Re: FT 101a upgrade - blunt answer...yes. + rant

Posted by beken (A) on February 2, 2006 at 16:13:53

In Reply to: FT 101a upgrade posted by 2channelman on January 27, 2006 at 17:05:11:

Actually, I don't have an FT101a. I have an FT-11. The basement model. A couple of years ago, it needed a tuner alignment. I sent it back to MD and Larry personally called me up and said for a bit more, he can do an upgrade. Another alternative was to trade my tuner in towards an upgrade to a current model. MD would give me credit for my FT-11. I won't say how much, but it was a very reasonable credit. However, I didn't have anything budgeted for a new tuner so I just went for the upgrade (which included a tuner alignment too). The upgrade only makes the sound marginally different. However, the jacks are of better quality and mounted much stronger. The wiring and some parts inside are of much better quality. Most FM over the air is compressed anyways so a very good tuner would make little difference for the price of the upgrade.

Now getting back to those "audiophiles" who claim MD tuners are crap and everybody should seek out vintage tuners. I have heard some very good vintage tuners and yes...some of them sound better than the MDs or for that matter, any new tuners currently on the market. But I have yet to find one in good condition for sale at a reasonable price. I've also heard some pretty terrible sounding Kenwoods and Akais. I used to own an Akai tuner too and it was BAD. Most people who buy tuners will probably be just window shopping at their local hifi shop and be wowed by the great music only to find it was a radio station. That's how I got introduced to good FM. Most of us simply do not have time to seek out tubes, and spend endless amounts of time and money tweaking tuners. Getting a currently available, well built and good sounding tuner is the only option we have if we want good FM radio. It's a credit to MD that they support ALL the tuner models they've ever made. They don't just discontinue their old models and leave you high and dry.

So if you don't have the funds to buy a new tuner or time to seek out and tweek a good vintage tuner, then yes, my opinion is the upgrade service from MD is worthwhile.

Cheers!

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - FT 101a upgrade - 2channelman 17:05:11 01/27/06 (26)

Get a Fanfare ;-) - meisterkleef 11:24:48 02/23/06 (0)

Re: FT 101a upgrade - Ivan303 20:41:45 02/22/06 (0)

Re: FT 101a upgrade - blunt answer...yes. + rant - beken 02/2/0616:13:53 02/2/06 (4)

question about your FT-11 - Bersani 16:23:17 02/3/06 (0)

Actually . . . - sgmlaw 17:29:12 02/2/06 (2)

New FT 11? FT 11 was discontinued a few years ago - 2channelman 00:00:57 02/3/06 (1)

Yes, that's not news. - sgmlaw 03:23:22 02/3/06 (0)

Re: FT 101a upgrade - timothywas1@comcast.net 10:12:55 01/31/06 (0)

I think we scared him away. - sgmlaw 09:09:54 01/31/06 (1)

Re: I think we scared him away. - 2channelman 19:50:50 01/31/06 (0)

Sounding like a broken record......... - Jimmy 21:18:01 01/29/06 (0)

Go to Something Higher in the magnum range. - dudeupsh@vaxxine.ca 18:14:44 01/29/06 (0)

A far better return for your money would - warnerwh 18:35:26 01/28/06 (13)

Re: A far better return for your money would - 2 channel man 19:16:31 01/28/06 (12)

Re: A far better return for your money would - Ping 21:15:50 01/30/06 (0)

Actually I've got the same amount of money into my Kenwood - warnerwh 22:14:59 01/29/06 (0)

George still owns this tuner but rarely uses it - warnerwh 16:44:43 01/29/06 (1)

The sound difference between stock and - warnerwh 16:46:54 01/29/06 (0)

I'll be more polite about it. - sgmlaw 09:33:26 01/29/06 (2)

Is it just me or is $ 300 not that much $$ I wouln't find a mint 10b for that coin (nt) - 2 channel man 13:43:22 01/29/06 (1)

Re: Is it just me or is $ 300 not that much $$ I wouln't find a mint 10b for that coin (nt) - sgmlaw 05:31:19 01/30/06 (0)

Whoa! - WHOA ! 06:00:24 01/29/06 (4)

Re: Whoa! - 2 channel man 14:12:44 01/29/06 (0)

If I may chime in here...I agree that his response was - audiogatorjim 08:10:22 01/29/06 (2)

I asked if anyone had sent back their DYNALAB and what they thought of it that's all (nt) - 2 channel man 13:49:05 01/29/06 (0)

I asked if antone had sent back their DYNALAB and what they thought of it that's all (nt) - 2 channel man 13:48:04 01/29/06 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: FT 101a upgrade - blunt answer...yes. + rant - beken 02/2/0616:13:53 02/2/06 (4)

question about your FT-11 - Bersani 16:23:17 02/3/06 (0)

Actually . . . - sgmlaw 17:29:12 02/2/06 (2)

New FT 11? FT 11 was discontinued a few years ago - 2channelman 00:00:57 02/3/06 (1)

Yes, that's not news. - sgmlaw 03:23:22 02/3/06 (0)

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