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My research indicates that the Sansui TU-X1 may be the best-sounding nodded tuner. Is that correct?
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I only have the MPX board to do, which is the most difficult to get to(requires some disassembling) but I am awaiting a few caps so should have it complete within a couple of weeks. I'll give you an opinion once all the new caps settle in. So far, the sound is pretty incredible. Just upgrading the power supply board with expensive Black Gates and putting in a new bridge rectifier improved the sound tremendously. I have never heard such amazing soundstage, stereo separation and prodigious bass from any tuner and I have a few modded tuners that unmodified gave them higher rankings than the TU-X1 in the FMtuner shoot-out.. I'm going to guess that the finalized modified TU-X1 just might make it to the top of my rankings. Whichever tuner wins will be in my main system as my reference tuner. Current reference tuners are modified Sansui TU-9900 and H/K Citation 18. I also have a highly modded Sansui TU-717(Black gates, Silmic II and expensive film and foil throughout) and it is also an incredibly musical tuner with the right antenna and a good live broadcast from NPR)
It would be very interesting if you include the Philips AH673 tuner in the bunch. I've compared the Philips AH673 tuner against Sansui TU 717 and Nikko Gamma V tuners the Philips has better resolving power, excellent sound stage width and depth, robust and neutral sounding and have better highs and lows and on top of that it's eerily quiet when it's totally locked in into the FM station.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
...I also have an upgraded Philips AH673(silver) that is one of my favorites. It has an issue in the power supply so it has been in the closet for a while. Once I get it running properly it will go back in the rotation amongst my reference tuners. I believe that once you replace the old electrolytic caps in the AH673 and get it aligned, it is definitely a top five tuner regardless of price.
is hard to come by. I feel your pain and good luck in finding one.
BTW, I was just listening to my friend's top of the line Magnum Dynalab tuner Model MD 108T Signature. I was a little disappointed with the over all sound characteristics as it sounded like a digital tuner. Perhaps this has to do with the antennae that he had or lack of one. I don't know I didn't ask. But it sure look very impressive though.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
...and finding replacement parts is even more so. I'm hoping the problem is the IC regulator. I ordered one from Mouser and am hoping it will fix the issue. I want to get the tuner back into rotation and do a one-on-one comparison with my H/K Citation 18.
.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
I got the ic regulator for the power supply on my AH673, but unfortunately the problem was still there. I finally determined that the power supply board had gone through too many cap upgrades with too many damaged traces,etc. so I searched for another AH673 and was fortunate to find a fair cosmestic but working AH6731(black). I got a good deal on it so I just got it in and took the power supply board out and put it into my upgraded 673. Voila! I now have sound. I just replaced all the old caps and diodes in it and it is making beautiful music once again.
On another note, I just completed the refurbishing of my Sansui TU-X1 and although there are many Black gate and Silmic II caps that need a couple of weeks to fully break in, I can tell the sound will be spectacular. I am anticipating this being my new reference tuner, although I could very happily live with the Philips AH673 as my reference. This labor of love has been very fruitful.
Perhaps, I should send you my 673 as well as it needed some refurbishing. The bulbs have been replaced and aligned about 5 years ago, but since then some of the bulbs especially the tuning port are out.
Good for you!
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
You can buy LED lights in different colors on Ebay. I have the original bulbs in one tuner and green LED in the other. The LED last a very long time.
I'll look into it.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
If your tuner still has original electrolytic caps in it, you won't believe how much better it will sound with new audio-grade caps in the power supply, mpx and IF section.
upgrade I'll let you know. Hopefully you can help me.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
...that our friend Hoosier, who posts on this forum, provided everyone. This is what I went by when upgrading my tuner. The only difference is that I put expensive Black Gates in the power supply as well as in the other boards, sprinkled with some Elna Silmic II caps.http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/DIY.html#AH673
Edits: 09/17/16
Thanks again.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
I did my first tuner upgrade on my AH673 back in 2014. I was a novice at the time and emailed Hoosier(John Carpenter) who helped me when I got stuck with something through numerous emails. John was very patient with me as I emailed him a lot and probably got on his nerves a time or two. I have learned a lot in the last two years and have gotten much better with a soldering station. This has been a hobby for me, a labor of love...something to keep me occupied in the evenings after a long day at work. It is a fun hobby as it fascinates me when I simply replace a few parts in a tuner or receiver and hear a nice improvement in sound as it breaks in. It is kind of like a therapy for me. I think I read somewhere that John had refurbished at least six of the AH673 tuners so far. John is very prolific with tuners as he's been upgrading quite a few makes and models for many years now. I also upgraded, thanks to John's help and support, my H/K Citation 18, Sansui TU-9900, Sansui TU-717 and most recently my Sansui TU-X1.
breaking in on my kitchen table through my modified Marantz 2270 receiver.
