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MARANTZ 2020 TUNER - WON'T PLAY IN STEREO

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I just bought a Marantz 2020 tuner in pristine condition from an ebay auction. It works and pulls in stations without an antenna, but unfortunately it does not play in FM stereo. What is likely wrong with it?

Follow Ups:

Not just for riveriaranch - Antennas just do matter and a deliberate poke! - Timbo in Oz 13:20:53 10/22/09 (2)
Even in areas of high signal strength?!!!'
Yes.
A low-gain but directional antenna can help you select out a very strong station from another (also strong?) when they are close on the dial, but not close on the ground - IE on a different bearing from where you are. Got it?
Sound quality from FM even in mono but especially in stereo, really is highly dependent on a directional antenna, because reflected signals that get added to the signal by the time it reaches you WILL - futz with the phase relationships inherent in the MPX'd signal, and the MPX stage's job - in your tuner.
It is puzzling to me that so many of you here, implicitly (and explicitly as here) hold to a mental model where tuners can be indulged in without considering an antenna that matches these embedded requirements of FM.
Viz. Even in the series of threads about the shift in frequency and to MUCH lower power of a loved classical station for NYC and NJ listeners, more than a few posters did not take up the replies on the potential antenna solutions. Like they weren't there.
Given the prone-ness of audiophiles and many here at Tuners, to
obsessing about power cords and tube rolling and other 2nd order issues- for their tuners, I do find myself puzzled if not amused, when this is combined with an unwillingness to invest time, or thought, or effort into the front-end of their radio system. Let alone money.
It is my view that if you are not willing to make that effort, FM is much less likely to be a satisfying source of music for you.
Perhaps it is being used for background / wallpaper service? OR perhaps it IS because FM has become so dire, for most of you. Itself a product of the 'choices to accept' made by millions of consumers in the radio market.
;-)!

Warmest

Timothy Bailey
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger

And gladly would he learn and gladly teach - Chaucer. ;-)!

'Still not saluting.'

http://www.theanalogdept.com/tim_bailey.htm

Edits: 10/22/09
- RE: Not just for riveriaranch - Antennas just do matter and a deliberate poke! - rivieraranch 14:31:28 10/22/09 (1)
  You are so right, whoever you are.
  - RE: Not just for riveriaranch - Antennas just do matter and a deliberate poke! - tesla 21:45:04 10/22/09 (0)
    Tim is the expert on all things FM here, and I do agree, an antenna is just as important as tires on a car, for example. Why so many here think a cheap antenna, none at all, or an indoor antenna is all that good shows a total lack of understanding of FM on even the most basic level.
    "You go to Heaven for the climate and to Hell for the
    company"...Mark Twain
    "We lived for days on nothing but food and water." W.C. Fields
    "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." - Aldous Huxley
RE: MARANTZ 2020 TUNER - WON'T PLAY IN STEREO - tesla 19:35:47 10/21/09 (1)
A tuner needs a certain signal strength to switch into stereo mode. Try an antenna first.

"You go to Heaven for the climate and to Hell for the
company"...Mark Twain
"We lived for days on nothing but food and water." W.C. Fields
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." - Aldous Huxley
- RE: MARANTZ 2020 TUNER - WON'T PLAY IN STEREO - rivieraranch 04:44:00 10/22/09 (0)
  The FM signals around here are plenty strong. The tuner in my 2226B picks up FM stereo without an antenna but this thing does not.
RE: "pulls in stations without an antenna" - 1973shovel 17:58:48 10/21/09 (7)
Have you tried it with an antenna? If not, that would be the place to start.

If you've already tried that, next I'd clean the stereo/mono switch. If that doesn't work, I'd contact the seller. If it won't pull stereo, then the tuner only looks "pristine".

Good luck.
- RE: "pulls in stations without an antenna" - rivieraranch 14:26:44 10/22/09 (6)
  I TRIED IT WITH AN ANTENNA AND VOILA! THE FM COMES ON IN STEREO AND THE LITTLE RED LIGHT IS ON.
  - Wotta surprise!!!!!!!! - Timbo in Oz 13:25:03 11/08/09 (0)
    ;-)!
    Warmest
    
    Timothy Bailey
    The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger
    
    And gladly would he learn and gladly teach - Chaucer. ;-)!
    
    'Still not saluting.'
    
    http://www.theanalogdept.com/tim_bailey.htm
  - RE: "pulls in stations without an antenna" - Neff 16:03:09 10/23/09 (0)
    Some receivers have good shielding and no antenna will yield little performance. Other receivers not so well shielded will receive better with no antenna. But, this reply is way to simple to fully explain.
  - RE: "I TRIED IT WITH AN ANTENNA AND VOILA!" - 1973shovel 05:35:06 10/23/09 (0)
    Pretty amazing, huh? Like Tesla posted "Like tires on a car"
    
    I'm glad it's working for you. Now follow Tim's suggestion of getting an outdoor directional FM antenna and prepare to be even more amazed. You might not even believe it's the same tuner.
    
    Good luck.
  - RE: "pulls in stations without an antenna" - rivieraranch 14:29:37 10/22/09 (2)
    I notice that the dial lamps on my 2226B in the background are more blue than the ones on the 2020 tuner. Also how difficult is it to change bulbs on these units? The meter bulbs are burned out in both units.
    - RE: "pulls in stations without an antenna" - rivieraranch 17:52:46 11/01/09 (0)
      I obtained some dial lamps and replaced the burned out meter lamp in the 2226B - now on to the 2020.
    - I've never tried either of your tuners - 1973shovel 05:45:24 10/23/09 (0)
      So I can't offer you any advice regarding the lamps. I'd Google each model and see if anyone's got any step by step web sites.
      
      There's also some sort of paper, or perhaps film being offered for sale which is supposed to restore the famous Marantz blue. I've never had any experience with that either.
      
      My only Marantz is the lowly Marantz 105. I say lowly, because it specs very low on the Marantz tuner scale. Still, it's my favorite, if for looks alone (I know, how superficial of me!). It likely goes back to my days as a youth, hanging out in a store called "Audio Center" where they sold Marantz. I was hypnotized by the blue tuner dials and blue amp lights, and my admiration for them has never left me.
      
      Nice tuners you have there. Take good care of them.

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