Best FM tuner ever made?

[admin_exported]

Leak Troughline...Quad FM...yes, yes, yes they were and still are brilliant tuners, but their features leave alot to be desired, let alone their reliability. So, as an all-round product, what is the best tuner ever made?

I pose two possible answers:
Meridian 504 tuner, or
Pioneer TX-9800?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Those two not even in it!

Without going into the very dim and very distant, I'd go for either a Naim NAT 01 or the Audiolab 8000T. One I have long coveted, the other I use every day.

 

[Anonymous]

What about the TAG T32R?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Ah well I include that under the umbrella of the Audiolab 8000T, but I never felt the TAG version was quite as good as the original

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:
Those two not even in it!

Without going into the very dim and very distant, I'd go for either a Naim NAT 01 or the Audiolab 8000T. One I have long coveted, the other I use every day.

Great choices - however, I've heard off the fmtunerinfo website that the 8000T had computer reliability problems and the Naim NAT 01 is actually overhyped and overpriced...how's your 8000T been?

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:Ah well I include that under the umbrella of the Audiolab 8000T, but I never felt the TAG version was quite as good as the original

Fair enough.

Another that springs to mind, although I've never had the pleasure, is the Densen B-800.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Hughes123:
how's your 8000T been?

Still working fine since you were (even more of) a nipper! Only repair has been the replacement of the backlight lamps for the display, and it still sounds amazing.

You shouldn't believe all you read on websites - my good friend Malcolm Steward has a Naim NAT 01, and it's still the best tuner I have ever heard, though admittedly through a full-house Naim flagship preamp and active six-pack system with DBLs.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Mr_Orange:Fair enough.

Another that springs to mind, although I've never had the pleasure, is the Densen B-800.

How can it spring to mind if you've never heard it?

 

[plastic penguin]

I will never claim my tuner is the best ever, but compared with the modern hybrid tuners the Marantz 2060ML easily outguns the sub-500 quid sector of the market. Sorry for keep banging on about my tuner - it really is striking. Although build quality and facilities are rubbish compared to newer efforts.

 

[John Duncan]

Andrew Everard:Hughes123:
how's your 8000T been?

Still working fine since you were (even more of) a nipper! Only repair has been the replacement of the backlight lamps for the display, and it still sounds amazing.

You shouldn't believe all you read on websites - my good friend Malcolm Steward has a Naim NAT 01, and it's still the best tuner I have ever heard, though admittedly through a full-house Naim flagship preamp and active six-pack system with DBLs.

My TU260LII probably sounds quite good through that though.......

 

[plastic penguin]

Andrew Everard:Hughes123:

how's your 8000T been?

Still working fine since you were (even more of) a nipper! Only repair has been the replacement of the backlight lamps for the display, and it still sounds amazing.

You shouldn't believe all you read on websites - my good friend Malcolm Steward has a Naim NAT 01, and it's still the best tuner I have ever heard, though admittedly through a full-house Naim flagship preamp and active six-pack system with DBLs.

Last year I connected my Marantz through the Naim Nait 5I, and the RS6's sang like I'd never heard previously. Shame about the compatability of my CD player. . .

 

[fatboyslimfast]

Andrew Everard:Hughes123:
how's your 8000T been?

Still working fine since you were (even more of) a nipper! Only repair has been the replacement of the backlight lamps for the display, and it still sounds amazing.

You shouldn't believe all you read on websites - my good friend Malcolm Steward has a Naim NAT 01, and it's still the best tuner I have ever heard, though admittedly through a full-house Naim flagship preamp and active six-pack system with DBLs.

Malcolm is still a Naim'er then - used to read his columns in the old days of HiFi Review!

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:
Mr_Orange:Fair enough.

Another that springs to mind, although I've never had the pleasure, is the Densen B-800.

How can it spring to mind if you've never heard it?

Fair point. I was just going on what I've read elsewhere, and Densen's reputation in general.

Have you heard it, Andrew?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Yes - very good, but not quite the cigar.

 

[Anonymous]

What sort of price do the Naims fetch? I can get a Pioneer TX-9800 for £249.99 but that sounds a bit pricey if it isn't that good - perhaps the Audiolab will fit the bill. Oh, and this is for a JVC A-X400 and Mission E30 system, not my reference Arcam/Wharfey one...

 

[TonyHall]

Hughes123:What sort of price do the Naims fetch?
According to a recent 'worldly' hi-fi mag article...
"The NAT 01 in 2001 cost £1,945 new and now sells for £800 to £1,400 second-hand, depending on vintage."

A quick search shows that a 1985 (chrome bumper) model sold on Ebay recently for £500.

Cheers,
Tony

 

[Anonymous]

Class A at Sheffield have an olive 01 for £995 ono.

 

[a.g.]

I have just bought a Cyrus FM7 which I think is great, but I'm sure it's not the best.

 

[the record spot]

£45 got me a mint 1978 Sansui TU-317 - lovely sound on it. Maybe not up to the Nait or Quad, but at less than £50 it shows speech based DAB s thing or two!

(Radio 5 Live excepted for the footy...!)

 

[Anonymous]

I'll agree with Andrew - the Naim Nat01 - a good quality station sounds better than a CD, been a while since i heard one though.

 

[Anonymous]

a.g.:I have just bought a Cyrus FM7 which I think is great, but I'm sure it's not the best.

I've got a Cyrus FM7 too. Agree with your sentiment. A wonderful, warm, natural sound. Had it a couple of years now & listen to it everyday. Utterly reliable

 

[Anonymous]

if anyone is interested I noticed a Naim NAT1 on ebayÿ

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=250301900366

reserve not met at 243 at time of posting... not mine I hasten to add.

hope this doesn't contravene any policy, just though someone might be curious

 

[Anonymous]

I love my 8000T - with a Magnum Dynalab ST-2 antenna of course (don't skimp).

 

[Anonymous]

If money is no object....here is a good one...

http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/lirpa.html

Not one I can afford, though.

 

[John Duncan]

And what is Lipra backwards? April, fool.