floydianpsyche
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Joined: Jun 11 2008 - 11:20am
Tuner under $100
mrlowry
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Joined: May 30 2006 - 1:37pm

Steve Guttenberg (no not THAT Steve Guttenberg) recently wrote a piece for his Cnet blog about a really inexpensive Sony AM/FM with HD radio tuner that really knocked his socks off you might want to check it out. Check it out at http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-10106377-47.html?tag=mncol;title It was way less than $100. He seems to insinuate that it's as good as a Magnum Dynalab or Fanfare (though he never mentions either of those companies by name) if one reads between the lines. As a FM tuner fanatic I find that HIGHLY doubtfull. But I'd hurry, if Sony finds out that they accidentally let something halfway decent be released in their non-ES line they'll quickly discontinue it.

You might also consider picking up a used analog tuner using www.fmtunerinfo.com as a guide to what is worth your wile. Analog tuners (or more accurately variac based tuners) are far superior to digital tuners (more properly refered to Quarts lock loop tuners.) Why are analog tuner better? Here is a quote from Robert Harley's "Complete Guide to High-end Audio." "Analog tuners have lower noise, and also allow fine-tuning to find the center of a station. Synthesized tuners jump in discrete steps of at least 25kHz, precluding the precise degree of fine-tuning possible with an infinitely variable analog tuner."

JIMV
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Consider the parasound ztuner used or as a demo

http://www.parasound.com/vintage/ztuner.php

jackfish
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I have purchased several vintage tuners on eBay and have been completely satisfied. Many have been under $100. The nicest I obtained was an Akai AT-2600. There is no comparison between a good vintage tuner and most modern tuners.

http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/

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