Tuners are listed alphabetically by manufacturer
and in alphabetical and numerical sequence by model number. In
parentheses after the model number are the year of introduction and
most recent list price, and/or the original list price if indicated
by "orig" (special thanks to David Rich of The Audio Critic for
copies of historical material from his reference library). Please
see the On-Deck Circle for tuners that
we know very little about or that we're not sure merit a writeup. We have posted updated eBay sale price data in this section through April, 2006 (more recent data has been recorded but is not yet posted); data for "as is" or damaged tuners, or otherwise unrepresentative auctions, may be excluded.
Accuphase T-100 (1973-82, $750, photo1, photo2)
search eBay
The FM-AM T-100 was made by Kensonic Laboratory, a company started
by former Kenwood engineers in the mid '70s to compete with the
likes of McIntosh. It has a 5-gang front end and is reputed to be a
better performer than their less-expensive T-101, but we've never
compared the two. The T-100 uses linear phase LC IF filters that
can't be replaced, and you wouldn't want to because it has
excellent selectivity in stock form. It has above average
sensitivity for high-end units, and audiophile-type build quality
in the discrete output stage, which results in great sound. Our
contributor Bob S. adds, "The T-100 has quite a sophisticated AM section,
with a flat-topped IF filter, and a separate haystack filter for the tuning indicator." The T-100 generally sells for around $500 on eBay, but as high as
$635-650 and as low as $400 are both possible. The all-time high
was an excessive $1,025 in 9/05 for a nice T-100 with manuals, but
no wooden cabinet. Specs are available at the Accuphase site.
[BF]
Accuphase T-101 (1974-81, $500, photo, schematic)
search eBay
The T-101 is an excellent-sounding FM-only tuner that has good
selectivity in stock form and a pretty sensitive 4-gang front end.
It has wide and narrow IF paths, but it uses linear phase LC
filters that would make modifications difficult. The T-101 is
probably better suited to audiophiles than to DXers, who can get
better selectivity from a less-expensive tuner modified with narrow
filters. Our contributor Thrassyvoulos says, "My T-101 has the best
macrodynamics and imaging of all tuners I've had, but is definitely
too bright." The T-101 usually sells for $300-400 on eBay, but as
low as $200 and up to around $500 are possible. The alltime high
was $600 in 4/04. Specs are available at the Accuphase site.
[EH]
Accuphase T-106 (1984-86, $2,750, photo, black)
search eBay
The rare T-106 is a nice-looking FM-AM digital synthesizer tuner
that sounds better than almost any other digital on strong signals.
It has 6 gangs and 5 ceramic filters. On weak signals, in a
side-by-side test, our panelist Eric's all-black borrowed T-106B
was not as quiet as a Kenwood 600T or KT-917, or a Sansui TU-X1. In
addition, this T-106B's selectivity did not live up to its
excellent published specs. It may have been out of alignment, or
maybe just a bad piece - our panelist David "A" has owned several
T-106s and has found its quality control to be inconsistent. The
T-106 has 14 presets, a multipath meter, high-frequency filter and
wide/narrow IF bandwidth selector, but strangely lacks a
stereo-mono switch. One T-106 sold for $670 on eBay in 3/02 and
another fetched $758 in 6/03. Specs are available at the Accuphase site.
[DA][EF]
Accuphase T-107 (1985-91, $1,800, photo)
search eBay
The very rare T-107 might have been the best of the series of excellent digital tuners from Accuphase, at least until the T-1000 came along. Our panelist David "A" thought that the T-107 was, along with the Tandberg 3001A, "the high-water mark for varactor-based tuners. I have had two T-107s that are significantly quieter than the T-106, and I find that the T-107 can perform on a sonic level with tuners like the KT-917, for example, so they are quite good. They don't have quite the RF performance of a KT-917 but they aren't bad, either." The black version is also known as the T-107B. Two T-107s both sold for $575 on eBay in 9/03 and 11/04, and one went for $855 in 11/05. Specs are available at the Accuphase site. [DA]
Accuphase
T-105 (1980-85, $995,
search eBay Accuphase T-108 (1990-94, photo)
search eBay Accuphase T-11 (1990-98, photo)
search eBay
More pricey, very rare and reportedly superb
digital tuners. If you've used any of them, please post the details
in our FMtuners group. Specs
are available at the Accuphase site. A T-108
sold for $1,025 on eBay in 9/02 and another went for $1,026 in
7/04.
Accuphase
T-109 (1993-99, $3,300, photo)
search eBay Accuphase T-109V (1999-present,
photo)
search eBay
Users of the T-109, another very high-priced digital tuner, have
differences of opinion almost as extreme as Sumo Charlie users.
