[denjo]

My trusty Audiolab 8000T tuner is beginning to show its age! I have had it for the past 15 years and was repaired only once during this time. The display has suddenly died but it still provides music. Without the display, I often forget to switch it off and minute adjustments are impossible. I am looking for an audiophile quality tuner and have the following in my shortlist:

   Magnum Dynalab M-90T (its a triode based tuner)
   Magnum Dynalab (solid state)
   Rega Radio 3 (solid state)

The Denon tuner which I use in my bedroom is quite cheap and I wonder if I should really spend $$$ for a tuner, given that the sound can never be better than CD quality and reception can sometimes be a problem.

Any thoughts or recommendations will be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks,

Dennis

[Toka]

Some older tuners are far superior in sound quality to anything made today...Sansui TU-X1 is among the very best, ever.

Check out this site for some info/reviews:


http://www.fmtunerinfo.com

[SET Man]

Some older tuners are far superior in sound quality to anything made today...Sansui TU-X1 is among the very best, ever.

Check out this site for some info/reviews:


http://www.fmtunerinfo.com

Hey!

     Yup, I don't listen to radio much but I have a cheappy old Sansui 217 and I'm happy with it. I sure some other higher end model sound even better.

Take care,
Buddy

[Bill Baker]

I agree with the other comments. If you are going to do a lot of listening to a tuner, some of the older ones should not be overlooked. Sansui is probably among the favorite but some of the Kenwoods, Pioneers, AKAI, etc. provide great results. I have several tuners but all my radio listening is done on my mint Dynaco FM-5 (their first solid state)that I picked up for $15. My other tuner I use most often is my modified Jolida JD402.

[doak]

I quit counting the number of tuners I've owned but I suspect it's about 20 - modern SS, tube type, and vintage SS.  The best all around was a Sansui TU9900 aligned and modded by Don Scott.  I'm currently using a Luxman T117 that works and sounds very nice indeed (but MUST be left on continually to sound best).  Not only is it about one fourth the size of the Sansui, but is gettable for about one fourth the price. 

IMO forget about currently produced tuners.  This technology reached it apogee in the 1970's.

[consttraveler]

Check out www.antennaperformance.com.  They may be able to repair and tune your existing tuner for less than a new one.  They also sell modded and tuned equipment.

I have a Kenwood they modded and tuned.   

Dave

[zacster]

I've also gone through a bunch of tuners, but the 2 best that I remember were the Dynaco FM3 and the Onkyo T9.  The FM3 of course is a classic tube tuner.  The biggest problem with it now is that the eye tube that was used is considered unobtanium, so if you get one without it you won't have a tuning indicator.  The T9 was an analog tuner that would lock in on the station when you released the knob and had good sensitivity and noise rejection.

I've also had a NAD 4150, which I still have but it doesn't work, and multiple receivers.  For the amount of FM that I listen to, and the lack of sound quality of most stations, I just can't see investing in a tuner at this point.  I'm using my Outlaw 1050 HT receiver at the moment.  It actually is pretty good.

And on a couch potato note, I wouldn't get any tuner without a remote myself.  It just isn't worth the trouble to me.

[konut]

A few months back I purchased a Luxman T-02 from a member here on AC for $100. Couldn't be happier with it. Smoooooth. The site Toka mentioned is a great resource. A good tuner can be had for relatively cheap. Happy tuna fishing.

[lazydays]

My trusty Audiolab 8000T tuner is beginning to show its age! I have had it for the past 15 years and was repaired only once during this time. The display has suddenly died but it still provides music. Without the display, I often forget to switch it off and minute adjustments are impossible. I am looking for an audiophile quality tuner and have the following in my shortlist:

   Magnum Dynalab M-90T (its a triode based tuner)
   Magnum Dynalab (solid state)
   Rega Radio 3 (solid state)

The Denon tuner which I use in my bedroom is quite cheap and I wonder if I should really spend $$$ for a tuner, given that the sound can never be better than CD quality and reception can sometimes be a problem.

