FM heaven

[Colinijohnson]

Love my Rotel RT 950BX Tuner I paid £30 for. sensitivity is superb. Outperforms my Naim fm streamer. Good antenna helps.
I've tried various British fm tuners - Cyrus, Arcam etc but they just dont cut it. I'm surrounded by trees!
Question is - tuners seem so cheap, and it's my preferred source. Can anyone advise me of any hidden gems out there... Sony, Marantz, Denon etc?? Tuners are so cheap - I'd be interested in an upgrade :)

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[vinylspinner]

Sony ST-S730es. Excellent Japanese tuner that can still occasionally be picked up cheaply. Mine cost £20.
If you want something better, Beomaster 5000, fantastic FM tuner but not cheap, mine is a definite keeper.

[dave2010]

Sony ST-S730es. Excellent Japanese tuner that can still occasionally be picked up cheaply. Mine cost £20.
If you want something better, Beomaster 5000, fantastic FM tuner but not cheap, mine is a definite keeper.I have one of these - Sony ST-D777ES DAB - but I'm not selling. What I would recommend if you can find one is a JVC TX55 if you can find one at a good price - https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/jvc/t-x55.shtml I'm afraid I"m not selling that one either!

I suppose if I give up all ambition to listen to radio these will eventually become available, but probably not this year.

I can't see one for sale here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/JVC-Home-Radio-Tuners/22635/bn_18495220 - though some of the other JVC synthesiser tuners may be similar, and as you say, they're not too expensive - typically under £50. Check the specs against the TX55, and make a judgement.

What do you listen to?

[Colinijohnson]

I've just won a Sony ST-S530ES on ebay for 50 - it seems from the same family. Will give that a go. Anyone know it?

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[Kvaal]

Tandberg TPT 3001, regarded as one of the best, or the TPT 3011, not so far behind. If you can get one, you won`t part with it.

If you can use a reciever - look for Tandberg TR 1000 or any other TR -recievers from the mid to the late 70`s. In my country we have a lot of mountains making it hard for FM reception.So we developed our own: Tandberg.

[Colinijohnson]

thanks - I might just get a tandberg receiver & use the tape out to my amp. they seem quite reasonable, but the tuners are scarce

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[Ali Tait]

Had an Accuphase T101 which was superb. Regretted selling it.

[Barry]

There are many good FM tuners out there. Those that have passed through my hands are: all of the Quad designs; a Cambridge Audio T55; a couple of Bang & Olufsen models (5000 and 1700) and a Leak 'Troughline Stereo'. Of these, the only one which has disappointed me for sound quality has been the Leak, but that was due to the poor decoder fitted. At the moment I use a Quad FM4, as I like the ability to pre-set stations.

On the whole, the best tuners tend to be either US or Japanese designs; these having better sensitivity and selectivity. Until the advent of local radio in the UK, British tuners did not need to have have high sensitivity or selectivity, so measure poorly in this respect.

At university, a fellow student used a Tandberg receiver (I forgot the model number) which was very good; as was the Tandberg reel-to-reel machine he had.

[Kvaal]

If you seek the best sound and reception, it will cost you money. There are some good tuners out there from different brands, many of them named here. Here is a good site for your purpose: https://www.fmtunerinfo.com/

The smallest Tandberg-recievers are good in reception but hardly something for the audiophile. The poweramps in them are weak, with low current capabilities. But the TR 1000-series, and the biggest ones in the TR 2000-series have decent power-sections as well.

One of the very best recievers (as tuner) is the "Tandberg Huldra 10", which is a stereo world radio with a superb AM-section as well. This radio is not so well known outside Norway, so you can get them for a reasonable price. Good sounding amplifier, but weak power-amp. You can get high-end-sound out of it with a pair of the smaller Klipsch-speakers. The Klipsches are easy to drive. I don`t know if the "Huldra" was marketed in the UK. In Norway it is (was) the name of the best.

A fellow of me, living in the difficult mountain-area in the western part of Norway regards the Sanyo-radios (Together with Tandberg) high on reception abilities in difficult conditions. I have no experience with this brand.

Anyway: Good luck to you!

