Tuner reviews
Akai AT-93 Tuner
As I began to examine the features of the attractively styled AT-93 AM/FM tuner from Akai, my first reaction was one of moderate resentment. I resent equipment that tries to think for me instead of letting me do things myself. The Akai AT-93 is one of those tuners that decides which of its two antenna...
As I began to examine the features of the attractively styled AT-93 AM/FM tuner from Akai, my first reaction was one of moderate resentment. I resent equipment that tries to think for me instead of letting me do things myself. The Akai AT-93 is one of those tuners that decides which of its two antenna...
AMC T7 Tuner
When looking at the indicator and push-button bacchanalia of modern devices, sometimes we want something simpler and not so multicolored. For the supporters of such a view, we can state with satisfaction that the peculiarity of the European approach to the design of block equipment is still alive, despite...
When looking at the indicator and push-button bacchanalia of modern devices, sometimes we want something simpler and not so multicolored. For the supporters of such a view, we can state with satisfaction that the peculiarity of the European approach to the design of block equipment is still alive, despite...
Arcam T32 Tuner
Back in the days when this writer was still in flared trousers, the (then) Amplification and Recording Company of Cambridge launched its first tuner - the T60. Unlike many receivers of the day, it was a swish and sophisticated affair, and this T32 is no different. It is, quite simply, a very classy device...
Back in the days when this writer was still in flared trousers, the (then) Amplification and Recording Company of Cambridge launched its first tuner - the T60. Unlike many receivers of the day, it was a swish and sophisticated affair, and this T32 is no different. It is, quite simply, a very classy device...
Audiolab 8000T Tuner
In the majority of digitally synthesized tuners (basically those where the tuning oscillator frequency is compared with a quartz crystal) variable tuning is under the control of a pair of Up and Down buttons; if there is a knob it is nothing but a mechanical substitute achieving the same thing. To avoid...
In the majority of digitally synthesized tuners (basically those where the tuning oscillator frequency is compared with a quartz crystal) variable tuning is under the control of a pair of Up and Down buttons; if there is a knob it is nothing but a mechanical substitute achieving the same thing. To avoid...
Audiolab 8200T Tuner
Dating back to the early eighties, Audiolab's brand proposition was always a little different to the likes of the stripped-down, minimalist Exposures of this world. Even then, its products were bristling with facilities, and not silly ones either, but useful real-world features that made the user experience...
Dating back to the early eighties, Audiolab's brand proposition was always a little different to the likes of the stripped-down, minimalist Exposures of this world. Even then, its products were bristling with facilities, and not silly ones either, but useful real-world features that made the user experience...
Creek 3140 Tuner
I don't know who wrote the owner's manual for this FM-only British tuner, but whoever did must have been conforming to an unusual set of specification standards. I couldn't make head or tail of the specs found in the booklet supplied with the 3140; fortunately, the U.S. distributors of this fine-sounding...
I don't know who wrote the owner's manual for this FM-only British tuner, but whoever did must have been conforming to an unusual set of specification standards. I couldn't make head or tail of the specs found in the booklet supplied with the 3140; fortunately, the U.S. distributors of this fine-sounding...
Denon TU-215RD Tuner
Denon TU-215RD is low, light and shallow. The body is of beautiful light gray color with golden shimmer. The display is very sharp and easy to read, large and convenient buttons leave a great impression. Only two rounded buttons EON and Radio-Text for direct call of ticker on display make some dissonance....
Denon TU-215RD is low, light and shallow. The body is of beautiful light gray color with golden shimmer. The display is very sharp and easy to read, large and convenient buttons leave a great impression. Only two rounded buttons EON and Radio-Text for direct call of ticker on display make some dissonance....
Denon TU-260L II Tuner
An audio classic that has provided high quality sound at a very reasonable price for many years, the Denon is a very important benchmark for hi-fi tuners. The TU-260L II is the smallest tuner here measuring just 434x75x239mm and weighing 2.5kg. At the front is a basic, though good display which is clear...
An audio classic that has provided high quality sound at a very reasonable price for many years, the Denon is a very important benchmark for hi-fi tuners. The TU-260L II is the smallest tuner here measuring just 434x75x239mm and weighing 2.5kg. At the front is a basic, though good display which is clear...
Denon TU-425RD Tuner
Tuner Denon TU-425RD, released in the Czech Republic (!), pleasantly pleased Eye strict black dress with orderly rows of rectangular buttons, and the thirteen-digit display, on which letters and numbers are drawn thin blue lines. To indicate receipt of the Radio Data System RDS, fine-tuning, and STEREO...
Tuner Denon TU-425RD, released in the Czech Republic (!), pleasantly pleased Eye strict black dress with orderly rows of rectangular buttons, and the thirteen-digit display, on which letters and numbers are drawn thin blue lines. To indicate receipt of the Radio Data System RDS, fine-tuning, and STEREO...
Denon TU-580RD Tuner
The tuner is made in the style of "slim-line", it is very slim, i.e. small in height but normally of big sizes in plan and stands on the four thick legs with gold rims. The display of average sizes is located to the left, rectangular keys and control buttons are put in the right part of the front panel,...
The tuner is made in the style of "slim-line", it is very slim, i.e. small in height but normally of big sizes in plan and stands on the four thick legs with gold rims. The display of average sizes is located to the left, rectangular keys and control buttons are put in the right part of the front panel,...
Denon TU-680NAB Tuner
AS our regular readers probably know, AM performance is perhaps the least of the concerns of most tuner designers. Of the hundreds of tuners and receivers I have tested and used over the past thirty-five or more years, those with AM quality adequate for anything more than speech reproduction could easily...
AS our regular readers probably know, AM performance is perhaps the least of the concerns of most tuner designers. Of the hundreds of tuners and receivers I have tested and used over the past thirty-five or more years, those with AM quality adequate for anything more than speech reproduction could easily...
Harman/Kardon TU920 Tuner
If you have a long memory, you may recall the Harman Kardon Citation 14 and 15 tuners, introduced in the early '70s. These were, the first FM tuners to use phase-locked-loop (PLL) stereo demodulators. This innovation, combined with the growing use of integrated circuits (ICs), changed the face of tuner...
If you have a long memory, you may recall the Harman Kardon Citation 14 and 15 tuners, introduced in the early '70s. These were, the first FM tuners to use phase-locked-loop (PLL) stereo demodulators. This innovation, combined with the growing use of integrated circuits (ICs), changed the face of tuner...
Harman/Kardon TU930 Tuner
This device is originally and tastefully made. While looking at it, you have thoughts: the costume from Carten, watch from Cartier, the tuner from Harman/Kardon... A beautiful vacuum fluorescent display indicates the frequency and number of the programmed channel. Swinging vertical selections keys of...
This device is originally and tastefully made. While looking at it, you have thoughts: the costume from Carten, watch from Cartier, the tuner from Harman/Kardon... A beautiful vacuum fluorescent display indicates the frequency and number of the programmed channel. Swinging vertical selections keys of...
JVC FX-572R Tuner
Beautiful black tuner, designed in a simple style. Government, that is quite a lot of buttons, but their function is clear and obvious enough. The inscription is a strict type, paint with a golden sheen that gives the impression of wealth and high cost. On the left and on the bottom row are large...
Beautiful black tuner, designed in a simple style. Government, that is quite a lot of buttons, but their function is clear and obvious enough. The inscription is a strict type, paint with a golden sheen that gives the impression of wealth and high cost. On the left and on the bottom row are large...
Kenwood KT-3080 Tuner
Huge black box of this tuner gives the impression of grandeur and solidity, almost no diminishing of our knowledge of what is inside it is almost empty, and stated in the technical data weight 3.3 kg - the weight of iron, of which it is made. Cases with increased depth - a sign of corporate equipment...
