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Wow! Forgot just how good FM can sound, given the program material... (meandering)

12.4.185.2
Posted on October 21, 2014 at 06:25:46
Dman
Audiophile

Posts: 7211
Location: Kansas
Joined: January 28, 2001
 I hadn't fired up my Dynaco FM-3 in a few months, other than making sure it survived the move from Canada to Florida and to Wichita.

First, a little history- my mentor, Lloyd Flemming (of Flemming Audio Lab Triode Model 3 preamp fame, for you Positive Feedback back issue readers) gave me one of his FM-3s after I commented that I didn't have a decent FM tuner. This particular model has his "black box" PSU, which incorporates the original power tranny, caps and all that sorta stuff, coupled with a rather military-looking Amphenol connector and cable. Noise levels in the tuner itself are significantly reduced. I had checked and set the alignment per the manual when we moved to Wichita, but hadn't run it since...

Anyway-

At the suggestion of the D-wife the other night (she wanted nice mellow jazz as background music), she suggested, "why don't you put on the radio and see if that NPR station still has jazz at night?"

"Okay", I thought. "This should be a bit of a laugh." I powered up the FM-3, and within a minute the glow of that funky tuning tube began, and the stereo indicator light, like fluorescent curtains, came into being. I had already set the station to the local NPR (89.1 from Wichita State). But I wasn't prepared for what issued forth!

In a word, yowsers! No hiss. Clean, clear reception (from a wall mounted, DIY dipole behind the plasma TV, no less!). The station was still tuned bang-on! What a glorious presence and warmth to the sound. Even D-1wife was astounded at just how good things sounded. Mind you, we could both pick out when the compression/limiting of the station kicked in and out (some things never change), but that didn't change the magic of good tunes and voices being broadcast from a decent station (and yes, for you analog die-hards, the music was off of CDs, but...).

I put it down to two things;

1. WSU is only about 10 or so miles away, with nearly a straight line of sight to the tower.

2. NO MULTIPATH! Most of Kansas is pretty flat, and the area between us and WSU is no exception. The result was no multipath noise, a relatively high S/N, and a minimum of distortion.

And maybe a 3rd;

The FM-3 (when properly aligned), is a great sounding way to get FM. Yes, it isn't the most sensitive out there, and it probably would have fallen flat on its face in a multipath ridden area (any NYC'ers have a Dyna FM-3? I'd love to hear how you cope!).

Sorry if I'm starting (?) to wax poetic, but I just had to share this moment with you. After all, isn't this what its all about; enjoying great music in your home with decent gear?

Cheers,
Dman
Analog Junkie

 

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RE: Wow! Forgot just how good FM can sound, given the program material... (meandering), posted on October 21, 2014 at 10:03:08
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4393
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 Glad to hear that the Dyna FM-3 is still kicking!
I have my fathers in a box in the basement - and need to get it out and running -
A great tuner can bring lots of wonderfulness - however it is,
as you said program dependent -
Happy Listening
Happy Listening

 

I feel that way about the Sherwoods -- and our local NPR (specifically, VPR), posted on October 21, 2014 at 14:19:53
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16019
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 Great sound and great local programming (including music programs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and a separate constellation of "VPR Classical" stations). Link below.

S2000

That said, I'd love to have an FM-3 (or even an FM-1) someday, if only for its aesthetics!
all the best,
mrh

 

Tried your link, but went to a dead end... (pic attached), posted on October 21, 2014 at 16:36:10
Dman
Audiophile

Posts: 7211
Location: Kansas
Joined: January 28, 2001




Cheers,

Dman
Analog Junkie

 

RE: Wow! Forgot just how good FM can sound, given the program material... (meandering), posted on October 21, 2014 at 20:35:45
hahax@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 4310
Location: New Jersey
Joined: March 22, 2006
 I've seen 2 other mods for the FM3. I know I liked the one where the solid state diodes were replaced with tube diodes.

 

that's 'cause I effed it up :-P, posted on October 22, 2014 at 05:59:23
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16019
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 Sorry -- its dot net; see below.

Check the streaming programs "All the Traditions" and "My Place".
all the best,
mrh

 

That's okay! I'm seeing it fine now! nt, posted on October 22, 2014 at 09:17:55
Dman
Audiophile

Posts: 7211
Location: Kansas
Joined: January 28, 2001
 nt

Dman
Analog Junkie

 

I'm just glad the EMM801 still lights up and works correctly! They are EXPENSIVE!!! nt, posted on October 22, 2014 at 13:31:01
Dman
Audiophile

Posts: 7211
Location: Kansas
Joined: January 28, 2001
 nt

Dman
Analog Junkie

 

RE: I'm just glad the EMM801 still lights up and works correctly! They are EXPENSIVE!!! nt, posted on October 22, 2014 at 20:53:07
hahax@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 4310
Location: New Jersey
Joined: March 22, 2006
 haven't used it in a while. I now live in a basically FM free zone in an apartment so I can't put up a good antenna.

