synthfreek Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 I want to add a tube-based FM tuner to my system and would like some input. Exactly which Fisher, Scott, Dynaco etc. models would fit that budget? I really don't want to go any higher than the $200 plus shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairchild260 Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 i have no idea as for wihch fishers will fit into your price range but as for the others: scott lt110,lt110b, 350,a,b,c,d or 370 dynaco fm3(probally the cheapest of the brands listed and can be aligned with no special equiptment) although not listed the sherwood 3000v falls within that price range also.good luck with your hunt. chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickieheinz Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 You might want to check out the tuner infomation center, http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/reviewsA-N.html These guys get really technical but they have all the older tuners rated by performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZAKO Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 I dont know why you insist on a tube tuner... every thing broadcast is on solid state equipment...and not very good eqiupment. You need to visit your local radio station ...you,l be shocked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmikid Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 This must be a very nice one! Craig (NOS Valves here) seems to have a specialised tuner patner. Ask him how much check-up/upgrading will be. Don't know how much it will end for though. This one should not go for more than $175,-, but maybe it will. Ebay has it's own rules. http://cgi.ebay.nl/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5731463261&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT Patience is the hardest thing in this hobby, that's why most of us have spent too much in the past.. and still do (I do). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 The 350B is a very nice tuner. Just about all the Scott/Fisher multiplex equipt (Stereo) tuners are very nice. They general don't require much to get them singing many times with a clean up they will work pretty good. Its not very hard to figure out if there in need of work once you have them. If they drift off the station or stations come in way off on the dial then there needing some basic work and alignment. Your budget for a nice Scott or Fisher will be fine for the purchase but if it needs work it maybe a bit shy. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynnm Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 The Dynaco FM-3 is one damned nice tuner and typically can be found on Ebay for less than $100.00 Also look for any Scott tubed units which are in the same league. I have owned both at one time or another and they compete head to head with the more expensive alternatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan krajewski Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 I researched the crap out of this about a year and a half ago. For the money, I could not find anything that beat the Dynaco FM3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthfreek Posted November 14, 2004 Author Share Posted November 14, 2004 I'm gonna make a last minute bid on this guy tomorrow afternoon. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=73382&item=5731418280&rd=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmikid Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 nice! good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Daniels Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 One of the absolute best tube tuner values on the market today is the H.H. Scott 350-C. It is very comparable in performance to the 310-E, but is far more reliable. They turn up on ebay every so often, and typically sell for under $200. This is a far better tuner than the 350 or 350-B, or any Dynaco or Sherwood. The 350-C tends to stay in alignment, and it is not picky about RF tubes or replacing of tubes. If you purchase a 350-C, have your tech replace the output coupling capacitors (two 0.1 uF 400V with Mylar film/foil), and the peak amplitude holding capacitor after the ratio detector (25 uF 25V electrolytic). Nothing else needs replacing, and these three parts will take a dull tuner and make it spectacular. You will be hard pressed to find a nicer sounding tuner than the 350-C. Cosmetic wise, it matches the later model Scotts, (233, 222-D, 299-D, LK-72-B, LK-48-B, 200, 200-B, LK-60, 260, LK-60-B, and 260- -JD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hardy Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 Well, for $200,you could buy about 7 or 8 Sherwood S-3000's. I'd buy one or two of 'em and you'd have a very good sounding, mono, FM only tube tuner (and a spare for parts if you ever need them). If you really want stereo, spend some of the leftovers on an MPX adaptor (if it were me, I'd probably pick an EICO MX-99). The Sherwood's not as sexy looking as a Scott or Fisher tuner (not to mention a 10B!), but they are dang fine sounding tuners and still generally bargains IMO, even at eBAY prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boom3 Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 I like my Scott 333. It was a gift; I spent $200 having it repaired and realigned by a pro. Unfortuantly, I am not using it now since I am using an old integrated amp for my study system and we rarely if ever listen to FM on the primary HT system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Landau Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 ---------------- On 11/15/2004 3:35:29 PM Mark Hardy wrote: Well, for $200,you could buy about 7 or 8 Sherwood S-3000's. I'd buy one or two of 'em and you'd have a very good sounding, mono, FM only tube tuner (and a spare for parts if you ever need them). If you really want stereo, spend some of the leftovers on an MPX adaptor (if it were me, I'd probably pick an EICO MX-99). The Sherwood's not as sexy looking as a Scott or Fisher tuner (not to mention a 10B!), but they are dang fine sounding tuners and still generally bargains IMO, even at eBAY prices. ---------------- Sherwood had a few versions of the S-3000 that had a built in multiplex adapter. I think that version IV and V were the stereo ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Daniels Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 ---------------- On 11/15/2004 3:35:29 PM Mark Hardy wrote: Well, for $200,you could buy about 7 or 8 Sherwood S-3000's. I'd buy one or two of 'em and you'd have a very good sounding, mono, FM only tube tuner (and a spare for parts if you ever need them). If you really want stereo, spend some of the leftovers on an MPX adaptor (if it were me, I'd probably pick an EICO MX-99). The Sherwood's not as sexy looking as a Scott or Fisher tuner (not to mention a 10B!), but they are dang fine sounding tuners and still generally bargains IMO, even at eBAY prices. ---------------- That's true, you could buy several Sherwoods. But they would never come close to the quality of the Scott 350-C, you only get what you pay for. I've worked on them all, and find the Sherwood units lacking in overall sound quality and selectivity. Sherwood uses electrolytic capacitors for the output stage, and Scott uses Mylar. The high ESR of the electrolytics results in a degraded signal, a lousy high end, and boomy bass. There is limited space to mount some higher quality caps under the hood, so they are out of the question. The Sherwood does use a quality Foster-Seeley discriminator, but Scott's wide-band ratio detector gets my vote for sound quality. Scott tuners cannot be beat, IMHO. Save your ducats and buy a Scott, you can't go wrong. -JD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Landau Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 Have you started drinking, Ryan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthfreek Posted November 15, 2004 Author Share Posted November 15, 2004 Well I was beat out but I'll keep my eye out. I think I'll go for the next really nice 350-C I can find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiob Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 Save and buy a Magnum Dynalab, youll be happy you did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCturboT Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 ---------------- On 11/15/2004 7:25:55 PM synthfreek wrote: Well I was beat out but I'll keep my eye out. I think I'll go for the next really nice 350-C I can find. ---------------- I have an extremely clean, almost mint 350C Scott that I might be willing to sell. E-mail if interested. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Daniels Posted November 15, 2004 Share Posted November 15, 2004 ---------------- On 11/15/2004 8:09:43 PM radiob wrote: Save and buy a Magnum Dynalab, youll be happy you did. ---------------- Funny, I just rebuilt and hotrodded a 350-C for a customer who was running a Dynalab, and in his opinion, the Scott "blew it away". He also commented that it received more stations, stations that he never knew exsisted on the dial. Personally, I think the Scott is the better bargain. Vintage Scott tuners properly set up will blow away todays offerings. Another Scott sleeper is the 312-D solid-state broadcast tuner, it offers the same sound and performance as the 350-C, but uses FET's instead of tubes. It also gives you a wonderful headphone amplifier with variable adjust for left and right channels. Just my point of view. -JD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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