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I recently purchased a NAD 4300 to replace my Onkyo 4055. I read excellent reviews about the NAD and thought it would surpass my Onkyo in performance. After 2 days of listening to both tuners the Onkyo out performs the NAD in clear reception.Switching from one to the other the NAD always had more background static. Sound Quality is about equal. I live in the East Bay, Oakley, ca and my main stations are KPFA 94.1 Berkeley and KFOG 104.5 San Francisco. It is real challenge to pick up either of these stations without back ground static. I'm using the RadioShack 6 element antenna and RG-6 coax (single story roof mounted). Although I do live in a 2 story house and could mount the antenna on the second story if this would help. Any advice or observations appreciated. What tuner in the $150.00 to 250.00 range will surpass the Onkyo and NAD?
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check out the Kenwood KT-5020 on tunerinfo.com
Yeh, I would have to agree with this. I had an Onkyo 4055 from new and really never thought too much of it. It wasn't bad, just not exceptional. My Kenwood 7500 was much better at first listen, even unmodified.
For certain types of music (voices) the Sherwood 3000Mk V is just in another league.
IMHO YMMV etc. etc.
If you like the tuners you have then another option might be to mod what you have. A common mod on all types of tuners is to improve the quality of the bandpass filters. This will improve selectivity and allow better reception on weak stations and stations being swamped by some overpowering neighbor station. It sounds like this mod could help to improve the nad. Tunerinfo has a whole section dedicated to modding with off the shelf filters and what not already picked out for the various tuners they have info for. Chances are good that the tuner you have could be much better with the right touch.
I'd suggest you first get the antenna as high as you can. That, and as big an antenna as you can afford. Those two things will do more for reception quality than a more expensive tuner.For $250 or less (sometimes *far* less), these are some of the fine tuners I've bought, in order of reception ability:
Onkyo T-4711
Yamaha T-85, TX-950, T-7, and T-1Any of those will probably blow the knobs off the Onkyo you mention (I don't know about the NAD). They all have dual or multiple IF bandwidths (and fine tuning which I think is important on digital tuners in urban settings). Even something like the Yamaha T-80 would probably be a step up from what you're trying to use. And they all have a great sound.
Prices on ebay right now are way below historic highs (excepting the top few examples), so it's a good time for buyers.
And the Tuner Information Center is an excellent resource, if you aren't aware of it: www.fmtunerinfo.com
I concur. I have a 20 year old Yamaha T-85, which I recently had modded. It is a very, very good tuner. Indeed, a good vintage tuner will outperform most current tuners (except, perhaps, for the current top of the line) for a lot less money.
Thanks for all of the excellent advice!
Speaking of filter mods, see this link.
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