Tuners. Enjoy!!
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
Hi, sherod!Is that my Philips 6731 in black that looks so stunning atop the heap?
If so, I am very glad you are enjoying it.
;-)
A question:
I am considering picking up a Sansui TU-X1 in the next five years.
Since I have extensive listening experience with the Philips, could you please elaborate on the sonic differences between the two?
I am hoping a TU-X1 would be my new reference as well,
although I suspect getting my Sony ST-A7B properly restored/upgraded might be a tough challenge to even the TU-X1.Thank you, kind sir!
Edits: 04/01/17
I just now saw this post. It might be your tuner I bought a few months back. I have it modified and need to only get it aligned. As good as the AH673 and Citation 18 tuners are, the Sansui TU-X1, properly modded with new e-caps, etc. just wipes the floor with them. Everything is just better with the TU-X1, but i could be very happy with the other two if that's all I had to listen to.
nt
But, according to Tuner info's shootout the Sansui TU-XI is 5th on their list...
THE SHOOTOUT IS OVER!!
Rankings after Shootout #81:
1 PLUS: -C- Accuphase T-109V - Very natural sound, good bass. Pinpoint imaging. Lifelike, three-dimensional sound, smooth extended highs.
1 (TIE): -C- Kenwood L-02T - Most natural sound, good bass. Pinpoint imaging. Lifelike, three-dimensional sound.
1 (TIE): -C- Burmester 978 - Natural, open and airy sound, good bass. Pinpoint imaging. Lifelike, three-dimensional sound with nice extended highs.
4: -C- Sansui TU-919 - The prince who could be king.
5: -C- Sansui TU-X1 - Very good sound top to bottom. Big soundstage, three-dimensional. Very slight diffuse sound.
6: -C- Audiolab 8000T - Good bass, natural but diffuse sound, sweet extended highs.
7: -C- Philips AH6731 - A very natural, neutral sound. Stereo separation best with a good signal.
8: -C- Revox B760 - Great bass, lifelike midrange and extended highs.
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
What about the Marantz 10B?
I believe the shoot-out deliberately did not include tube tuners.
LowIQ
The Marantz 10B was, and remains, a rich man's toy. Ask Mike Samra about the serious maintenance issues.
If you want to go tubed, think hard about a Dyna FM3 in good repair. Not particularly expensive and good sounding. You will need a decent antenna.
Eli D.
+1 If you spending that kind of money then the X1 is much more reliable. Since you're talking serious money and your priority seems to be SQ don't ignore the Accuphase T1100. Keep in mind that any of the great tuners are solely dependent on the quality of the broadcast signal and the resolution of the system its feeding. What good is a tuner that's flat down to 20 Hz when you're feeding speakers that roll off at 50Hz. I've had the discussion about this or that tuner that was bass shy only to find out that it was feeding a 2 way speaker with a 6" woofer.
HA
muy dispace.
Warmest
Tim Bailey
Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger
Hi Tim,
What you said was/is eminently correct, I probably should have stated it better myself. A more succinct statement would be that the "quality of the received signal" in lieu of the broadcast signal.
Without a good set of ears up in the air everything else is just whitewash.
By the way what are you using now a days for a tuner?
Again, no blood no foul.
Regards,
HA
ps How about a little eye candy
My serious system's 'tunah' - is a rebuilt simulcast rcvr with the power amps off.
It has a magic eye valve SS meter, and a three LED centre tuning indicator. A valve front-end with a Foster-Seeley detector, an overbuilt SS power supply - and an SS MPX kit by "Studio 12" from the UK, which feeds a twin triode valve in cathode-follower mode.
It's now driven real hard by the new antenna for which see my recent post.
It also has a wide audio bandwidth AM (-3db @ 13khz) stage. Driven by a 'random wire' antenna tuned with a vane-cap and a coil. I will probably go with the tune-able Crane AM item, which I will have to import.
I don't listen critically/closely elsewhere in the house. FM / HT receivers. We have three FM wall plates in the house.
But on both the FM stations I bother with, and into all these other FM stages in use, we are in full limiting. Very quiet.
I do own one other tuner, an old analogue-dial Rotel (324?.) Not in use.
Warmest
Tim Bailey
Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger
As FM is sent out signal quality is primary, but then comes the antenna's suitability for the task for that station and the owner's home location, and to provide a multipath free signal of sufficient strength to fully quieten the tuner, or fully limit it.
And the room/system's quality next.
IME valve FM front ends benefit most from a good selective antenna.
Warmest
Tim Bailey
Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger
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