to me Pioneer SX1280. I know it's receiver, but still the ultimate of all times.
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Accuphase McIntosh Denon are three of my favorite tuner makes that I have owned and listened to for long periods. The Denons I have in mind are digital (equal to 4 and 5 gang)and the others are analog. Ive had many in between ones, spoken highly of or not. Another one I really like is a Nikko. Dynaco made some nice beautiful sounding tuners so did Sansui and Pioneer (sx models). The shootouts started to become meaningless to me some dont even get mentioned in the top 50 and they are synonymous with doing everything a ’top tuner" should do well and maybe even more. |
I've owned many tuners and receivers and the ones I didn't move along because they killed (these are usually multiples owned, but in the case of the Mac only one) the competition in both RF and Audio are: Pioneer Elite F-93 (The American underground press damned it with faint praise, which was the FIRST thing that made it stand out to me.) Pioneer TX-9800 (Not quite as well built as Number three on this list, but otherwise top of the mark.) Pioneer TX-9500 II (Tied for number 2, really) Pioneer F-28 Series 20 (its audio resembles the F-93, more than the F-91 Elite does, though the house sound remains throughout the line.) McIntosh MR78 (The audio is spectacular. The RF is less spectacular because the competition that it inspired has since raised the bar.) Pioneer SX receivers (from 1975-1981 or thereabouts) The main grievance against Pioneer is that it's a victim of its own success in terms of both accessibility and post War animus that's only recently been reignited for the same questionable reasons it prevailed (particularly in the Underground press) "back in the day". Just because it's not arcane or Scandinavian unobtanium doesn't mean it's not the top of the mark. But people get to like what they like... |
I’ve been lucky try some good ones. After lots of listening with Quad electrostatic speakers I choose a Toshiba Ft 920 (over top Marantz- which I found had a too “blooming” bad. I’ve been lucky? to choose reference level MIT Oracle cables,p,i,s; and Spectral Ref gear. That 920 still amazes friends who come over to listen. |
NO ONE'S done a more systematic comparison of tuner performance than these guys at Tuner Info Center including mod/upgrades: http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/ |
I have a Mitsubishi DA- 20 tuner that I have had for manu years. several years ago I sent it to Bill Ammons for check-up and alignment. I think that it is a beautifully musical sounding tuner, especially on classical music. I live some eighty air miles from a classical music station and the reception with this tuner is exceptional. I am surprised that no one has mentioned this tuner in the previous posts. Violin |
I haven’t owned a tuner in years. But in the late 60’s-70’s, when FM was as important as air or water, I never heard anything better than Sherwood. Could never quite take them seriously as Sherwood is one of the worst names for a hifi brand ever. Always made me think of a Montgomery Ward Signature or Sears Silvertone, decidedly lo fi mass market brands. But the Sherwood’s I heard sounded terrific. |
I'm using a Rotel RT 2100 FM tuner. This tuner was made in the late 70s. Its nicely built and has the analog tuning knob and the digital display which i like. The tuner sounds great. Other great tuners i'v heard over the years. Mitsubishi DAF-20 Sherwood micro CPU 100 tuner. This Sherwood Tuner was made in 1977 and was really good. It also had the analog tuning knob and digital display. It weighed like 36 pounds. Google it Aiwa 9700 tuner from the 70s. Kenwood L-02T tuner. Yamaha TX 2000 Tuner from the 80s. Sony ST-A7 tuner. This Sony tuner was amazing. Its from 1976 and really built and sounded great. |