Any thoughts or recommendations will be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks,

Dennis

been thru a lot of tuners in the past and present (I have a Sansui TU717, a couple Onkyos and an HD tuner right now)
I don't really like the sound quality of the 717, but it's better than the $50 Onkyos I have. If I wanted a good tuner right now, I'd be looking for an Onkyo 9090II with a good antenna.
gary

[lazydays]

I've also gone through a bunch of tuners, but the 2 best that I remember were the Dynaco FM3 and the Onkyo T9.  The FM3 of course is a classic tube tuner.  The biggest problem with it now is that the eye tube that was used is considered unobtanium, so if you get one without it you won't have a tuning indicator.  The T9 was an analog tuner that would lock in on the station when you released the knob and had good sensitivity and noise rejection.

I've also had a NAD 4150, which I still have but it doesn't work, and multiple receivers.  For the amount of FM that I listen to, and the lack of sound quality of most stations, I just can't see investing in a tuner at this point.  I'm using my Outlaw 1050 HT receiver at the moment.  It actually is pretty good.

And on a couch potato note, I wouldn't get any tuner without a remote myself.  It just isn't worth the trouble to me.

I had a nice T-9 many years ago, and wish I could have another mint one
gary

[Wayner]

I just picked up an Onkyo T-4555 AM/FM/HD/XM/SIRIUS tuner and I must say that the HD rivals CD playback. I also have several tuners including a Dynaco FM-5 and In comparison, I would say the Onkyo sounds like the FM-5, without the hiss and better freq. and dynamic range. I had both set to the same station to do an easy AB. For 390 dollars it's a good buy.

Wayner

[denjo]

Hi Gentlemen

Thank you for your many recommendations ... wow, I have many choices to consider. The look and feel of vintage tuners is very tempting but I have to resist this route simply because my exeperience with other vintage gear has shown they need TLC (tender loving care) more so than new ones.

The Onkyos seem to have a reputation with tuners, so too the Luxman and Kenwood but surprisingly there was no Denon recommendation. The view of not spending too much $$$ on a tuner makes good sense. While I was checking out prices, I realised how small and light present day tuners are! On the other hand, my Audiolab feels a lot heavier and looks very solidly built. On a whim I called the Audiolab agents and told them what I was experiencing. An email to Audiolab UK was answered within 30 minutes!  A visit to their website is like deja vu! The new Audiolabs still retain the looks of the old Audiolabs. In fact, the design is identical! Anyway, the helpful customer service (service is paramount to me) advised me that all that was needed were 3 bulbs to replace the blown bulbs!!  It seems the new Audiolabs are now assembled in China but the design work and technology is British. I should check out how the new Audiolabs sound. When I started in this crazy horse, my audiophile friends who were more sane and prudent than me usually ended up with Audiolabs!

Once again, thanks very much guys! really appreciate the helpful advice which might come useful one day (hopefully not too soon).

Best Regards
Dennis

[doug s.]

hi dennis,

i was going to recommend you replace the bulbs of your 8000t - likely all that's wrong with it.  i would recommend against spending big bucks on a new tuna - you will have to spend $4500 on the new accuphase t1000 to get better sound than what you have.  and no way any magnum dynalab will compare to what you now have.  unless you buy their most expensive $9k tuna - that one might be close to your 8000t.  I have owned an 8000t, and its ranking on the fmtunerinfo.com site is accurate, imo - it's a killer sounding tuna.

now, for best sound on a budget, i would recommend vintage for sure.  do not be scared by reliablilty issues - spend some money on a refurb & mods, and you will be good for another 30 years, easy!      for $400-$1500 or so, you will have a tuna that will go toe to toe w/any tuna at any price.  but you awreddy have one that will!   

i would recommend against dealing w/aps for refurb/mods - ed hanlon is overpriced because he subs out the work to another ct shop - may as well go right to the source.  and, i have dealt w/the guy before - he's a paranoid schizophrenic.  seriously - he was amazingly abusive to me (and countless others) when i asked him a few simple tech questions.  i would also recommend against dealing w/don scott - if something he worked on sounds better than it did before, it's dumb luck - he uses no measuring equipment whatsoever, says he adjusts "by ear"!?!  impossible w/a tuna - it needs serious measuring equipment for proper alignment, etc...  and, i have heard horror stories from several techs and customers, regarding tunas he's "worked on"...

it was mentioned that some folks have gone thru a lot of tunas, doak mentioned something like twenty.  well, i presently have more than that right now!     recent personal financial difficulties mean i will be putting quite a few of them on the block, in all price ranges.  if you wanna spend a lot, i will be letting go a mint sansui tu9900 that was first modded & refurb'd by joseph chow at components plus usa; then further tweaked by mike williams (aka punker-x at audiokarma) of radio x tunas.  asking $1100 and worth every penny.  so close to my modded refurb'd sansui tu-x1 you couldn't tell 'em apart w/o direct a-b.  and even then, you might not know unless your rig has truly full-range bass.     (i may have to put the tu-x1 on the block, too, but we'll wait-n-see...    )  and, the tu9900 - one of the most handsome tunas ever made, imo, kicks the tu-x1's butt in the looks dept, imo.  if you want a more modern tuna that still sounds great, (not quite as good as your 8000t, but wery close), i have a mint marantz t-17 w/remote, (mine is black), that was aligned by none other than "ain't this stuff fun" ray macdonald, from the yahoo fmtuna forum, who also has >20 tunas presently, and is a tech freak as well.  he prowided me w/all the service notes he took, as well as owners manual, service manual & schematics.  i'd like $300 for this...  i have a really nice sansui tu-717 that also sounds great, i want $200 for it.  (and lazydays, if yours doesn't sound good than it for sure needs an alignment/service - these are excellent sounding tunas, imo.  the onkyo 9090ll you long for will have better sensitivity, but it won't sound as good.)  i have a few others, as well, if interested.     and, i can tell you about a lot of others you may be interested in, that i don't presently own, but have tried.  for example - denon tu850 is the denon to get, imo.  tu900 is also good, but it will need thorough servicing & mods, & it's even more rare than the relatively scarce tu850...

http://radioxtuners.com/
http://www.componentplususa.com/pages/upgrades.html
http://us.marantz.com/Products/617.asp

doug s.,
so many tunas, so little time... 

[denjo]

Hi Doug

Thanks very much for your very informative post! You are one of the most knowledgeable tuna enthusiast on AC!

I knew the Audiolab 8000T was a good tuner but did not realise, until your post and the rankings on fmtunerinfo.com how exalted it is! Wow, its that good huh? All the more reason that I should get it repaired!  I almost bit the bullet in purchasing a Magnum Dynalab M90T!!

I have been eyeing the Sansui TU-9900 for sometime now and your offer is very enticing!  However, the 110 v operation (which means I need a converter) and the high shipping costs bring me back to reality! How I wish I lived in the States! Your other recommendations sound quite appealing as well ...help, someone restrain me please!! 

Doug, I will be sending my tuner in for repair real soon. Let's see what the technician says. I might come back to you for advice or purchase negotiation!  Let's see!

Best regards
Dennis

Ps, the Accuphase T1000 is one lovely looking (and sounding) tuna but its almost as costly as my amplifier!

[Berndt]

A few months back I purchased a Luxman T-02 from a member here on AC for $100. Couldn't be happier with it. Smoooooth. The site Toka mentioned is a great resource. A good tuner can be had for relatively cheap. Happy tuna fishing.

I am very glad you like the T-02.
It is a sure winner.
I had Radio X do the full boat tuner mods to my T-02 and when A/B'd with Konuts stocker it was not a great difference.
I think these Luxmans are very underated.
Regards, Bill