digital tuner VS analog tuner

[danger boy]

this is in now way scientific.. just my observation today.

I did an A/B test on two older tuners I have hooked up to my SDA 2 ch separates..

The analog tuner is a Pioneer TX-7800 and the digital tuner is a Kenwood KT58

I know the Pioneer dates from around 1979 or so.. I'm not sure about the Kenwood. I can't find any info on it.. but I'm guessing mid 80's or so.

Basically I hooked up both of them using the same signal cable 2's to my pre amp.
and I tuned both tuners to the same stations and switched between both tuners back and forth.

The Kenwood KT-58 beat the analog Pioneer for clairity without any problems. I was disappointed in the Pioneer TX-7800 as my other Pioneer is such a good tuner. My other Pioneer tuner is a TX-9500II.. and is still my reference tuner that I haven't found any used tuners I have owned that sound better than that one. I guess not all tuners by the same company sound the same at all.

[bikezappa]

http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/

More tuna information and comparisons than you can imagine.

The best tunas were made before 1985 IMHO.

[mhardy6647]

The best tunas were made prior to about 1966, actually (although I'll give Dick Sequerra credit for the Sequerra tuners he did quite a while after the 10B).

Your Marantz 10B
Your REL Precedent
Your McIntosh MR-67 and MR-71 (OK, the MR-78's pretty nice, too)
Your Fisher FM-1000
Your Rodhe & Schartz EMS broadcast monitor

Now, I'll grant you that some of the later, solid state tuners (e.g., some of the better Kenwoods) will outperform their predecessors in terms of RF/IF performance (sensitivity/selectivity) but not (generally) sonically, or in terms of sheer soul.

Heck, I really like my humble little Sherwood S-2000 and S-3000, which sound really great and cost really little.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mhardy6647/TX2andbottlehead.jpg
Just my NSHOs of course...

[Face]

I can't believe how well the tuner works in my MX115(circa 1971-4).

[billbillw]

DB, any tuner that old could benefit from a service/filter upgrade/alignment. Analog tuners are especially in need of this since the variable capacitor gets dirty and the circuit doesn't perform the same because of this. The digital tuners are more resistant to changes over time, but they can still be improved with an alignment.
So, its not really fair to compare a tuner that is almost 30 years old to a newer one unless the older tuner is seviced and working to its full potential.

Not really sure if the TX-7800 is worth sinking any money into or not though.

[GV#27]

Some of the best tuners ever made are still being built by these guys. http://www.magnumdynalab.com/fmtuner-md109.htm

[beardog03]

I use my Polk XM tuna all the time..

I really think my Parasound T/DQ-1600 is one of the best I have ever had, even better than the Nakamichi.

I also have an old Fisher that I got from Russman , for my uncle to use in the Rig that I have been putting together for him....
I have not used it much, but I do know that each one of these is a completely different animal...


seems like I have a tuna from every 15-20 years apart...70`s, 90`s & now

That magnum looks pretty cool, although I don`t know of anyone that has owned one

[RuSsMaN]

Mrh, have I seen that picture before? ;)

I use a mono Sherwood S-3000 II in the whole house rig, one of the best sounding tunas I've had. I've got a few Sherwoods I've been hording, they just sound SO good.

Cheers,
Russ

[danger boy]

agree with billbillw.. that this older Pioneer tuner could benefit from an filter and maybe cap upgrade and complete alignment.. it's unfortunate that I don't have a qualified enough repair shop here that will do it correctly. and as he said, may not even be worth the cost to me.

[beardog03]

old tuna`s are KOOL !~

[dave shepard]

I just bought the Rotel RT1084 and am waiting for it to arrive. I'm hopeing it is as good as I have heard, we'll see this week.

Dave

[beardog03]

I was really supprised at how well the Parasound sounded !

I bought it to match my HCA-1000, and the 850 pre..

it`s my garage rig...with a pir of 38i`s


I would love to get one of those old 200 lb tuna`s from back in the day...like I see in old school threads..

Hey DB, got any pic`s ?

[mhardy6647]

Mrh, have I seen that picture before?
Well, yah, but at least it's not the one I usually use! :-)

Didn't know you were a Sherwood tuna guy!