Radio Road Which tuner to get and getting the most from it. Thank God, for the radio!

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Radio Road ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ] [ Edit ] [ Delete ]

---

RE: Decision time..Denon vs. various tube tuners

Posted by Neff on August 2, 2009 at 12:18:32

In Reply to: Decision time..Denon vs. various tube tuners posted by popsy on August 2, 2009 at 10:34:39:

I modified a few tube tuners including Scott 350C, 350D, Fisher KM-60, Eico ST-97 & 2200 plus an older Kenwood I believe was KW-550 & others. The tube tuners require a lot of work with the Fisher KM-60 fairly good in stock form after tune rolling. The Scott were most difficult. All tube tuners should have the power supplies rebuilt for best reliability & re-aligned, of course. I can state best tubes & parts can cost upwards of $200. For example, I like Brimar CV4004 & E80CC in audio out amp positions- neither are inexpensive tubes.

Another issue with the tube tuners is HD radio that is becoming quite popular in the NE and likely else where that drops so many artifacts in the signal that I am forced to listen in mono. The HD signal on the band skirts trashes the tube type multiplexers that does not have the benefit of upstream filtering or a HD radio immune multiplexer design.

I am not familiar with the Denon, but can tell you the Rotel RT-950BX is a great FM tuner. The Scott tuners I upgraded did not sound near as good as the unmodified Rotel. The best I own in tube design is the modified Eico 2200 & Fisher KM-60. Both are slightly better than the Rotel in the upper frequencies due to extended range. The Rotel has at least equal midrange and stronger bass if slightly less musical. My two top performing tube type tuners have a slightly superior soundstage presentation, but the Rotel has better stereo seperation with a ever so slight euphoric presentation that is quite pleasing.

I think you can save a lot of grief by buying the Rotel or buy a rebuilt & modified tube tuner for a lot more money.

On the other hand, if beauty is your passion too, the McIntosh MR67 is a nice tuner and per some discussions should be better than the more expensive 10B or MR71 with a different filter & feedback design.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

VH Audio

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---