|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
64.178.112.92
It's been nearly a year and a half since WVIA in Northeastern-Central Pa. imploded and stopped providing a translator signal to my part of the world. It was the only - as in ONLY - FM station I tried to listen to - and that was a challenge with a low-power translator located in an entirely different county. There are few other FM stations to choose from in my part of rural America, so, when WVIA went bye-bye, so did my integrated setup.I upgraded to an Odyssey Etesian pre-amp and a modified Khartago amp and Nightingale speakers. It sounds G-O-O-D.
NOW, WVIA is pledging to return to my area in the near future and here I am without an FM tuner in the rack. I'd like to spend $100 to $200 on a tuner (used is fine) to get back into FM to hear WVIA when they do return to my part of the world.
Follow Ups:
Out of Pittston? I'm down in carbon and could get it about anywhere in my area until last year. I guess they had a reapeater as well further south. I can or did get it last winter going up to Elk Mtn. so they are still broadcasting.
but that signal at 89.9 doesn't make it this far west.We have to rely on the "lewisburg" translator which has been MIA for the past 18 months. The "new" translator is at 90.3, but is not heard anywhere in the area. Station staff say the translator will need to change frequencies at least one more time this fall to get to a point on the dial where it can again serve the metro Lewisburg area.
;-)!
WarmestTimbo in Oz
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger'Still not saluting.'
Read about and view system at:
I have a couple ham antennas coming off the roof, including a recently rewired G5RV for HF use. The FM antenna is in the attic crawl space and hasn't been used for the better part of 18 months since my NPR affiliate went MIA and I got rid of the integrated amp/tuner. I may need to restring the 300-ohm lead, but the FM antenna should be ready to go. Or, if the new translator has enough juice, a simple dipole attached to the listening room floor board will do the trick, too.Now that they are promising to return, I'm looking for a simple FM tuner to plug into my new audio gear.
;-)}
WarmestTimbo in Oz
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger'Still not saluting.'
Read about and view system at:
I've been running a stock T40 since 1990 and never had a problem with it. I bought it new for $450. I've seen them on e-bay for between $100-$250. Last time I looked, there was a Creek CAS 4340 tuner for pennies. You can't go wrong.
....Excellent quieting and versatile multipath controls, top-quality sound (forget those guys at FMinfo.com...all they want is bass as far as I can tell)..and readily available on eBay for under $200 (they were $650 when new in 1980). The aren't cheap modern crap, and they aren't touchy old vintage gear. They stay in alignment and just sit there and sing. Only problem is an occasional sticky push button.I have an excellent NPR station in my area, and the Carver (one of my two tuners) does it justice.
BTW, I grew up in Williamsport. Sounds like you are close. Is the main station Scranton?
Harry
theaudiohiffle wrote: (A) on July 17, 2006 at 19:23:07"(forget those guys at FMinfo.com...all they want is bass as far as I can tell)..and readily available on eBay for under $200 (they were $650 when new in 1980). The aren't cheap modern crap, and they aren't touchy old vintage gear. They stay in alignment and just sit there and sing. Only problem is an occasional sticky push button."
I take exception - I am one of "those guys" at www.fmtunerinfo.com and what we want is ACCURATE sound and the ability to DX distant stations.
When I read a statement like yours above, I am reminded that many like you are overly sensitive to owning a tuner (or other piece of stereo equipment) that is not (or has not been) praised by the experts in the field.
Like it or not, the pholks at www.fmtunerinfo.com has probably forgotten more about tuners than you've yet to learn, and we ARE the experts in the area of FM tuners. Please name another group that has over 3,700 extremely knowledgeable members, many of who are professional engineers and/or work in the broadcasting profession, and have members who also write for several of the well-regarded audio magazines ;-)
And I'm guessing your comment about our group is driven by our group's concensus of your own tuner, where we state, "Although there are always those with differing opinions, the majority now find the TX-11 mediocre-sounding or worse in stereo, with poor separation. Our contributor John V. adds that the TX-11 has "fair to decent bass, but the top end sorta sizzles - no real extension or details." Our own view is that most good vintage tuners are only one or two narrow filters away from being as good as, or better than the TX-11 for DXing, while also satisfying audiophiles. As to the possibility of modifying a TX-11 for improved sound, our DIY audiophile panelist Jim owned one for awhile, but "wasn't impressed with the sound and looking in on those multi-tiered boards of digital madness made me back off trying to improve anything."
You simply do not like us because we found your Carver TX-11 not worthy.
"(forget those guys at FMinfo.com...all they want is bass as far as I can tell).."You don't care for bass?
How many of the 50 tuners rated in the FMTunerinfo.com shootouts (that had better sound than the Carver TX-11B) have you actually listened to? I might add there are 3 Carver models, with differences between all 3.
