[doug s.]

Hmm. The critics rave. I do listen to music pretty seriously. I don't want it to hurt when I listen to this Sony.

the critics rave? who are the critics?  fm tuna junkies, or journalists?  or casual fm listeners?  easily more than 75% of my serious listening is to fm.  and, i have a revealing system, and tho my turntable and cd front-ends aren't exactly shabby, quality fm has no problem keeping up.  i do listen to my sony xdr-f1hd - when i am having reception issues w/my fave station, which is usually ok from my location, but sometimes i have multipath issues.  then, the xdr is in play - but only thru my ase z-man tube buffer, otherwise i couldn't listen in the sweet spot.  the xdr is a signal hawk - it will get stations cleanly that even my modded spendy sansui tu-x1 cannot get cleanly.

if i owned my present dwelling instead of being a renter, there's no way a directional yagi antenna wouldn't be on the roof; then i wouldn't need the xdr at all.  i have considered sticking one in the attic, but i haven't gotten around to it...  if you really want quality fm, and have decent stations in your area, it would be well worth it to mount a directional yagi antenna on your roof.  (on a remote-control rotor, if stations are in different directions.)  even if you have to pay someone else to do it, it is well worth it, imo...

doug s.

[Mass. Wine Guy]

the critics rave? who are the critics? 

I was joking, Doug.

[jk@home]

My biggest problem with the Sony tuner is that it loses memory way to quickly, can't be powered down on a switched outlet. Wish they would fix that.

But it's definitely cheap and cheerful. Anyone here try running it through a tube buffer?

I bought a second one, along with a pair of M-Audio powered PC speakers, for a compact music system for my son's dorm room. He loves it.

[doug s.]

My biggest problem with the Sony tuner is that it loses memory way to quickly, can't be powered down on a switched outlet. Wish they would fix that.

But it's definitely cheap and cheerful. Anyone here try running it through a tube buffer?

read my prior posts in this thread, re: mod info, (which will fix memory, among other things), and tube buffers.

doug s.

[doug s.]

I was joking, Doug.

ok, i get it - me, the critic, raving about the xdr!   

seriously, because this tuna has such incredible sensitivity, it has gotten a lot of critical raves, but mostly from folks who don't know fm can be a true audiophile-quality music source.

doug s.

[Wayner]

First, the frequency response of any FM tuner is 50 to 15,000hz, not 20-20,000hz like other devices (TTs, CDs, Tape). Secondly, what possible programming could you possibly consider for "critical" listening? Minneapolis is one of the larger markets in the US, and other then a couple of classic rock, country and western, RAP or goof ball stations, that leaves the ever boring MPR (NPR) dribble to listen to, and their stuff is like top 40 am as it's the same music repeated about every 3rd day.

So I have to ask, what possible music could you ever listen to that is broadcast, worthy of "critical listening"? In my book, that would be ZERO.

Wayner 

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Good point, Wayne. I just want to listen to the radio, not sit in wonder of the sonic miracle coming through the little tuner. I figure if it goes through my Bel Canto and my Quad speakers, there is a small chance broadcasts will sound adequate.

[doug s.]

First, the frequency response of any FM tuner is 50 to 15,000hz, not 20-20,000hz like other devices (TTs, CDs, Tape). Secondly, what possible programming could you possibly consider for "critical" listening? Minneapolis is one of the larger markets in the US, and other then a couple of classic rock, country and western, RAP or goof ball stations, that leaves the ever boring MPR (NPR) dribble to listen to, and their stuff is like top 40 am as it's the same music repeated about every 3rd day.

So I have to ask, what possible music could you ever listen to that is broadcast, worthy of "critical listening"? In my book, that would be ZERO.

Wayner 

i have many tunas that have frequency responses past 16khz; i do not have any that don't go below 30hz, many go to 20hz or below. 

i am not familiar w/radio in minneapolis, but there are four stations i listen to in the frederick, md area that prowide me w/over 75% of my critical listening - between them, i get great broadcast quality, great sonics, and great programming.

it's fun when you have the stereo turned up, a guest walks in, sits down and listens for a while, comments how awesome it sounds and asks you what you're listening to; and you tell 'em it's the radio.   

wayner, now i know why you think the xdr is so great.   

doug s.

[doug s.]

Good point, Wayne. I just want to listen to the radio, not sit in wonder of the sonic miracle coming through the little tuner. I figure if it goes through my Bel Canto and my Quad speakers, there is a small chance broadcasts will sound adequate.

you have many excellent radio station choices in ne mass.  is your cdp and/or turntable merely "adequate"?    i am sure a cheap cdp and a cheap turntable will also give you "adequate" sound thru your belcanto and quads.   

get a top notch tuna, and you will have sonics to rival a top notch cd & winyl rig.  go wisit romy the cat in boston, and listen to his stereo and to his tuna...   

there are many radio programs that i look forward to listening to, plopped down in the "sweet spot", wolume turned up a bit, yust like when i am playing records &/or cd's.  the sound is superb, i must humbly admit... 

doug s.

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Doug, at this point I'd rather put my limited money into speakers, electronics and better sources than tuners. And wine. Lots and lots of wine. Perhaps my priorities will change after I hear this Sony.

[doug s.]

Doug, at this point I'd rather put my limited money into speakers, electronics and better sources than tuners. And wine. Lots and lots of wine. Perhaps my priorities will change after I hear this Sony.

here's a list of tunas that you can find for ~$50-$200, that will BE a better source; enough so, that you will want to listen to fm the same way you listen to your "other" sources.

sherwood s3000iv or v (tubes!)
nikko gamma 1
sansui tu517/717/917
mitsubishi da-f20
hitachi ft8000
creek cas3140
hitachi ft8000
sony st-s730es
jvc fx1100bk
hk citation 14/15/18
yamaha tx1000
yamaha t2

there's many more, these are simply what popped into my head now.   

if you simply buy a stock sony xdr f1hd, you won't be interested in fm as a serious source for audiophile-quality music.  and it IS a serious source for audiophile-quality music, as many happy quality tuna owners know.  regardless of what wayner says.   

it is true - not everyone is as extreme as i, regarding fm.  (but there's a lot of us, over on the yahoo fm tuna forum.)  i am actually considering selling my spendy modded refurb'd sansui tu-x1 and a handful of my other prized tuna possessions, to fund the purchase of a new accuphase t1100.  and i am someone who almost never purchases gear new.   

doug s.

[Speedskater]

For everything you need to know about the Sony tuner, see:

http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

For everything you need to know about FM antennas and many other things FM, see:

http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/index.html

[Ryanz]

Doug, at this point I'd rather put my limited money into speakers, electronics and better sources than tuners. And wine. Lots and lots of wine. Perhaps my priorities will change after I hear this Sony.

Agreed.......with the speakers aspect at least. I'm more of a Whiskey guy myself. However, I listen to talk radio as a background noise myself and I tell you what, the Sony does a mighty fine job in that respect.  Don't expect a lot out of this unit, but for $100 it's not a bad buy.

[Delacroix]

I bought one of these last year and only set it up a month or so ago in a second system. Worked great for a few weeks and even located a jazz only channel in HD put out by local NPR affiliate but...and this it the maddening part, for the last week the channel has just given out on me, I get it for a few secs, then it dies, but other HD channels come in fine. Any clues? I am using the supplied dipole and the web stream of same channel is fine, so I know the broadcasts are not interrupted at the station end.

[doug s.]

I bought one of these last year and only set it up a month or so ago in a second system. Worked great for a few weeks and even located a jazz only channel in HD put out by local NPR affiliate but...and this it the maddening part, for the last week the channel has just given out on me, I get it for a few secs, then it dies, but other HD channels come in fine. Any clues? I am using the supplied dipole and the web stream of same channel is fine, so I know the broadcasts are not interrupted at the station end.

call the station and ask them if they are having transmitter issues - they may not be broadcasting at full-strength.  or, try moving the tuna somewhere else (antenna up higher), and see if you get a better signal...

doug s.

[bikes and beats]

Okay, I just have to ask. I've been listening online (sent to my stereo via airport express) to my favorite radio stations and yes, some are poor quality at 64kb/s bit rate. Will I really notice a huge difference listening to an analog tuner?

[WGH]

...for the last week the channel has just given out on me, I get it for a few secs, then it dies, but other HD channels come in fine. Any clues?

Had the same problem for a while but it will fix itself, you don't have to do anything. The NPR channel has lost the sound feed but but is still broadcasting a digital signal. The XDR-F1HD first gets the analog signal for a second and you get sound, then it automatically switches to the digital feed which is quite. If you watch the HD display when it blinks ON the sound goes away. A digital-analog switch would fix this.

Our NPR station uses the second half of the digital signal too: 89.1 (1) and 89.1 (2) so you still may be able to get the channel on a sister station at the 2 setting. Example: 89.1 is also mirrored on 90.5 (2).

[Wayner]

I bought one of these last year and only set it up a month or so ago in a second system. Worked great for a few weeks and even located a jazz only channel in HD put out by local NPR affiliate but...and this it the maddening part, for the last week the channel has just given out on me, I get it for a few secs, then it dies, but other HD channels come in fine. Any clues? I am using the supplied dipole and the web stream of same channel is fine, so I know the broadcasts are not interrupted at the station end.

This time frame (seasonal) puts the sun's radiation in line with FM transmission. In the old days, lower band TV (stations 2 thru 5 especially) would suffer from the same solar radiation effects. I suspect that in a couple of weeks, the station may show up again. This same event happens in the fall of the year. I would suspect that well seasoned FM users would be aware of this.

Wayner 

[doug s.]

Okay, I just have to ask. I've been listening online (sent to my stereo via airport express) to my favorite radio stations and yes, some are poor quality at 64kb/s bit rate. Will I really notice a huge difference listening to an analog tuner?

if your system is resolving, and you have a quality signal that you want to listen to as more than background music, absolutely yes. usually the stations w/quality signal, (content is another issue - hopefully there are stations w/programming that you like), will not be commercial stations.

doug s.

[Noseyears]

An outstanding radio tuner for a nice price..i think the only drawback is the availability on stores (lousy sounding analog am anyone?).