Although we know of one respected audiophile who thinks the T-109
sounds like a "cheap pocket radio" (perhaps his was out of
alignment), several contributors say the T-109 and its redesigned
successor, the T-109V, are among the best-sounding digitals. The
T-109 and T-109V both use a pulse count detector like several top
Kenwood tuners and, when properly aligned, are sensitive and highly
selective. There seem to have been different versions of the
T-109V, one with a balanced mixer and one without (and perhaps
other differences as well). The current Orion Bluebook adds to the
confusion by listing the T-109V as a 2003 model tuner ($2,200
list), even though the first T-109V apparently came out in 1999 and
was listed in an older edition of the Bluebook. See how one
T-109 and one T-109V sounded compared to other top
tuners on our Shootouts page, and read our panelist David "A"'s
Ricochet on
the T-109V. A T-109 sold for $1,200 on eBay in 1/03, and the only
T-109V we've ever seen offered on eBay in the U.S. sold for $2,247
in 12/04 (one sold for 2,210 Euros, or $2,700, on eBay-Germany in
2/04). The two tuners' specs (which are identical) are available at
the Accuphase
site, which also has a wonderfully detailed writeup on the T-109V.
[DA][JR]
Accuphase
T-1000 (2006, photo, Accuphase catalog)
search eBay
Our contributor Dana offers this review: "Out of the box, one has to be
impressed with the incredible build quailty of this and all Accuphase products. Having owned the T-100, T-106 and T-108 tuners and the E-202 integrated amp, I've had exposure to the wonderful build of Accuphase components. The T-1000 has a 5/8-inch aluminum faceplate that is sure to impress the neighbors, if that's your ilk. Weighing in at 26 pounds, this piece of eye-candy is still a lightweight compared to the TU-X1 at 34 pounds. The T-1000 stands at 5-1/2 inches high versus the 7-1/2 inches for the TU-X1, certainly more adaptable to existing audio stands. From an ergonomics perspective, this tuner doesn't overwhelm you with buttons and switches. It provides 16 small preset buttons that allow a total of 32 presets, with each button responsible for two station memories. Five small buttons provide muting, mono, MPX filter, frequency trim, and memory setting. A large tuning knob and power button complete the layout. Under the front glass faceplate is a signal-strength meter, station memory number, and reception frequency. The gold plastic remote control duplicates the same button selection with additional up and down tuning buttons. So how does it perform? Well, from an audio perspective, it's quite impressive. I've not had the opportunity to listen to its predecessor, the T-109V, but with a strong signal, the T-1000 has the ability to provide a remarkable wide and deep soundstage, with deep palpable defined bass notes. Effortless highs are noted with a nice textured voice portrayal. Having owned the T-106 and T-108 at different times, I can say that this is a different breed of cat. I found the overall sound presentation of the earlier tuners to be quite thin and without real depth of soundstage. The T-1000 has the uncanny ability to separate and place mid and bass notes that I haven't experienced before with other tuners, such as the Sansui TU-919 or TU-X1. Again, from an audio perspective, this tuner performs in spades. Unless, of course, the MPX filter becomes necessary with noisy signals, then the highs become a tad rolled-off. I mention this because this tuner is not the most sensitive tuner I've experienced. Signals that the Kenwood 600T and the TU-919 and TU-X1 have no problem dealing with, seem noisy with the T-1000. A DXer's friend it is not. I'm disappointed that WCRB, the classical station out of Boston, seems to contain a background hiss that my APS-9B antenna can't eliminate. But other local stations provide a strong signal that brings out the best in this tuner. If you're an audiophile with a system that can take advantage of the T-1000 as a source, this tuner might be your FM nirvana." And here's a follow-up from Dana: "Having owned the Accuphase T-100 for a decade, and now the T-1000 for a few months, I can say the aligned and modded T-100 had a definite edge over the T-1000 in the sensitivity department. That said, however, the T-1000 is no slouch. Better than most but not in the same league as the TU-X1, KT-917, T-85, 600T, MR 80, etc. A tad disappointing, nonetheless, especially for the entrance fee. I'm sure there must have been tradeoffs in the design and manufacture of the T-1000 to assure true audiophile sound, at the expense of sensitivity. From an audiophile perspective, the T-1000 is heads above the TU-X1 and any other vintage tuner I've owned, including the AH6731, TU-919, CT-7000, MR 80, etc. The quality of the bass note and the extension of the highs is apparent, especially when used digital out to a DAC." Read our panelist David "Anonymous"'s review of the T-1000 on the Ricochets page, or Accuphase's page on the T-1000 here.
Adcom - Only one of
our panel members has ever used an Adcom tuner or tuner/preamp (he
wasn't impressed with the sound of the GTP-500), but our impression
(supported by reviews by Stereophile and others, and some sketchy
anecdotal evidence) is that they're decent-sounding on strong
signals but not particularly sensitive or selective. We'll list
many of them below, but with so many better vintage tuners
available in the used market, why bother with Adcom? If you've used
any of them and would like to rebut the foregoing, please post the
details in our FMtuners
group.