Huge black box of this tuner gives the impression of grandeur and solidity, almost no diminishing of our knowledge of what is inside it is almost empty, and stated in the technical data weight 3.3 kg - the weight of iron, of which it is made. Cases with increased depth - a sign of corporate equipment...
Kenwood KT3080 Tuner
The order of testing devices was completely random, and after the most compact tuner was the largest and "thickest", but also the cheapest, nevertheless immediately gives the impression of solidity. Kenwood is known for good radio equipment and this bias has affected the design of the tuner. The tuning...
The order of testing devices was completely random, and after the most compact tuner was the largest and "thickest", but also the cheapest, nevertheless immediately gives the impression of solidity. Kenwood is known for good radio equipment and this bias has affected the design of the tuner. The tuning...
Luxman T-235 Tuner
Proportionality tuner hides its height and likable appropriateness and consistency of design. First of all, striking a rational arrangement of buttons and keys, which is not surprising, since there is no standard dozen preset keys. Basic chegyre large keys below the display is controlled by adjusting...
Proportionality tuner hides its height and likable appropriateness and consistency of design. First of all, striking a rational arrangement of buttons and keys, which is not surprising, since there is no standard dozen preset keys. Basic chegyre large keys below the display is controlled by adjusting...
Marantz ST-57 Tuner
Perfectly and richly issued tuner Marantz ST-57 with a big convex transparent slip on the forward panel, with buttons and inscriptions "under gold" and on wide, round and too gilded legs. On the display bright and large seven-segment signs with bluish outflow display number of a cell of memory, range...
Perfectly and richly issued tuner Marantz ST-57 with a big convex transparent slip on the forward panel, with buttons and inscriptions "under gold" and on wide, round and too gilded legs. On the display bright and large seven-segment signs with bluish outflow display number of a cell of memory, range...
Marantz ST40 Tuner
The company, having a long-term experience in developing and production of FM receivers and being one of the leading companies for already 15-20 years, is presented in our test by two-range tuner ST40. The tuner is designed simply and elegant and has the pleasant appearance. However, all keys, located...
The company, having a long-term experience in developing and production of FM receivers and being one of the leading companies for already 15-20 years, is presented in our test by two-range tuner ST40. The tuner is designed simply and elegant and has the pleasant appearance. However, all keys, located...
NAD 402 Tuner
For a relatively strictly looking front panel NAD 402 hides electronics with parameters that exceed the average level. Perhaps that is why, this tuner has won several tests conducted by famous foreign magazines. The tuner can receive radio stations on FM and MW. In each of these two ranges can be written...
For a relatively strictly looking front panel NAD 402 hides electronics with parameters that exceed the average level. Perhaps that is why, this tuner has won several tests conducted by famous foreign magazines. The tuner can receive radio stations on FM and MW. In each of these two ranges can be written...
NAD 414 Tuner
The famous English firm has produced an excellent device, massive and voluminous, which gives an impression of solidity and severity in the design. Radio station tuning is made not by buttons, but a big rotating handle. This somehow reminds old, good radios, but unlike them the handle does not rotate...
The famous English firm has produced an excellent device, massive and voluminous, which gives an impression of solidity and severity in the design. Radio station tuning is made not by buttons, but a big rotating handle. This somehow reminds old, good radios, but unlike them the handle does not rotate...
NAD C422 Tuner
This NAD C422 is finished in an attractive silver. The front panel is a simple affair, discretely styled with a tuning "knob" to the right of the display and a set buttons to the left of the display for Preset/ Tune, Display, AM/ FM, FM Mute/ Mode, Memory and Blend. The Blend feature is like a noise...
This NAD C422 is finished in an attractive silver. The front panel is a simple affair, discretely styled with a tuning "knob" to the right of the display and a set buttons to the left of the display for Preset/ Tune, Display, AM/ FM, FM Mute/ Mode, Memory and Blend. The Blend feature is like a noise...
