On Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:32:43 -0700, C. Leeds wrote
(in article ):
wrote:
This is a $100 (thats no typo) tuner that blows away the classic
super
tuners of McIntosh, Marantz, Sequerra, Accuphase, etc., according to
FM experts who know more than I do."
He referes to this in depth technical review:
http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm
I answered:
The technical review cited doesn't support audiocritic's claim.
oustor sez:
Did you read the full article of the 'audio critic'
Yes.
If not read it, therein is his
full review.
The full review does not support the claim. It compares the Sony to a
Sangean HDT-1X, and never cites any measurements made from the
supertuners mentioned by audiocritic. Perhaps the Sony is all that
audiocritic supposes, but there's nothing to support that in the review.
Moroever, the review cites shortcomings of the Sony:
does not display carrier-to-noise ratio, HD Radio transmission mode, HD
Radio station ID, firmware version, or the audio spectrum. It does not
provide forced mono, forced analog, split-audio mode, direct frequency
entry, or digital output. It does not have a stereo indicator
It's all probably moot, however, because so few people care about the
very, very lo-fi HD radio scheme. Even broadcasters are reluctant to
invest in HD radio programming. Mostly, HD radio is home to cheap
automated formats that have already failed on conventional FM.
A number of years ago, I had a Marantz 10B FM tuner. The thing was really
good sounding (unless the station one listened to had an SCA (muzak)
subcarrier attached to it, then the Marantz stereo demodulator (a
sum/difference unit) tended to whistle (I understand that they all did that).
Anyway, a friend brought over a then new Yamaha T-85 tuner with it's ceramic
filters and IC phase-locked-loop stereo decoder. It blew the 10B out of the
water, performance wise. It not only was more selective and more sensitive,
but it had better separation and sounded better. So, in my estimation, these
classic tuners were bested more than 20 years ago. Oh, I sold the Marantz for
lots of $$$$ and bought the Yamaha T-85 to replace it. It's still my only
tuner but I do miss the imposing regality of the 10B and it's neat
oscilloscope (which on mine, still functioned).