Adcom GFT-1 (1981, $375, photo)
search eBay
The GFT-1 usually sells for $60-100 on eBay, with a low of $30 in
8/04 and a high of $162 in 5/04 (when two newbies ran up the price
from $102).
Adcom GFT-1A (1984, $375, black, silver,
back)
search eBay
The GFT-1A may be the Adcom tuner to try because it has three IF
filters, while most or all other Adcoms have two. The GFT-1A
usually sells for 50-110 on eBay, with a high of $199 in 4/04 for
one with wood side panels.
Adcom GFT-2 (1980, $250, front, back)
search eBay
The GFT-2 usually sells for $40-80 on eBay, with a low of $24 in
5/05 and an all-time high of $207.
Adcom GFT-555 (1987, $300, black, white,
back)
search eBay
The GFT-555 usually sells for $70-150 on eBay, but over $200 is
possible.
Adcom GFT-555II (1990, $400, black, white,
back)
search eBay
The GFT-555II was available with a white face as well as the
typical black. It usually sells for $75-200 on eBay, with a low of
$51 in 5/06.
Adcom GTP-350 (1993, $400, front, back)
search eBay
The GTP-350 tuner/preamp usually sells for $80-140 on eBay, with a
high of $170.
Adcom GTP-400 (1989, $400, front, back)
search eBay
The GTP-400 tuner/preamp usually sells for $100-145 on eBay, with a
low of $62 in 4/05 and a high of
$200.
Adcom GTP-450 (1993, $500, front, back)
search eBay
The extremely common GTP-450 tuner/preamp usually sells for
$100-215 on eBay, with a high of $305 in 3/06. Don't overpay like
that guy did.
Adcom GTP-500 (1987, $600, front)
search eBay
The very common GTP-500 tuner/preamp usually sold for $210-275 on
eBay in 2004-05, with a high of $310 in 4/04 and $325 in 8/04 for
one with a silver face (as opposed to the typical black). Like the
GTP-450, these prices represent a surprising jump from the
GTP-500's former price range of
$125-200.
Adcom GTP500II (1989, $600, front, closeup)
search eBay
The GTP-500II tuner/preamp was available in black or silver. It
usually sells for $180-295 on eBay, with a low of $104 in 6/04 and
a high of $377 in 8/05, when two bidders ran up the price from
$262.
ADS T2 Atelier (1984, $539/orig $400, front, open, back)
search eBay
We don't know much about the T2 Atelier except the basics. The
front panel has 16 presets, Seek, Mute, High Blend and Stereo/Mono
controls, and one surprise: a fine-tuning control. In addition to
the usual antenna connections and RCA output jacks, the back panel
(strangely enough) has three AC outlets! Please post in our
FMtuners group
if you have ever used this tuner. It usually sells for $65-120 on
eBay, but anywhere from $37 (in 1/06) to $191 is
possible.
Aiwa AT-9700U (front, inside)
search eBay
The 5-gang AT-9700U is probably the only worthwhile tuner ever
manufactured by Aiwa. Our contributor doug s. tells us that the
AT-9700U "has features like wide/narrow bandwidths, two hi-blend
levels, auto-lock tuning that can be disabled by slight off-center
tuning, multipath meter, variable/fixed outs, nice center-tune
indicator with arrows indicating you're off-tuned when not
centered, and a nice digital readout, as well as a lighted tuning
indicator on the analog dial." doug adds, "top notch sonics, good
sensitivity/selectivity, and one of the most ergonomically pleasing
tunas I have ever used." Here's a listing of the tuner's
features, believed to be from Aiwa's own literature: "5-gang
variable capacitor and 2 MOS FETs; quartz-controlled servo lock
(defeatable); dual position IF amplifier; 12-pole LC filter in
NORMAL, linear phase ceramic filter in NARROW; automatic
NORMAL/WIDE selection with manual override; quartz-controlled PLL
MPX; 10-element LED SIGNAL or MULTIPATH display; switchable 500 Hz
test tone generator; fixed and variable outputs; 75-Ohm only input;
unswitched AC outlet on rear panel; manual two-step Hi-Blend and
Auto/Manual Stereo/Mono switching; manual FM Muting defeat switch;
digital display of frequency; flywheel slide rule tuning; brushed
aluminum face plate and controls." The AT-9700U sells for $100-200
on eBay.
