[ryno]

I'm looking for a used tuner for my bedroom system, nothing fancy, for about $100. I've never had a separate tuner, and don't know what to look for. The only 2 stations worth getting, I can receive on my clock radio, but not real clean. so I'm looking for better than that, probably not too hard. Also it will be going into a CIaudio passive pre, if thats important, and a remote on/off would be great but not a deal breaker.
Thanks, Ryan

[warnerwh]

The best route to go would be to get an older tuner.  You can have excellent performance for 100 bucks.  Check out fmtunerinfo.com for a long list of tuner shootouts.  Be sure to get a decent antenna too. An indoor Terk from Best Buy is much better than a dipole but an outdoor antenna is best.  An outdoor antenna from Radio Shack for 25 bucks isn't bad.  Sound quality of a good tuner can rival many cd's if it's a quality broadcast. Usually NPR jazz or classical stations have the best quality broadcasting with little compression.  
Check out the bottom of the fmtunerinfo shootouts page:  
http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/shootouts.html
If you read the shootout info of each tuner you will find what each tuner goes for on Ebay. Hope this helps.

[woodsyi]

Ryno,

I recently rediscovered FM.  I picked up a used Kenwood KT 8300 after reading all the reviews on the site mentioned by Warner.  Audio Asylum also has a radio site that has alot of information.  I was getting pretty good sound with just a dipole antenna but I am in the process of getting a good attic antenna (I can't put up an outdoor one due to homeonwner's association rules ).  I am getting my tuna back from Bill Ammons after a mod.  You should be able to get a decent one like KT 7500 and upgrade later if you want to improve.  Happy bidding on Ebay.  Also check on doug s. offer on trading post here.

[Gordy]

Excellent advice!  FM tuners were in their heyday during the '70's and there are many nice examples still to be found for under $100.  I just picked up a second tuner (kinda new though, from the 80's) from another member here not two weeks ago!  

One thing though, in my location (blah blah) I've always had better reception with a simple dipole than a Terk.  Even better is the FM "Reflect" antenna from C.Crane...  http://www.ccrane.com/fm-antennas.aspx  , but like Warnerwh said, an outdoor antenna is far better!   I've personally never had any luck using the Fanfare/MD "whip" style omni antennae.

Where's DougS "the tuna man" when you need him?

[TIC]

Here's another approach. Get a tuner for your Hi-Fi and get a little extra functionality.

Take a look at the Tivoli Audio Model One, which is a good tuner and an excellent free-standing table radio. It is a mono radio but it outputs a stereo signal via the external output.

Maybe better yet is the Tivoli Audio PAL portable radio. The PAL is a good radio and a good tuner via the stereo output and it has a built-in rechargable battery, so you have a good emergency radio too.

Check out the Tivoli website for information. I think they offer a 30 day free trail if you order direct. The Model One is $99 and the PAL is $129 I think.

The Tivoli's are good, but probably not as good as a quality vintage tuner as previously posted. However, if you want a decent tuner and some really good additional funtionality, you might consider the Tivolis.

Enjoy,

TIC

[ryno]

Thanks for the web link, I'll have to read deeper when I have a few minutes.
The tivoli is a fun idea, but as per crutchfield, the model one is mono out both the headphone and out jacks. The pal however is stereo out the headphones. But, I think the highrer quality from a separate tuner might be better.
Ryan

[warnerwh]

Woodsyi: Many homeowner associations put it in that you can't have an antenna on your roof but I believe that has gone to court and that is illegal.  I'm pretty sure there's nothing they can do about it. Go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FMtuners/   and ask there as these guys will know for sure.

[woodsyi]

Warnerwh,

I will check on that and also check with the HOA's architectural committee to see if things have already changed.  There doesn't seem to be any regulation on mini dishes.  So, rules may already have changed without them alerting the owners. Or it could be that nobody is putting up TV/FM antenna anymore.  Thanks.

[Dan Banquer]

You may find this article of use.
             d.b.

http://www.audioholics.com/showcase/DIY/YamahaT-80p1.html

[doug s.]

I'm looking for a used tuner for my bedroom system, nothing fancy, for about $100. I've never had a separate tuner, and don't know what to look for. The only 2 stations worth getting, I can receive on my clock radio, but not real clean. so I'm looking for better than that, probably not too hard. Also it will be going into a CIaudio passive pre, if thats important, and a remote on/off would be great but not a deal breaker.
Thanks, Ryan

for that price range, i'd recommend nikko gamma 1, hitachi ft-5500mkll/ft-8000/ft-920, or philips 185.  i presently own the ft-8000 (as good as my tandberg 3001a), &, from folks whose ears i trust, i recommend the other hitachi's.  the nikko gamma 1 is *better*, imo, but i understand there may be unit-to-unit wariability.  the unit i had was amazing.  the philips 185 is also better sounding than the hitachi's - on par w/the nikko - but not quite as sensitive.  still should be more than good enuff, unless yure in a really difficult reception area.

i do have a coupla tuna's f/s (link to a-gon ad is in the trading post here), but a but more money than yure looking to spend.

as mentioned prewiously, fmtunerinfo.com is a good place to start searching for quality tuna.  re: the shootouts, be adwised it's fun reading, but one person's opinion only, in a small room.  a quality system, for sure, but not truly full range.  i agree w/many of jim rivers' shootouts assessments, but also have many disagreements.  as do most folk who read his shootouts that have a bit of tuna experience!  

re: antennae, a dipole will in fact be better than most any other indoor antenna - in most cases.  reception can be tricky, tho, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution.  personally, i like the nla rat-shack (archer) 15-1833.  this model has to be tuned, to match the station. (yust like the way-overpriced, way under-performing md signal sleuth.)  these types of indoor powered antennae are the only ones i have ever found to work at least as well as a cheap dipole.  some folk get good results w/rabbit-ear tv antennae.  outdoor roof-mount is certainly best.  i recommend the winegard hd-6065 - hard to beat for the price.  as good or better than the aps-9, which is twice the price, if not quite as good as the even spendier aps-13.

hth,

doug s.