[guy]

I have no complaints regarding my Denon TU260L.

[Flo]

Have had many tuners, best was md 108t, a analogue marvel, but should be for the coin it cost. Next was Accuphase t1000, a joy to use.
Currently using Cyrus fm x with psx, for peanuts the fm x was £100, real giant killer with roof Ariel and tuner section fed by psx.
Shame bbc content now so poor, if I hear one more second rate tv presenter given their own show I will scream. Radio2 now embarrassing , with average age of DJ now 105, Ken bloody Bruce and Steve Wright been doing exactly same stik for 40 years. Arrogant twats. The big show, omg.
Radio 4 more repeats than a bad curry. Shame grew up on radio Luxembourg in its glory days, and world service which is now a extended business programme.

[Colinijohnson]

Thankfully you didnt berate Tony Blackburn!!
I tried a Cyrus FM without decent results, & an Arcam 8. My roof aerial is substantial.
I do receive very good results with the Rotel, but during the daytime the sound often deteriorates. I feel it is the signal & the tuners ability to cope with it.

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[Pharos]

Have had many tuners, best was md 108t, a analogue marvel, but should be for the coin it cost. Next was Accuphase t1000, a joy to use.
Currently using Cyrus fm x with psx, for peanuts the fm x was £100, real giant killer with roof Ariel and tuner section fed by psx.
Shame bbc content now so poor, if I hear one more second rate tv presenter given their own show I will scream. Radio2 now embarrassing , with average age of DJ now 105, Ken bloody Bruce and Steve Wright been doing exactly same stik for 40 years. Arrogant twats. The big show, omg.
Radio 4 more repeats than a bad curry. Shame grew up on radio Luxembourg in its glory days, and world service which is now a extended business programme.

At Last someone who has a similar view to me on the BBC; how the mighty have fallen.
Radio four seems to be a mutual admiration society for the graduate liberal elite, who waffle on endlessly, and with minimal content, but expressing self aggrandising and showcasing, presumably for self esteem and more money.

I cannot bear; Alan Carr, Graham Norton, Sara Cox, Zoe Ball, and many others, and even the blues woman is annoyingly and cloyingly self indulgent compared with Paul Jones.

Ken Bruce is at least tolerable because he seems less egotistical, but Steve Wright is such an egotist, and so strident in nature, and an arrogant twat. Serious Bulshittin'. Rylan, despite his overall style does play some good music, and Lisa Tarbuck does to me have good taste, but the 'playing into the domestic married lives' style is annoying.

I yearn for yester year, John Peel, self effacing, and discussing the merits of the art.

Technically there is no comparison with the meticulous nature which it showed to audio quality 50 years ago; they are a disgrace.

[Macca]

At Last someone who has a similar view to me on the BBC; how the mighty have fallen.
Radio four seems to be a mutual admiration society for the graduate liberal elite, who waffle on endlessly, and with minimal content, but expressing self aggrandising and showcasing, presumably for self esteem and more money.

I cannot bear; Alan Carr, Graham Norton, Sara Cox, Zoe Ball, and many others, and even the blues woman is annoyingly and cloyingly self indulgent compared with Paul Jones.

Ken Bruce is at least tolerable because he seems less egotistical, but Steve Wright is such an egotist, and so strident in nature, and an arrogant twat. Serious Bulshittin'. Rylan, despite his overall style does play some good music, and Lisa Tarbuck does to me have good taste, but the 'playing into the domestic married lives' style is annoying.

I yearn for yester year, John Peel, self effacing, and discussing the merits of the art.

Technically there is no comparison with the meticulous nature which it showed to audio quality 50 years ago; they are a disgrace.

Yes I agree, especially Sara Cox who is just terrible, so boring I have to switch off.

Don't use my tuner that much, sometimes have it on when I'm working. Mainly listen to Smooth FM as it's the most like Radio 2 used to be in the late 1970s, early 1980s. There are adverts but thankfully very little chatter.

Radio Two now mostly plays the ersatz crap from 10 years ago and I don't know what it is that Radio One plays but it isn't music at all as far as I'm concerned.