Akai AT-93 (1988,
$600, front 1, front 2, open, inside, Audio review)
search eBay
The very rare AT-93 was Akai's most expensive and perhaps best
tuner. We have one that we'll be reviewing and writing up soon. Our
contributor Miklos reports, "I bought mine in Germany and it was
sitting in storage for about two years waiting for me to find a
schematic to change the deemphasis to 75 uS. Since I couldn't find
a diagram, I finally decided to do it anyway. The tuner has a
completely discrete audio output stage, with about eight
transistors in each channel. The de-emphasis is sort of a unusual
one (balanced?), requiring one to change four capacitors, instead
the usual two. The unit uses quality components, like copper film
capacitors - I've never seen anything like it in any other tuner.
It is running now, and has heavenly sound." An AT-93 sold for $49
on eBay in 6/03.
Akai AT-2600 (1977, $300, silver, black, with amp, black with amp,
back, back with amp, gangs, schematic
left, schematic right, board layout)
search eBay
The AT-2600, an underrated AM-FM tuner with 5 FM gangs, 3 AM gangs, and 3 ceramic filters for FM, is also one of the few tuners with a deviation meter. Our panelist Bob says, "The AT-2600 has unbelievable sensitivity. With
narrower filters installed, it would likely be a killer cheap DX
machine. I think it may be the separate AM and FM tuning gangs
(only on the AT-2600, not on the AT-2650) that helps. That was
*not* cheaper for Akai to do. They are not built like a KT-8300,
but what else is? The AT-2600 beats the pants off a Magnum Dynalab.
One other point, reception sensitivity benefits greatly by removing
the internal connection to the balun (snip the lead from the 75-Ohm
input to the balun which is also connected to the 300-Ohm inputs).
I would also install a coax 75-Ohm connector in place of the
old-fashioned one." Our contributor Don N., the Chief of the TIC
Copyright Police, adds: "I have two AT-2600s, one of which was
modded by Antenna Performance Specialties. It comes in very close
behind my KT-7300 for sound and knocks the pants off it for tuning
capabilities. Pegs the signal strength needle on almost every
station across the board in my area (Seattle)." Apparently scarcer
than the AT-2650, the AT-2600 is seldom seen on eBay and can sell
for anywhere from $39 or $41 (in 3-4/06) to $139 (in 3/06), whether
in the usual silver or the scarce black.
[BF]
Akai AT-2650 (1979, $300, photo, back)
search eBay
The AT-2650 is another underrated 5-gang tuner. Our panelist Bob's
comments about the build quality of the AT-2600 apply as well to
the AT-2650, although it lacks the AT-2600's separate AM and FM
gangs. The AT-2650 usually sells for $50-80 on eBay.
[BF]
Akai AT-K03search eBay
Our contributor Ray D. has been seeking out unknown tuners and decided to try the AT-K03 because it seemed to be similar to the AT-V04. Here's his report:
"The front panel looks just like the AT-V04 with a larger tuning knob
minus the presets, search and different muting levels. It seems to
use exactly the same display and tuning lights. Tuning is indicated
in 0.05 MHz increments like the V04. The controls are very basic: AM, FM, and stereo/mono that also controls muting. At the back there is a Local/Distant switch. The unit itself is quite heavy and solid. I had found out that the V04 and K03 share the same service manual so I hoped that the K03 might just be a V04 without the presets, which would make it a major bargain. I plugged it in and it seemed to have decent sensitivity, though nothing special, and it did not like my DIY square loop antenna. Then I realized that the rear switch was set to Local and the signal was being greatly attenuated. Setting it to Distant
improved things greatly, as pretty much everything came in strong and clean. Sound quality is on the mellow side. Not terribly strong or extended in the highs compared to my better models, but when not doing an A/B comparison it sounds quite nice and warm on its own - a nice, relaxed listen. Downstairs it managed to get Vermont Public Radio in stereo when my Sony ST-J75 could only get it in mono. On the poor signal in the basement there was some noise, but more of a tolerable hiss than the warbles and whistles that most other tuners produce. Obviously the K03 is quite sensitive. The cover is amazingly heavy. I am not sure if that is a sign of great construction, or just a reflection of the fact that sheet metal might have been cheaper than electronic components when this tuner was made. I say this because I was surprised to find a very simple tuner with little in common with the AT-V04. The AT-K03 looks to be well made and quite tidy, but it seems to have only 3 gangs. Caps are mostly UCC with a few mylars. Lots of transistors, 25 or more. I found the following chips, all Sanyo I believe: LB1405 J3, LA1240 J1, LA3380 J4, and A1 231N J3. There is a low-pass filter marked 3368 8038V. The main board is labeled Akai ATK-2001A. This seems to be a very basic all-analog tuner with a digital diplay. Maybe it is more like the analog AT-K02 than the AT-V04. Given how simple it is, I wonder why it works so well? It is very nice to listen to, quiet, very sensitive and easy to use."
Akai AT-V04 (1980, $330, front1, front2, black, back1, back2, with amp, black with amp, schematic)
search eBay
The 4-gang AT-V04 is an unappreciated FM/AM digital tuner
that was close to state-of-the-art for FM DXers in the early 1980s
(if one excludes the Mac MR 78). Our contributor Marcus tells us
that the AT-V04 tunes in 0.05 MHz increments for FM and 1 kHz
increments for AM (highly unusual and great for AM DXers) and has 7
presets for each band. It claimed an excellent 1.6uV IHF
sensitivity on FM and, with alternate channel selectivity of only
75 dB, might be a good candidate for a filter mod. Stock, it has 3
blue GDT-type ceramic filters. Our panelist Bob says the AT-V04 is
"possibly the only cheap digital with a full analog feel. Not like
the analog knob digitals - it is truly full analog tuning, like a
Magnum. It goes into analog mode to tune off-channel. The front
panel has a high-quality look and feel, all metal with metal
buttons and knobs. The controls feel solid. There is a mini
flywheel and tuning string inside, really cute as it is so small."
There are buttons for two levels of muting on the front panel, and
the back panel includes antenna attenuation switches
(local/distant) for both FM and AM, and muting level and output
level adjustments. A 1980 review of the AT-V04 by an FM DXer may be
found here. The
AT-V04 usually sells for $45-90 or so on eBay, with occasional
spikes to over $150. A rare black AT-V04 went for $138 in 12/04.
[BF][EF]
Amber Model 7
(1985, $380, photo, Audio review)
search eBay
This excellent-sounding FM/AM digital tuner was the only model ever
sold by Amber, a small Virginia-based high-end audio company. The
Model 7 tuner, which was manufactured by Rotel, is extremely
sensitive in mono but could be quieter on weak stereo signals,
according to the original Stereophile review. In fact, in their
well-known "Seven FM Tuners" report, Stereophile gave the Series 7
a grade of A ("the best available") for sensitivity, as well as an
A for "stereo image and separation" (the other grades for the
latter criterion were: McIntosh MR 78 - B, Luxman TX-101 - B, Onkyo
T-9090 - C, Adcom GFT-1A - C, and Carver TX-11 - D). The Amber is
unusually attractive, with solid wood (probably teak) end caps
rather than the typical veneer. It has only 6 FM and 6 AM preset
buttons, so those in large metro areas who like to memorize 27
stations need not apply. In our panelist Jim's view, the sound is
neutral with bass a little lighter than a stock Kenwood 600-T but
better than a stock Kenwood KT-7500, and the treble is smoother
than most older transistor tuners. The audio quality may be due to
the short signal path and the audio circuit being so close to the
output jacks. A gentleman named Ed in our FMtuners group
disagreed slightly with Jim: "On my sample, the bass is anything
but light. I can't imagine any other tuner having fuller and/or
heavier bass, but I'm sure there are. My Model 7 is very
authoritative when it comes to the low-end extension." The tuner
has the electronic equivalent of 4 gangs, but only two ceramic
filters. In stock form, adjacent channel selectivity is poor, and
the Amber should be considered a tuner for audiophiles and not
DXers. The Model 7 usually sells for $100-160 on eBay.
[JR]
AMC T7 and T7a
search eBay
We don't know much about these tuners, which usually sell for
$60-100 on eBay (with a low of $26 in 9/05 for a T7a). Please post
in our FMtuners group if you
have any information about either of
them.
Aragon 4T2
search eBay
The 4T2 is a very rare tuner that is almost never seen in the
secondary market. Please post in our FMtuners group if you
have any information about it. One 4T2 sold for $227 on eBay in
8/05.
Arcam
search eBay
Please post in our FMtuners group if you
have any information about any Arcam tuner. We're tracking eBay
sale prices for a couple of them in the On-Deck Circle.
Audio
Dynamics
search eBay
Please post in our FMtuners group if you
have any information about any Audio Dynamics tuner. We're tracking
eBay sale prices for a couple of them in the On-Deck Circle. Here's a review of the T-2000E from Audio
magazine.
Audiolab 8000T
(1990, $1,200, photo1, photo2, service manual)
search eBay
Our panelist Jim tested this unimpressive-looking black digital,
made by Cambridge Systems Technology Ltd., and called it "a
wonderful-sounding tuner." See how Jim compared this 8000T to other
top tuners on our Shootouts
page. Our contributors Tim and Ann warn, "We subscribe to most of
the major UK publications and virtually all of them have noted
serious reliability problems with this model. The specific problem
these magazines noted was a logic board failure and once this board
failed, the tuner ceased to function. And these boards are no
longer available." The 8000T only comes along a few times a year on
eBay and usually sells for $575-750, with a high of $894 in
3/05.
Audiophonics
ST-3120
search eBay
Please post in our FMtuners group if you
have any information about this scarce tuner. It looks pretty
flashy, but we believe it's mostly an "empty box" inside and not
worth the $150-200 that it can fetch on
eBay.
Audio Research
ST-2000
search eBay
CAUTION: We believe that this is a mediocre Canadian-made tuner
that is selling for high prices on eBay (usually $200-250, with a
high of $300 in 9/04) because buyers are confusing it with
something else. Please post in our FMtuners group if you
have any information about it.
Audiosource
search eBay
Please post in our FMtuners group if you
have any information about any Audiosource tuner. We're tracking
eBay sale prices for a few of them in the On-Deck Circle.
B&K TS-108
(1991, $398, photo)
search eBay
The TS-108 is a very attractive tuner that our contributor Ed Hanlon tells us
was the predecessor of the Fanfare FT-1. Ed says the TS-108's
"ergonomics left a lot to be desired, but it performed superbly
with some basic mods. B&K stopped selling the 108 when Fanfare
took the tuner and added balanced outputs, remote, etc." Ed adds
that a TS-108 modified with narrow filters "can be a DX machine,
and can sound darned good too." Our panelist Jim tours the inside
of a stock TS-108 with a circuit board dated 9/20/91: "There are
three ceramic filters that appear to be Toko, marked CER 1, 2 and
3. The markings are SK4MH on CER 1 and SKM2C on CER 2 and 3. There
are four IC's inside and, moving left to right, we see an LM1865N
advanced FM IF system, LM4500 MPX chip, LC 4966 Sanyo Quad
bilateral switch and an Analog Devices brand AD712 high-speed
bi-FET as a buffer after the LPF. This buffer has no negative
supply. There are two 10 uf NP electrolytic caps after the MPX and
two of the same after the AD712. All in all, a valient attempt at
good sound in a small package and fairly successful, IMO. Tuning
down the dial is very slow but eight stations can be stored in
presets. There is a wide/narrow switch, and a switch marked DX that
always increased signal strength when used." See how one TS-108
sounded compared to other top tuners on our Shootouts page. The TS-108 usually
sells for $130-225 on eBay, but as low as $75-90 is possible when
sold "as is." A rare gold-faced TS-108 sold for $200 on eBay in
7/04. [JR]
Burmester 978
(photo)
search eBay
A gorgeous German tuner with RDS, uniquely wide (400 kHz) and uniquely narrow (110 kHz) IF bandwidths, 60 presets, dual antenna inputs, balanced and
unbalanced outputs, and a stratospheric price tag. The Orion
Bluebook lists a "Top-Line" version, manufactured from 1997-2002
with a last list price of $11,200, and a "Reference" version,
manufactured from 2002 on, with a list of $14,200. See how our
panelist Jim ranked the 978 compared to other top tuners in the
final installment of Shootouts.
Here's Burmester's own description of the
978:
The FM tuner 978 is our flagship product in the
tuner market. Even in comparison with its already legendary
predecessor, the 915, the 978 offers further dramatic improvement
in sound quality. The German magazine Audio called it "divine" and
uses it as reference tuner.
Why offer an FM tuner of this quality and price
level in a restless world dominated by digital audiosystems? A
justified question - but then, think about those constantly
changing digital recording and broadcasting standards, some of
which have been much-touted but long in coming and some of which
have already disappeared again, such as the DSR standard. In the
final analysis only an FM tuner offers unrestricted access to the
virtually unlimited supply of recorded music broadcast by
radiostations. The 978 also proves convincingly that the perfect
reception of an FM station via cable can be an exhilerating musical
experience.
With its totally re-designed Burmester front end,
the 978 offers a sound quality and musical enjoyment never before
heard from FM broadcasts. The front end has been completely
developed in-house through intensive research and built with only
highest-quality parts. Using our own technology we were able to
realize the excellent-sounding wide-IF solution with 400 kHz
bandwidth.
The 978 is available in two models: As 978 Top
Line Tuner in our top line housing with a 482mm wide front panel
and as 978 Reference Tuner with a 450mm wide front panel in our
extremely sophisticated reference housing. Both are characterized
by clean design, high-grade material and excellent
Burmester-typical uncompromising manufacturing
quality.
