Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: notesfiles - hp internal release 1.2; site hpcnoa.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!exodus!mhtsa!mh3bs!eagle!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpcnoa!rmd From: rmd@hpcnoa.UUCP Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Re: FM tuner info wanted Message-ID: <30200023@hpcnoa.UUCP> Date: Fri, 10-Feb-84 13:21:00 EST Article-I.D.: hpcnoa.30200023 Posted: Fri Feb 10 13:21:00 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 10-Feb-84 02:39:36 EST References: <30200018@hpcnoa.UUCP> Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Fort Collins, CO Lines: 78 Nf-ID: #R:hpcnoa:30200018:hpcnoa:30200023:000:2337 Nf-From: hpcnoa!rmd Feb 5 10:21:00 1984 I finally settled the issue of which FM tuner to buy by going out and buying four FM tuners (with the understanding that I could return them within a week or so for any reason). I brought them all home and did direct A/B comparisons of two tuners at a time -- using a roof antenna, a roof preamp/splitter, and dual 75 ohm coax as the signal sources. I tested the following tuners: -NAD 4150 with 'Schotz' detector and 1.2 microvolt claimed usable sensitivity. -Sony ST-S555 ES. This has similar specification to the Pioneer F90 tuner and uses somewhat similar concepts in its design. (I couldn't find an F90). The Sony also has the most 'high-tech' user interface. -Carver TX11. This has some typically bizarre Carver circuitry and specs a 50db quieting sensitivity of 6 microvolts into 300 ohms. -Denon TU-720. This is an analog tuner with a slide-rule dial. I got it from the local 'high end' outlet (who naturally claimed that analog tuners sounded better than digitally synthesized tuners) -JVC RS77 receiver. This is my original receiver. The Carver and the Sony blew away everyone else. For my needs, the Carver was somewhat better than the Sony, but that might not be true for everyone. I took me 5 hours to decide between the Carver and the Sony, and I changed my mind twice in the process. The Carver has advantages, but they are fairly subtle. Here are comparisons of the five tuners with respect to characteristics I consider important: Distortion: (on strong stations) 1) Carver gap 2) Sony big gap 3) NAD big gap 4) Denon 5) JVC Distortion: (on weak stations) 1) Sony 2) Carver big gap 3) NAD 4) Denon 5) JVC Selectivity: 1) Carver gap 2) Sony big gap 3) NAD, Denon, JVC (tie) Frequency Response: 1) Carver, Sony, NAD, Denon (tie) big gap 5) JVC Sensitivity: 1) Carver gap 2) Sony big gap 3) NAD 4) Denon, JVC (tie) Presets: 1) Carver (16) 2) Sony (8) 3) JVC (6) 4) NAD (5) 5) Denon (0) The thing that finally convinced me to go with the Carver was the fact that it could reduce the distortion on the strong stations I listen to most frequently. Also, it could receive the largest number of stations (and they were listenable).