I use a Technics ST-G5L tuner from 1984. Got it for nothing about 25 years ago. I have a rooftop aerial, one of the circular ones, as recommended by the installer. Sound quality is adequate to good but I do have line of site to the mast as it's only about two miles away.

[Flo]

Ya boo bbc controllers, the only bit of radio 2 worth hearing was the evening slot for jazz, blues country folk, now shoved to to early hours.
Don’t mind Lisa tarbuck. And dermot O’Leary was excellent, his live guest sessions were a weekly highlight,[got several ex cds] got changed and moved. One more camp sarky host and I will scream.
Most sad is demise of world service, use to be a wide range of interesting oddities from around world, now a audio version of news 24, which is the most anaemic bland news on tv. So terrified of government it’s lost its critical mojo, merely promotes gov propaganda, ie Yemen .
Tbh get tv news off Al Jazeera, bias yes but honest about it.
Used to sing praises of bbc, now could happily see it privatised.

[Colinijohnson]

Ya boo bbc controllers, the only bit of radio 2 worth hearing was the evening slot for jazz, blues country folk, now shoved to to early hours.
Don’t mind Lisa tarbuck. And dermot O’Leary was excellent, his live guest sessions were a weekly highlight,[got several ex cds] got changed and moved. One more camp sarky host and I will scream.
Most sad is demise of world service, use to be a wide range of interesting oddities from around world, now a audio version of news 24, which is the most anaemic bland news on tv. So terrified of government it’s lost its critical mojo, merely promotes gov propaganda, ie Yemen .
Tbh get tv news off Al Jazeera, bias yes but honest about it.
Used to sing praises of bbc, now could happily see it privatised.Agree with most of what's been said. I blame the younger generation! To me Chris Evans & that woman, Zoe Ball are responsible.
I do enjoy Jamie McCallum, Johnnie Walker and most of Tony Blackburns stuff - he might be poptastic, but he knows his Soul music. I wish the BBC would stop rescheduling programmes - miss his bbc London afternoon soul slot

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[Barry]

I wouldn't know - I never listen to Radio 1 or Radio 2; only listen to Radio 3 and 4, and LBC.

There are plenty of interesting discussion programmes on R4, such as 'In our Time', and 'The Life Scientific' as well as plays and comedy programmes to listen to. I used to listen to the World Service (on MW), but haven't for a long time now.

Agree about the poor SQ (I blame the use of Optimod), but the 'Proms' broadcasts on R3 are IMO very good. What really annoys me is the excessive chestiness of the continuity announcers.

[Macca]

Radio 4 is just weird. It unsettles me.

[Barry]

Radio 4 is just weird. It unsettles me.

Probably an age thing! ;)

[Pharos]

Who who ever thought that Chris Evans was talented? Another vacuous prat, and I think Melvyn Bragg is up hi sown a***.

Johnnie Walker is a breath of fresh air, and in lockdown he is obviously paying attention to SQ and mic. positioning, it is often very good.

But R4, and mic positioning, and even on the news.

I nearly bought an Accuphase tuner yesterday, but it won't quite fit into my rack.

[Pharos]

You see what you guys have done? I have now bought an Accuphase tuner from Germany via the bay, and childish though it is, I'm excited.

I just had to see if it was possible to squeeze more out of FM.

[tapid]

You see what you guys have done? I have now bought an Accuphase tuner from Germany via the bay, and childish though it is, I'm excited.

I just had to see if it was possible to squeeze more out of FM.

Withl these miserable comments about modern radio you must be wondering if its all worth it :eyebrows:

[Pharos]

Yes very much so, but I want a forensic analysis before I write a completely condemnatory analysis and critique of the BBC, asking them if they really think that the crap they turn pout warrants the licence fee.

[Flo]

I really like large chunks of bbc radio 6 but via dac, dab sucks, used to find in many cases free view tuner thru main rig was better than fm.
Accuphase is so good at finding obscure stations, makes a great journey of exploration, many superb stations on continent in early hours.

[Pharos]

I have been comparing DVB with FM, and sometimes DVB is better, but often they are both not very good suggesting that the source may be to blame.

I look forward to receiving continental stations via FM, living on the sea front.

[AJSki2fly]

Love my Rotel RT 950BX Tuner I paid £30 for. sensitivity is superb. Outperforms my Naim fm streamer. Good antenna helps.
I've tried various British fm tuners - Cyrus, Arcam etc but they just dont cut it. I'm surrounded by trees!
Question is - tuners seem so cheap, and it's my preferred source. Can anyone advise me of any hidden gems out there... Sony, Marantz, Denon etc?? Tuners are so cheap - I'd be interested in an upgrade :)

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Hitachi FT-5500 MK2, have a read of the reviews online, I have one and performance is superb. Make sure it is the Mk2, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Hitachi-High-End-FT-5500-FM-AM-Stereo-Tuner/333651323703?hash=item4daf2b2b37:g:4MMAAOSwpCRfCYI n this is cheap just touch the edges up

[Pharos]

Hitachi FT-5500 MK2, have a read of the reviews online, I have one and performance is superb. Make sure it is the Mk2, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Hitachi-High-End-FT-5500-FM-AM-Stereo-Tuner/333651323703?hash=item4daf2b2b37:g:4MMAAOSwpCRfCYI n this is cheap just touch the edges up

They are, or were well regarded, and I have one in the loft which I use for measuring the aerial I/P level. I haven't recently A/Bed it with any others, I have the AVI S200 Mk i and the Mk II, and will do some comparisons. It was £30 15 years ago.

[AJSki2fly]

They are, or were well regarded, and I have one in the loft which I use for measuring the aerial I/P level. I haven't recently A/Bed it with any others, I have the AVI S200 Mk i and the Mk II, and will do some comparisons. It was £30 15 years ago.

I also tried a Sansui TU-S7 which is very good, I happen to have it up for sale on here.


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[Barry]

Hitachi FT-5500 MK2, have a read of the reviews online, I have one and performance is superb. Make sure it is the Mk2, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Hitachi-High-End-FT-5500-FM-AM-Stereo-Tuner/333651323703?hash=item4daf2b2b37:g:4MMAAOSwpCRfCYI n this is cheap just touch the edges up

LOL - I recently threw out one of those tuners. It was in poor condition however.

[Pharos]

If you admire the BBC:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGFNkaNPAx8

[Colinijohnson]

update:
I bought a Sony ST 530ES on ebay for £50. Arrived in great condition & just plugged it in.
initial impressions are that it's a seriously good tuner. The Rotel RT 950BX was good, but the Sony has improved imagery, less distortion and pulls in the stations about 10% better which makes a big difference. Bass is fantastic. Very happy - all for a bullseye!

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[Pharos]

I've been listening to my new Accuphase T-105 for a few days now, and particularly today listening to R2 most of the day, I am amazed at what can be obtained from FM. I've read several threads stating that a good tuner can equal and even beat a CD player, and I was very sceptical.

Today absolutely wonderful for 7 hours, and hearing higher resolution and detail than I have retrieved form my supposedly good CD player.
I'll search for the most recent Accuphase which will fit into my rack.

[Macca]

update:
I bought a Sony ST 530ES on ebay for £50. Arrived in great condition & just plugged it in.
initial impressions are that it's a seriously good tuner. The Rotel RT 950BX was good, but the Sony has improved imagery, less distortion and pulls in the stations about 10% better which makes a big difference. Bass is fantastic. Very happy - all for a bullseye!

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I've got the matcing 530ES amplifier which is also a cut above. Must have been a good year for ES. 1990 I think.

[Colinijohnson]

after a good listen I'd say in some respects the Sony wins over the Rotel and in others not. I seem to be getting some sort of signal crossover distortion depending upon the time of day. When the signal is good the Sony has better bass & signal capture. The Rotel seems to have superior separation.
I'm now tempted with a kenwood 5020 tuner - does anyone know it?

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[Pharos]

I don't, but the more I look at the Tuner information centre, and I have been nearly all day, the more I see gems.

I love the sound of my Accuphase, and I'm considering a better one. On Steve Wright this afternoon heard Ace of Bass, All She Wants is to Have Another Baby, and it is the best I have ever heard it especially the sax. Well recorded too.