Technical Features of the Tuner 978 Input
section:
Gallium-arsenide transistors in the input amplifier with a cut-off
frequency of 1 GHz for linear phase response and stable group delay
time
Seven tuning ranges for high selectivity of the tuned frequency
Active high-level mixer with a 3rd order intercept point of
typically +30dBm for high intermodulation rejection (sophisticated
military radio technology)
Four separate voltage regulators directly at the switching stages
for stable voltage at the front end
Additional sophisticated stabilization of the tuning voltage with a
filter capacity of 8000µF
De-coupling of the front end's operation voltage by special filters
to avoid polluting the operation voltage of the AF stages with RF
noise
Wide IF:
Bandwidth app. 400kHz (the typical wide IF bandwidth is 200 to
250kHz)
For smooth sound the wide IF is filtered by two phase-linear
wideband 6-circuit LC bandpass filters which are de-coupled by
amplifiers; trimming of IF at 18 filters overall; IF amplifiers
operated on balanced power supply; use of two separate stereo
decoders makes it possible to individually optimize each channel
and tune it for minimal crosstalk
Narrow IF:
Bandwidth app. 110kHz; four filter stages with group-delay stable
narrow band ceramic filters, connected in series and de-coupled by
amplifiers; IF amplifiers operate on balanced power
supply
AF amplifiers:
Balanced discrete and DC-coupled Burmester X-Amp stages (class A)
with offset closed loop; additional filtering of the X-Amp stages
with overall 55000µF; no relays in the AF signal path, during
muting the output is shorted to
ground
Power supply:
Low-leakage toroidal-core transformer with an output of 50VA;
filter capacity of 42000µF in the power supply alone; chamber
system totally isolates the power supply from all other
circuits
Functions: RDS station display; numerical buttons
for direct-dialling of frequencies or preset stations; 60 preset
stations; display-off switch; signal-stength indicator with eight
LEDs; narrow IF; two parallel antenna inputs as standard (optional:
one input with attenuation step); infrared remote control 003 for
preset stations; mono setting
Outputs:
Balanced and unbalanced
Technical specifications:
Signal-to-noise ratio: >= 80dB (!)
Cross talk attenuation: >=60dB
Rejection of ultra-sound components: 19kHz >= 94dB, 38kHz >=
90dB
Power consumption: 38W
Metal system remote 003 supplied as standard
Weight: 28 kg
Dimensions (W x H x D): 450 x 160 x 320
mm
Cambridge Audio
T500 ($279)
search eBay
The T500 is a current model tuner with a silver face and a blue
backlit LCD display. Our panelist Jim got to play with one and
ranked the sound of that sample in comparison to many top tuners on
our Shootouts
page.
Carver TX-11 (1983, $600/orig $550,
photo)
search eBay
The TX-11 was a favorite of some DXers in the '80s (here's a 1983
review) and had a reputation for being very quiet in mono on weak signals. Back then, very few knew about filter modifications, and a tuner with great adjacent channel rejection was a revelation (until the Onkyo T-9090 came out in 1984, the McIntosh MR 78 was about the only other option for DXers). Although there are always those with differing opinions, the majority now find the TX-11
mediocre-sounding or worse in stereo, with poor separation. Our contributor John V. adds that the TX-11 has "fair to decent bass, but the top end sorta sizzles - no real extension or details." Our own view is that most good vintage tuners are only one or two narrow filters away from being as good as, or better than the TX-11 for DXing, while also satisfying audiophiles. As to the possibility of modifying a TX-11 for improved sound, our DIY audiophile panelist Jim owned one for awhile, but "wasn't impressed with the sound and looking in on those multi-tiered boards of digital madness made me back off trying to improve anything." Our contributor Girard, the proprietor of the DXFM website, likes the Denon TU-1500RD and Onkyo T-9090II for DXing but says, "I think the worst of the 'big name' tuners I tested here was the Carver TX-11. It has great specs when connected to a communications analyzer, but it sure went to H*** when exposed to the signal levels I have at this location." DXer Bill N. says, "The TX-11 was a great DX tuner for its time except that it had a really funky echo when making stereo signals sound static-free. The tuner itself was very sensitive and OK for overload (not great) and so-so for selectivity unless you replaced most of the filters. Problem was that replacing the filters made the S-meter useless (it always showed full scale or close to it). Also, it had a ton of front-panel presets. I sold mine when I moved under the transmitters in Hartford as it just couldn't handle the overload." Our contributor Richie points out that the U.S. version he owns has larger, easier-to-see LED lamps than his Japanese model, and the U.S. version's sensitivity is better. The TX-11 usually sells for anywhere from $60-150 on eBay, but even lower is possible (the all-time low is $32 in 9/05). The recent high was an inexplicable $229 in 2/06, so apparently not everyone has read this review. Someone paid $256 for a mint one in 10/03, and one poor guy paid $375 for one in 4/02 that had a sticker on the box that said: "Latest Circuit Refinements. All Sonic Improvements." What does that say about the audio quality of an
"unimproved" TX-11? [EH][JR]
Carver TX-11a (1986, $730, photo)
search eBay and Carver TX-11b (1989, $800,
photo)
search eBay
These pricier successors to the TX-11, both of which are among the
few tuners with AM stereo capability, apparently featured improved
sonics on FM as well. Our contributor Noel reports: "I talked to
the Carver people about the differences between the various TX-11s.