Onkyo T-4210R Tuner
Average unit made with blue, bright and saturated, and even something colorful, display. Right of the display are two rows of large buttons select the frequency preset stations and setting buttons up and down the frequency of smaller and not so comfortable. Functional round buttons quite small and inconvenient...
Average unit made with blue, bright and saturated, and even something colorful, display. Right of the display are two rows of large buttons select the frequency preset stations and setting buttons up and down the frequency of smaller and not so comfortable. Functional round buttons quite small and inconvenient...
Onkyo T-4511 Tuner
The envelope, attached to the packing boxand having two sheets, filled in handwriting by technical data of exactly this device with serial number, already speaks about the seriousness of the company. By the way, data markedly differ from those that are typographically printed in the instructions and...
The envelope, attached to the packing boxand having two sheets, filled in handwriting by technical data of exactly this device with serial number, already speaks about the seriousness of the company. By the way, data markedly differ from those that are typographically printed in the instructions and...
Pioneer F-204RDS Tuner
The tuner Pioneer F-204RDS turned out to be well equipped functionally and not only functionally - two antennas are attached into the box. There are long waves (LW), RDS, attenuator, auto-programming (but only for RDS-stations). There is a miss of S-meter for full equipping. The design is good, it could...
The tuner Pioneer F-204RDS turned out to be well equipped functionally and not only functionally - two antennas are attached into the box. There are long waves (LW), RDS, attenuator, auto-programming (but only for RDS-stations). There is a miss of S-meter for full equipping. The design is good, it could...
Primare T23 Tuner
Despite the fact that every year an increasing number of stations and signal quality can not be compared with the past century, a separate FM-tuner is rarely seen in the home audio system. Indeed, most broadcasters now focus on the audience, whiling away the hours in traffic jams, but if you rummage...
Despite the fact that every year an increasing number of stations and signal quality can not be compared with the past century, a separate FM-tuner is rarely seen in the home audio system. Indeed, most broadcasters now focus on the audience, whiling away the hours in traffic jams, but if you rummage...
Quad 66FM Tuner
The Quad 66FM tuner is a recent addition to the company's line of deluxe audio components, which includes the Model 66 preamplifier and the Model 66CD player. Each of the components is designed for complete compatibility with the others, and all are controlled from a single remote unit, which is supplied...
The Quad 66FM tuner is a recent addition to the company's line of deluxe audio components, which includes the Model 66 preamplifier and the Model 66CD player. Each of the components is designed for complete compatibility with the others, and all are controlled from a single remote unit, which is supplied...
Rotel RT-09 Tuner
Rotel RT-09 is based on the DAC from Wolfson, working with signal up to 24 bit/192kHz and actually combines the functions of a traditional tuner, digital tuner, an external DAC and network player. And the network functions are implemented through a dedicated connector USB. To connect the wired network...
Rotel RT-09 is based on the DAC from Wolfson, working with signal up to 24 bit/192kHz and actually combines the functions of a traditional tuner, digital tuner, an external DAC and network player. And the network functions are implemented through a dedicated connector USB. To connect the wired network...
Rotel RT-950BX Tuner
Continuing our examination of Rotel's current 900 series it is the turn of the better of two tuners in the range, currently priced at £200. Only 72mm high on its drum feet, the RT-950BX is of standard 440mm width but only 280mm deep, considerably less than other units in the range. In practice...
Continuing our examination of Rotel's current 900 series it is the turn of the better of two tuners in the range, currently priced at £200. Only 72mm high on its drum feet, the RT-950BX is of standard 440mm width but only 280mm deep, considerably less than other units in the range. In practice...
Sherwood TX5505id Tuner
True to the motto - to please the consumer quality equipment without breaking his wallet, the firm Sherwood, some time ago, has released a FM-tuner TX-5505. He quickly bought up, but no less quickly outdated, what to do, the cost of the century of information technology. As a result, there was a modification...
