioneer, etc.) have the best combination of reception and sound quality. Not to mention they're also the best value. Last I checked you could still get a great tuner for about $100 on eBay. You can go to www.fmtunerinfo.com for way more info than you need. Regards, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted June 6, 2003 Share Posted June 6, 2003 Chris, That pretty funny because you know what I use for tuner duties !! A 1976 Pioneer SX-780 reciever. I just use the tape outs to my Preamp. KJ, You are correct the 355 is a great unit but pretty rare ! I believe the last one went for over $500 I was really wanting it but shot up past what I had to blow on it at the time. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregorius Posted June 6, 2003 Share Posted June 6, 2003 Greetings Gentlemen, I have a Sherwood S-2200 AM/FM Stereo tube tuner that is excellent, much better than my HK AVR receiver. I usually listen in the evenings to our local NPR station from Purdue University. It makes great background music. The other local stations are all compressed and sound like crap in comparison. Regards, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted June 6, 2003 Share Posted June 6, 2003 I have owned a gaggle of tube tuners and receivers over the years--right now I have a couple of Fishers, a couple of McIntosh and one Marantz 10B. The big problem is that there are only two radio stations I listen to and one has a rotten signal, so that leaves old reliable 88.1 which broadcasts about 2 miles from my house. I listen a couple of hours per week at the most . . . A really good tube tuner provides that warm, lush sound we all love, but most FM is so bad it doesn't really matter so much any more. If I were you, I'd look for the lower-end Fisher and Sherwood tuners from the early to mid 1960's and buy the best one you can. You'll probably have to send it out to a tuner specialist and drop another $100 or more into it in order to make it perform as it should. I would suggest Mike Zuccaro down in San Diego--he has aligned several tuners for me over the years and knows what he is doing. Tuner repair is TRULY a black art as far as I'm concerned. And believe me Craig, most of these 40 years old tuners NEED aligning even though they might pull in singal and have decent sound right out of the barn . . . Stay away from the high end stuff (McIntosh MR71, Marantz 10B, Scott 4310, etc.) unless you REALLY like spending money on both purchase and repair! You can drop a couple of grand into one of these before you're done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted June 6, 2003 Share Posted June 6, 2003 Allan, I bet your absolutely right. I was just repeating what I was told about my Tube Tuners but I still believe it has to be perfect to put out a perfect signal. I also agree with you on the Black Art statement of alignment. I would also add that Paul (Bizzy Bee) from Chicago is a very trust worthy and reliable choice if California is to far off for shipping. I'm sure the fellow Allan suggest is great too I have heard him mentioned many times by many people. In all actuality I would rather not mess with tuners anyway just like receivers. I think everyone should be very careful and choose the people with perfect or near perfect track records that specialize in the repairs needed for the gear they are having worked on. There are many people that run around claiming they can do this and that. But there work can be just so so. You would be surprised at how messed up this gear can be and still pass descent sound to your speakers. It can really be deceiving !! Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschfoot Posted June 6, 2003 Share Posted June 6, 2003 If you really want to listen to radio, hook up your computer (using DSL or cable modem) to your pre/integrated. The internet has the least limited choices for station selection and it is the way of the present and future of "radio." Sure, sound may be compromised depending on a variety of technical things, but finding desired content is more important than audiophile-appropriate sound. Most radio is listened to at low levels anyway and is never a substitute for your half-speed mastered lps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horonzak Posted June 6, 2003 Share Posted June 6, 2003 Ive had my share of SUPER TUNERS but the quality of SUPER STATIONS has gon down. I would suggest visiting a radio station to see what they are using. you will be shocked. The radio jocky is more interested in the quality of his voice & mic. used to enhance his dribble than the quality of music going through compressers & limiters & bandwith limiting components. You will be shocked at what they use for CD players , turntables ,& tape cartrages. Yes some still have tape cartrages. So dont invest too mutch on a tuner. even though some great ones are srill being made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted June 6, 2003 Share Posted June 6, 2003 The Mac & the Marantz would be my choices. But with the caveats mentioned above. Fortunately, there is at least one super high fidelity FM station here in Chicago, WFMT. WFMT is one of the true FM "super stations". For what its worth, they have Yamaha T2's & a Marantz 10B. They don't use the 10B but realize its value so it stays. The Yamaha T2's are used to monitor their own signal as well as pickup their own broadcast in Frankfort, IL for satellite transmission world wide. Also, the few radio electrical engineers I've known over the years, wouldn't have anything to do with the 70's 80's Mac SS tuners. They all chose Yamaha as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjohnsonhp Posted June 6, 2003 Share Posted June 6, 2003 FYI...if anyone needs restoration work on old tube console antique radios, I have a EE friend who specialize in that line of work. He is a leader of the restoration clubs, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig6519 Posted June 6, 2003 Author Share Posted June 6, 2003 KJ, does he only restore them? or does he sell them as we'll? Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjohnsonhp Posted June 6, 2003 Share Posted June 6, 2003 He does both. There are several of his for sale in resturants and antique shops in Dallas and Portland. email me and I can send an introductary email to both of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khorn58 Posted June 6, 2003 Share Posted June 6, 2003 I have a old scott 310e that I found on ebay a few years ago before the price shot up. I paid 100 for it and it was in near mint shape. It really does pull the stations in from far away and has a lush sound to it. I havent had to do a thing to it in the 4 years I have had it When I first set it up I could not belive all the sations the old soild state tuner was missing. There are still a few good fm stations in the Boston area and lots of live air shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudret Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 khorn58, I have a 310e as well and I agree with everything you said about it. I also have a Fisher FM100B and Sherwood 3000V. Fisher has a nice and full sound but it seems to be the least detailed of the three. Serwood is a good unit and is the least expensive one. I am looking for a clean 3000V myself for a while, but I havent's seen one on eBay recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Landau Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 The 310e is one of the best vintage tuners but is quite expensive nowadays. You can get a 310A/B/C/D + 335 multiplex adapter and get nearly the same results. My father owns the 4310 and its amazing. I have sold my 10B few months ago since I think that the 4310 is much better. I stayed with the Kenwood KT-600T which is great. A cheap tubed tuner option is the Fisher FM-90B. It has great reception and sound and can be found for around $100-150. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Landau Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 Yes, That's the one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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