 

RE: Wow! Forgot just how good FM can sound, given the program material... (meandering), posted on October 24, 2014 at 09:27:02
Eli Duttman
Audiophile

Posts: 10455
Location: Monroe Township, NJ
Joined: March 31, 2000
 "any NYC'ers have a Dyna FM-3?"

No longer live in NYC, but called Forest Hills home for MANY years. There was no help for a variable multipath problem. :>(( When aircraft following a particular flight pattern associated with La Guardia airport flew "nearby", the signal I was interested in would literally disappear and reappear.


Eli D.

 

RE: that's 'cause I effed it up :-P, posted on October 24, 2014 at 14:31:54
kingjim1954
Audiophile

Posts: 49
Location: usa
Joined: March 29, 2009
 I figured that out, Mike, But the website doesn't give it's call sign or frequency so I could look up its footprint. I'm listening to WHRB-95.3 (Hahvud radio) on my Scott 310-E through APS-13 with rotor. It always pleases:)

 

used to live in Hahvahd (the town, not the college) --, posted on October 24, 2014 at 18:23:44
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16019
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 VPR has a bunch of transmitters - the ones with longest reach are at 89.5 MHz (atop Mt. Ascutney) and 107.9 MHz (atop Mt. Mansfield).

Lemme see if I can come up with a list of the frequencies ("what's the frequency, Kenneth?")...

all the best,
mrh

 

RE: "The FM-3 is a great sounding way to get FM", posted on October 25, 2014 at 08:39:33
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 10117
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
 Man, ain't that the truth?

Some years ago our local NPR station was broadcasting a live (or live on tape) Buddy Guy concert. I had been listening to it with the raved over Sony HD tuner I bought not long before.

On impulse, I brought out the FM-3, and substituted it for the Sony. Even cold, Buddy Guy and his music just came alive. The FM-3 drifted a few times during warm-up, but getting up to re-tune it was a small price to pay for how much more I was enjoying the music.

The power supply needs some work on a stock FM-3, but it seems like yours has that well in hand (and more!) with your external "black box". You may already know about David Berning's correction to the de-emphasis circuit, but if not (and for the benefit of others), here it is. It seems that this is one of the few things Dynaco engineers got wrong.





The largest sonic change I made to one of my FM-3s was a simple output cap (C82 & C83) change. I had a couple of the Russian Teflon 0.1µF caps sitting around, and thought I'd try them. I had to mount them vertically, and they barely cleared the cage, but the improvement in clarity was amazing. At the same time, I lost none of the musical warmth I keep the FM-3s around for. Most modification articles recommend increasing the output cap from 0.1µF to 0.47µF. I suppose at some point I should try the larger value caps. But it's hard to imagine going back to a polypropylene dielectric, simply to gain a bit more in the lower frequencies. Forget using the 0.47µF Teflon caps I have. I'd need a separate chassis just to hold them!

Enjoy your FM-3, and thanks for posting.



 

RE: "The FM-3 is a great sounding way to get FM", posted on October 25, 2014 at 09:15:49
Dman
Audiophile

Posts: 7211
Location: Kansas
Joined: January 28, 2001
 Thanks for thinking of the Berning correction to the de-emphasis circuit- Dr. Flemming already had done the mod years before he gave me this special FM-3. It does indeed clean things up, and quite nicely, I might add!

Cheers,
Dman
Analog Junkie

 

RE: Wow! Forgot just how good FM can sound, given the program material... (meandering), posted on October 31, 2014 at 13:57:12
sony6060
Audiophile

Posts: 1465
Location: USA
Joined: August 8, 2014
 Listening to the right station, some tuners after mods come close to CD playback quality.

 

RE: Wow! Forgot just how good FM can sound, given the program material... (meandering), posted on November 15, 2014 at 15:39:08
getheleadout
Audiophile

Posts: 103
Location: Litchfield Park, AZ
Joined: October 20, 2006
 Don't mean to sound condescending, but here goes:

I'm in Phoenix, (not a small, flat city) and use what I consider to be, one of the best modified tuners to be had. The best way I can describe the sound quality which I get on many station is that of a $100,000 plus turn table.

As good as my CD rig is, in many ways, (and yes it boggles my mind), the tuner sounds better.

I personally would have never believed a tuner could sound this good, if I hadn't heard it for myself.

It's kind of a Twilight Zone kind of a thing, but is a good way...

 

RE: Wow! Forgot just how good FM can sound, given the program material... (meandering), posted on November 15, 2014 at 16:49:50
Dman
Audiophile

Posts: 7211
Location: Kansas
Joined: January 28, 2001
 Yes, good FM can easily outperform CD, IMHO. the caveat here is that most stations (usually Rock) use CDs or even MP-3 for their music sources. I am so glad that there is live and high res transmissions via our local NPR station.

BTW, while I understand your comment about $100,000 turntables, but I've heard some real clunker tables in the high price range (just like there are some real dogs in the low price range either!).

Anyway, it's great to hear that FM still has some validity in this day and age!

Cheers,
Dman
Analog Junkie

 

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