True to the motto - to please the consumer quality equipment without breaking his wallet, the firm Sherwood, some time ago, has released a FM-tuner TX-5505. He quickly bought up, but no less quickly outdated, what to do, the cost of the century of information technology. As a result, there was a modification...
Tandberg 3001A Tuner
I've had the Tandberg 3001 A FM tuner sitting in my lab for nearly six months now. I've been reluctant to write this report any sooner, since that would have meant giving up this fantastic tuner and returning it to Tandberg. Those of you who have been reading my reports for some time know that I am an...
I've had the Tandberg 3001 A FM tuner sitting in my lab for nearly six months now. I've been reluctant to write this report any sooner, since that would have meant giving up this fantastic tuner and returning it to Tandberg. Those of you who have been reading my reports for some time know that I am an...
Tandberg 3031A Tuner
Tandberg's long history of individuality, elegance, and performance is upheld by this tuner, the first of the company's that we have tested in some time and the first to hit the market since distribution of the products in the United States was taken over by Ortofon. The 3031A's round control buttons...
Tandberg's long history of individuality, elegance, and performance is upheld by this tuner, the first of the company's that we have tested in some time and the first to hit the market since distribution of the products in the United States was taken over by Ortofon. The 3031A's round control buttons...
TEAC T-R450 Tuner
The tuner TEAC T-R450 somehow gains at once elegant external registration, the big two-lower case display, and the most important that greets at inclusion, welcoming you an inscription of Welcome, appearing large letters in the top line of the display. The black forward panel of the tuner with a big...
The tuner TEAC T-R450 somehow gains at once elegant external registration, the big two-lower case display, and the most important that greets at inclusion, welcoming you an inscription of Welcome, appearing large letters in the top line of the display. The black forward panel of the tuner with a big...
Technics ST-GT650 Tuner
Known firm presented a very nice tuner with a large display and a round pen settings. Government quite a lot, but their purpose is obvious, therefore control the tuner seemed simple and easy. There is a remote control, the total for the tuner and amplifier. ST-GT650 operates in the long, medium wave...
Known firm presented a very nice tuner with a large display and a round pen settings. Government quite a lot, but their purpose is obvious, therefore control the tuner seemed simple and easy. There is a remote control, the total for the tuner and amplifier. ST-GT650 operates in the long, medium wave...
Yamaha T-D500 Tuner
Back in the mid seventies, Yamaha's flagship CT-7000 wowed the world with its amazing FM sound quality. Since then, the company has been well respected for doing fine hi-fi tuners; the glory of the '7000 may be long gone, but the company's good name remains. This T-D500 is a very different thing though...
Back in the mid seventies, Yamaha's flagship CT-7000 wowed the world with its amazing FM sound quality. Since then, the company has been well respected for doing fine hi-fi tuners; the glory of the '7000 may be long gone, but the company's good name remains. This T-D500 is a very different thing though...
Yamaha TX-350 Tuner
Yamaha has been getting heavily in to all sorts of sonic tricks of late with its AV products, but this tuner is a good, honest, straightforward piece of receiving kit. Entirely gimmick-free, it has the usual features: electronic tuning by up/down buttons with programme search, all three bands and 40...
Yamaha has been getting heavily in to all sorts of sonic tricks of late with its AV products, but this tuner is a good, honest, straightforward piece of receiving kit. Entirely gimmick-free, it has the usual features: electronic tuning by up/down buttons with programme search, all three bands and 40...
Yamaha TX-590RDS Tuner
The device is produced by the developer in a series that has a common slogan "Natural Sound" for all products, and this, in our opinion, is fully consistent with reality. The sound during FM reception was rated as excellent. The parameters of the FM pathway are also excellent: the sensitivity is almost...
The device is produced by the developer in a series that has a common slogan "Natural Sound" for all products, and this, in our opinion, is fully consistent with reality. The sound during FM reception was rated as excellent. The parameters of the FM pathway are also excellent: the sensitivity is almost...