Re: differences in tuners

my Sansui TU919 analog tuner has a very big midrange sound with nuance and depth that my Rotel tuner did not have.

A very big step up so yes, there is a big difference IMO.

How good is your antenna?

Back when FM listening was as common as LP listening (Joe Cocker performing at Woodstock, if you must know), bettering your antenna often led to bigger dividends than bettering your tuner.

Rich

Yes, there are considerable differences among tuners, in sound quality, sensitivity, and selectivity. Also, I second the previous comment about the importance of the antenna.

You'll find a wealth of information, as well as specific comments on many older models, at fmtunerinfo.com.

You also may find this recent thread and this older one to be of interest.

As you'll see in those threads, I am one of those who happens to be a fan of vintage tube tuners.

Regards,
-- Al

Yes, if the stations you listen to give good quality sound. The tuners can vary more than a CD player, or turntable. They have their own sound characteristics that can give a wide sound stage, narrow soundstage, and an endless list that can make what you hear a lot more enjoyable. The way they handle the signal, and the number of stations you receive, also. That link Almarg provided(fmtunerinfo), has fairly good info.

Have to agree that when you step up the quality of the tuner itself the performance is a quantum leap. The better tuners sensitivity, channel seperation, ability to fine adjust signal, with different added bandwidth options and greater rejection of adjacent signals and far less drift add up to huge improvement in quality of sound production.

The added benefits of a good antenna will further add to the gap in improvement multiplying the above benefits again giving the better tuner that much more performance over the average units.

Luck does come into play with the antenna and reception in relation to ones location. Where I lived before I needed an antenna mounted outside on a mast and a Magnum signal sleuth. Where I am now in the same city , I actually get far better reception with just a Magnum ST-2 antenna mounted on the interior window trim and hidden behind the curtains with no signal sleuth needed.

I have an MD 108 tuner that gets more use (as all my tuners have in the past) than any other piece of equipment I own or have owned other than my turntable. However I do realise this is due to the abundance of good radio stations and programing I have access to over the air waves without going to a pay for use satelite scenario. Some think its crazy to of payed 3000 for a slightly used tuner or a thousand or more for a vintage tuner of high quality but I justify the fact I dont have to feed it money in the form of cd's, vynil or user fees. So over the long haul it's worth it to me. If you don't have access to a number of good stations and programing then I would agree with those that conscider it a waste due to the poor quality of reception and stations they can dial in.

In conscidering upgrading your tuner, although I spent consciderable money on my tuner I have had vintage tuners that perform quite well and there are many tuners that were made at lesser cost that perform far above their relative price points. Do some research and if your lucky enough to find one of those units you will be quite happy with the results and yes the antenna is important in showing you just how much the differance is between mediocre and quality tuners.
Cheers