Bob
Yes, I like bass....if it can reproduce an acoustic bass realistically, or the thump of a bass drum realistically. And all the other music also sounds realistic. The Carver TX-11 does that (I haven't heard the a or b models, so don't know about them). But I am familiar with several of the recommended tuners from FMinfo, have in fact auditioned some of them in my own system over the years, and have never found one as natural sounding as the Carver....which has plenty of real bass to boot. Several of the recommended tuners (the Pioneers come especially to mind) are so artifical sounding as to be laughable...only somebody who listened only to electronic rock exclusively could like that sound.
Harry
I can only point out that your opinion here runs contrary to the majority of people regarding both the Carver TX-11/A/B and most top of the line Pioneers. Most people seem top think the later Carver A and B version sound better.Without knowing the specific Pioneer model, it's hard to say, and there is no "brand" sound, every model must be evaluated independently. In general, the F9, F90, and F99X digital tuned Pioneer units are well reviewed by all those that have listened, are are great used deals now. Pioneer invested heavily in FM tuner technology. Most the top Pioneer models starting with the analog TX-9100 (a great deal if you don't need "narrow IF")are felt to be great sounding units as reported by TIC contributors (serious FM listeners) over the last 5 years.
Your implication that contributors and panelists at FMTunerinfo.com only listen to bass heavy and electronic rock music is dead wrong. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most are over 50 years old, and listen to acoustic based jazz, classical, bluegrass, folk, etc for judging the tuners sound. All the tuner "shootouts" are done level matched in direct comparison to a reference unit, via remote control.
As always, YMMV, and with tuners more than other audio units, alignment directly affects what you hear. It is possible to get a bad one (that can be fixed). It's also possible to "like" a kind of sound, or sound of a tuner, that most others don't. It can present a synergy to your particular setup that makes it work. But if your opinion runs contrary to most everyone elses, don't shoot the messenger!
Williamsport is just down the road - about 30 north of me.WVIA's main transmitter is in the Scranton area and that signal doesn't make it here and we had been relying on a translator in Northumberland County for Lewisburg service. They've moved frequency four times in the last year-and-a-half and now where they are (90.3) there is no sign of any signal at all. BUT ... the station says there is one more step ahead and that will result in Lewisburg coverage again. That's what I gearing up for.
Meantime, I've been a happy XM Satellite Radio subscriber and while I really like the wide variety of programming, a good FM signal, no doubt, sounds better.
I hope WVIA delivers. It's been a long haul without NPR service.
SamA,I'm not an expert in modern tuners- my newest is 1988, but I've been very impressed with my visits with the Marantz ST-6000. It's sensitive, selective, presetful, remotified- everything the NPR listener on the go needs. And the audio circuits are just fine- a good solid sound, not exciting or dramatic. The build quality is not going to compete with Burmester, but I think it's almost the sonic equivalent of the old Magnum 101 and may be about as good in pulling in stations. Plus as mentioned- all the modern conveniences. I've only ever heard the ST 6000 in the local hi end shop, and in my view it's a great value- about $290 new and often around $175 used- though I couldn't find a used one for sale just at the moment.
http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?item=m1st6000&akhg1999=WFROOGLEB3
There's always vintage to consider, but in my experiecnce, it takes a lot of patience and fuss to find a good one and often you have to send it to rehab to kick the multipath habit! I've bought three tuners in the last year- Revox B160, McIntosh MR77 and MR67 and though these were not expensive by today's standards- all three still cost $1200 and each one has been a bit of a fuss. There's an advantage in getting something that's a current product that won't need servicing before use.
However, the 70's Marantz tuners are fun- I used a 2235 and 2275 reciever for decades without repair - and as far as I know function well and don't require fuss other than lights and pot cleaning. Somthing like this 125 might be worth considering:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?misctunr&1158175361
That's very good news that you have something to listen to again !
Remember Internet streaming if you want access to something important and far away- I've listened to WGHB Boston in Los Angeles as my computer soundcard runs through my Audio Research office sytem. The sound is -medium quality, but at least very quiet.
Anyway, I wonder how long free analogue FM will be broadcast, making a modest tuner like the Marantz a hedge against the technology change. I can guarantee that adding a digital detector and decoder to my 1965 tube MR67 will not be pretty to accomplish- plus the digital detector/decoder only needs an audio circuit to be a whole tuner anyway. I always think these things will never happen, but there's that ugly black digital tuner/decoder sitting next to a 2004 TV, and many friends rave abour Sirius as the only way to go. My brother does not listen to FM or buy CDs at all- he downloads from Napster.
Also, the antenna is important. If you're not bothering with an outdoor antenna, I get very good results in a crowded dial and up against hills with a Godar Model 2 which are list under $100.
Cheers,
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: