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Conference hips::uk_audioo

Title:You get surface noise in real life too
Notice:Let's be conformist
Moderator:GOVT02::BARKER
Created:Thu Jul 28 1988
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:550
Total number of notes:3847

280.0. "Looking for a Tuner" by SIEVAX::LAW (Mathew Law, SIE (Reading, UK)) Mon May 27 1991 18:42

    A friend of mine is looking at tuners, and needs suggestions.  Has
    anyone out there got advice or opinions, especially on recent models?
    
    His price range is quite wide (up to 500 pounds, perhaps even more if
    performance warrants it).  He is particularly looking for something
    which has a low level of background noise.  Signal strength is unlikely
    to be a problem.  Although he's not bothered whether the tuning is
    manual or preset, a digital frequency readout is considered essential.
    
    At the moment, he is considering the Onix BWD-1, maybe the Naim NAT02
    if it's really worth the extra money, and perhaps the Meridian 204.
    
    Comments?  Reviews?  Suggestions?
    
    Thanks.
    
    Mat.
    *:o)
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
280.1SKIWI::EATONMarketing - the rubber meets the skyTue May 28 1991 00:015
The Naim is the best I've heard. Only you can determine if it's worth the extra
money. I've never heard the Nait01.

It all depends on how much you listen to FM and the quality of the signals in 
your area.
280.2Wait for the KremlinCHEST::WATSONBlood on the RooftopsTue May 28 1991 09:4012
    The ION FM-1 (?) is very good at somewhere between �250 and �350 I cant
    remember which or there is always the Kremlin from Linn Products. No
    firm price (or availability) yet but don't expect much change from
    �1200.
    
    The Naims are very good but do require a *very* good signal otherwise
    they sound *awful*.
    
    All tuners in this catagory will require either a unidirectional FM
    ariel + rotator or a �can't-remember-the-name� omni. There is a swiss
    (?) co. which makes these omni's (�60) which look a bit like a CB
    ariel. I can look up a contact address if your interested..
280.3Another vote for the NAT02BAHTAT::SALLITTTue May 28 1991 12:3014
    I briefly heard a Naim NAT02 in a shop recently. It produced the most
    beguilingly musical yet lifelike sound I have ever heard from a
    broadcast. The actual broadcast was a live Radio 3 transmission of a
    Mozart piano sonata from St. John's, Smith Square. Awsome. How well it
    will reproduce Radio 1 or any other grossly compressed signal is hard
    to say, but my guess is that it will reveal all; in any event I
    couldn't bring myself to retune as the Mozart broadcast was soooo good.
    At �700 it is expensive, but if a tuner is an important sourc, i.e.
    used as much as CD or LP, then it represents good value.
    
    In spite of .0's assertion that signal strength isn't an issue, a good
    aerial is still essential, whatever the friend buys.
    
    Dave
280.4Musical Fidelity T1COMICS::FLANDERSDBoogie my speakers awayTue May 28 1991 14:014
    
    At the less expensive end of the price spectrum, I hear good things
    about the Musical Fidelity T1...
    
280.5CYRUS and ONKYOZPOVC::PARRYCHUASingapore, Life is bid-$-fineWed May 29 1991 07:515
    DENON TU800, ONKYO T9090, T4700, PROTON N670 and CYRUS are SP
    recommended list. ONKYO and CYRUS has remote control.
    
    regards
    Parry
280.6Thank youSIEVAX::LAWMathew Law, SIE (Reading, UK)Thu May 30 1991 17:398
    Thanks for the help so far.  Any more suggestions would be appreciated. 
    Anyone listened to a Meridian 204?
    
    Cheers,
    
    mat.
    *:O)
    
280.7ONKYO T4500 is good tunnerZPOVC::PARRYCHUASingapore, Life is bid-$-fineSat Jun 01 1991 12:137
    I own a ONKYO T4500, I am very please with the sounic quality of this
    tuner. My other system consists of a CYRUS TWO with PSX and speaker is
    KEF C75. Meridian products are rather expensive in Singapore. Most of
    the Japanese products are good price. The ONKYO tunner is better than
    the DENON in my opinions.
    
    Parry
280.8Sony RDS tunerHEAVY::LAWMathew Law, SIE (Reading, UK)Fri Aug 16 1991 14:1633
    Hello again.  After attempts at listening to several of the tuners
    suggested here (as well as others) the winner was... the Denon TU260.
    Cheap, sensitive, sounds good.
    
    It seems to be virtually impossible to get a good tuner demo.  Most
    places in London have poor aerials, as does Reading Hi-Fi.  I've just
    bought a new Sony ST-S370LB, but had to borrow two tuners to get any
    kind of reasonable comparison.
    
    Brief review of the Sony:
    
    Sounds great with a good signal.  Little or no hiss, and no sign of
    irritating high-pitched whistling.  Good soundstage, good bass,
    midrange and fairly good treble.
    
    Lots of features (because it's an RDS tuner).  Shows program name,
    frequency, time (if being transmitted), and signal strength.  The
    signal strength meter displays to the nearest dBf, and is very useful
    for aerial alignment in a poor signal area.  Lots of presets (30) that
    can be assigned to any band or frequency, and given an 8 character
    description.
    
    The only really bad point is the sound quality on poor signals. 
    Instead of breaking up into the usual FM hiss, there are some rather
    unpleasant buzzes and whistles (similar to listening to a radio in
    DECpark when sitting amongst the computers!).  Fortunately, this only
    occurs with very poor signals.
    
    Price is �140.  Good value for money.
    
    Mat.
    *:o)