They said forget the TX-11, Carver put a lot more in the audio
stages in the TX-11a, and really put all they had in the TX-11b."
Our contributor Lance says, "I was shocked at how much better my
Carver TX-11a sounds/receives compared to the Nakamichi ST-7." Our
contributor Richie, who wanted to listen to a noisy weak station,
adds: "I sold my [Sansui] TU-919 and got a mint condition TX-11a.
What a difference. It pulled in that station nearly noise-free and
when pressing in the multipath noise limiter it's as clean as new
linen, without killing the stereo separation. It's one quiet tuner
and it looks good too. Critics say the sound is mediocre -- I say
it sounds great and crisp." John Byrns says, "The AM reception of
the MCS 3050 is better than the TX-11a - it doesn't have the high
noise level of the TX-11a. Unfortunately, the sound of the MCS 3050
is very gritty and sibilant on both AM and FM, while the sound of
the TX-11a is undistorted save for the background hiss." The TX-11a
can sell for under $150 (with a low of $91 in 11/05) to way over
$300 ($400 in 7/03 and $368 in 5/04) on eBay. The similar-looking
TX-11b usually sells for $260 to around $400 on eBay, but seems to
provoke bizarre behavior in naive bidders: three spendthrifts ran
up the price of a TX-11b in a sealed box from $300 to $960 in
11/03, and in 1/04, two nuts ran up the price of an average TX-11b
from $333 to $605 and two more chased each other from $309 all the
way to $775. See how one TX-11b sounded compared to many top tuners
on our Shootouts
page.
Classé Audio Tuner 1
search eBay
Please post in our FMtuners group if you
have ever used this scarce modern tuner. One sold for $495 on eBay
in 1/05.
Creek Audio Systems Model 3140 a/k/a CAS3140 (1988, $375, owner's manual, Audio review)
search eBay
According to our contributor doug s., the Creek 3140 is "a really nice-sounding and quite sensitive analog tuna with digital readout, for not a lot of scratch. Quite diminutive in size, as well. It has a local/DX switch, wide/narrow band, stereo/mono, AFC on/off, and an auto-blend circuit." The 3140 is a British tuner, fairly rare in the U.S., and usually sells for anywhere from $80 to $180 on eBay (although doug got his for $72, including shipping).
Crown FM1 (1979, $995, inside, Audio review) search eBay
The FM1 is a 6-gang tuner with 3 ceramic filters and one "SAW" (Surface Acoustic Wave) filter, like those used in some of the better Kenwood tuners. Our contributor Dave N. observes that the FM1 has variable outputs with independent controls for the left and right channels, and a mute adjustment on the back along with multipath outputs. The ceramic filters are socketed rather than soldered, so it would be easy to swap them out for narrower ones. Our contributor Jovit analyzed the service manual: "The FM1 uses quadrature detection using the common CA/LM3189 IC compared to the pulse count detection (HA12401) in the FM2. The first thing that I've notice is the presence of too many IC sockets in the FM1 design. If the tuner were mine, I would get rid of all these sockets. I'd also remove the ceramic filter sockets. Sockets add stray inductance and capacitance on high frequency circuits aside from the long term reliability issue. The internal wiring looks tidy but is not necessarily the best approach in terms of minimizing noise. The MPX board PCB layout has a very limited ground plane compared to the rest of the boards. I also noticed the 7-segment display wires running directly on top of the MPX board's gain blocks. This could explain the not-so-good spec of -65 dB hum and noise. Crown used non-audio grade CMOS bilateral switches (MC14016/CD4016) in the audio path for muting and MPX noise filter. These can be upgraded to Sanyo's LC4966. These are just my impression of the internals and I don't own one." Our contributor Walter reports: "I borrowed the FM1 for a week to see if I wanted to buy it for myself. This was 1982, and all I had was an indoor yagi with no rotor. It pulled in stations that the Onkyo T-4055 could only dream about. The FM1's controls and general build quality said military or laboratory spec. The sound was also chilly and antiseptic like a lab. I could have snagged it for something like $375, but I passed. No other Crown experience." A free service manual is available from Crown's website. The FM1 usually sells for $200-420 on eBay, with a stunning high of $1,153 in 10/03 for one with a manual, and a damaged one even sold for $710 in 1/04.
Crown FM2 (1979, $770, Audio review) search eBay
and Crown FM3 (1985, $795) search eBay
Please post in our FMtuners group if you
have any information about the FM2 or FM3. The FM2 usually sells for $150-350 on eBay, with a high of $502 in 2/05. The FM3 usually sells for $300-400 on eBay.
