Excellent episode! I've pretty much given up on radio as the audio quality on FM nowadays is very disappointing as most signals are compressed to hell in the loudness wars.....at least here in Ireland 🇮🇪
12:55 Mike: "I'm so impressed with my 707, I think its an amazingly brilliant device" David: "I think it ABSOLUTELY was... It was a great mid-level tuner for realative new comers" 😆😆😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍👍
Thanks guys, dedicated tuners are definitely the preserve of us old guys now! I must admit to simply serving radio 6 via roon when I want radio and that sounds pretty decent to me! It many ways its a shame as a dedicated tuner is going to be a niche product these days.... Thanks for another entertaining chat.
I have a 1974 Pioneer TX-9100 fully refurbished, replacing the capacitors and lamps. It's warm and lovely. I also have a Carver TX-2 which is languishing in the closet.
I love tuners and receivers. I've a sony just beautiful. Great engineering. Couldn't afford them at the time. On late shift I in the early hours I've picked up US stations very exciting. I live in a very poor transmission area.Thank you for posting.
I can't recommend enough the Sony ST-D777ES with all the limitations of DAB radio, I think Sony really nailed it with this DAB radio,it's a bit complicated to use and needs a good quality airel, but what a great sound.
I found a Harman/Kardon TU911 tuner, in the garbage... last winter. It's now on duty pretty much everyday. Hard to beat for the money! Thanks for the cool review!
@@MrVinylista Btw Mr. Price, a Riff on the Gyrodec woudl be so nice. J.A Michell has such an interesting history, a bit like Croft, small independent with unique products.
Now that FM tuners are given the yo heave as vinyl records were post-CD (or CDs post streaming), I’m looking for one. I had an MD-102, no complaints, but I need a match for my Naim XS3. So what an interesting review this is. I was thinking about a Naim NT05 XS but it sounds like David might lean toward the Sony. If I can only find one (I’m in the states). At any rate, thanks, what a great discussion.
Oh yes many memories of the Leak Troughline tuner, a fine sounding animal provided you weren't plagued by lots of stations of dubious legality, it lived for a time with ones Stereo 20. I remember hearing a entry level Technics tuner in the early 90's, fully synthesized with presets which wounded ill defined and midrangy for want of a better expression on FM and very poor on AM. Some tuners had adjustable stereo high frequency blending for lessening hiss on distant stereo transmissions. Something to bear in mind is that on shows most material is played out of digital files lossy and low bit rate ever since many studios did away with local record and libraries so live concerts tend to be the best sounding audio that's transmitted outside of stage productions such as Drama.
I had a Leak Troughline 2 Tuner (the one pictured), with the external valve stereo decoder made by EAR (Tim de Paravicini), available through Hi-Fi World. Not the most sensitive tuner, even after servicing - I used a Magnum Dynalab aerial booster which helped - but a glorious sound. I recorded many BBC Radio 3 concerts onto DAT and then a Yamaha hard disc recorder/CD Burner. I’ve since transferred them to my NAS drive, and they still sound wonderful. Sadly, I had to sell the Troughline and decoder a few years ago, and now use Internet radio through Roon. Good, but not the same level of texture and solidity.
Great story! I seem to remember GT Audio was doing a Trough Line decoder too, at one stage. I remember all variants of the Leak being horrendously insensitive, but when they got a good signal the result was quite mesmeric - better than most high end vinyl in my experience. I could see why there were so many FM devotees, back when digital hadn't infiltrated things.
Hi gents, thanks for talking about high quality FM tuners. Its a rare topic. I'll share a little secret the Sony ST-S333ESG is the identical twin to the 770ES inside. I had mine aligned and the de-emphasis corrected with high precision parts. my top tuner now.
Back in the 1970s, 8-track cartridges were often used for sound effects and 'stingers' between tracks - these were then replaced by cassettes in the 1980s in many broadcast studios. In the 1970s and 1980s, music was mostly played on turntables - Garrard 401, EMT and Technics usually - generally with Stanton 500A phono cartridges with spherical styli tracking at 3 grams or more, so they didn't skip easily. Then in the 1990s many radio stations moved to MiniDisc for a while, and then to full HDD based music libraries in the 2000s.
Whats the difference between the sts 770es and the sts 707es. 🤔 I tried online for answer with no joy. You guys know your stuff so can you please answer. Thanks 👍
It is only the remote eye, which is not there in the 770 and perhaps the memory section, 30 vs 40 chanel. I am the proud owner of a 707 and visitors allways think the CD player is running, when actually they hear the tuner. It is symply superb and can match the best in the world.
I've got a Creek CAS3140, that I used to love listening to, but sadly it's in storage due to becoming completely disillusioned with FM. And I tried DAB when it came out and it was OK-ish at first but now is even worse than FM, truly dreadful. I then went over to digital radio through a SKY box, which was better.
I have the S770ES as well as the Hitachi FT-8000. The Hitachi is an excellent sounding tuner, but it doesn't have the dynamics and clarity of the Sony.
Just bought a ST-S770ES. Can't wait to plug it in. 😍
Excellent episode!
I've pretty much given up on radio as the audio quality on FM nowadays is very disappointing as most signals are compressed to hell in the loudness wars.....at least here in Ireland 🇮🇪
Pleased you mentioned the Creek Tuner . I bought it last year & very pleased with it
The new Morecambe and Wise! Great review as always gentlemen . . . ive also got the current Mrs S now watching!
Seasonal felicitations to you both!
Another great episode, thank you guys!
I still have my Meridian 204 tuner plugged in and still use it.
12:55
Mike: "I'm so impressed with my 707, I think its an amazingly brilliant device"
David: "I think it ABSOLUTELY was... It was a great mid-level tuner for realative new comers" 😆😆😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍👍
Thanks guys, dedicated tuners are definitely the preserve of us old guys now! I must admit to simply serving radio 6 via roon when I want radio and that sounds pretty decent to me! It many ways its a shame as a dedicated tuner is going to be a niche product these days....
Thanks for another entertaining chat.
I have a 1974 Pioneer TX-9100 fully refurbished, replacing the capacitors and lamps. It's warm and lovely. I also have a Carver TX-2 which is languishing in the closet.
I love tuners and receivers. I've a sony just beautiful. Great engineering. Couldn't afford them at the time. On late shift I in the early hours I've picked up US stations very exciting. I live in a very poor transmission area.Thank you for posting.
I can't recommend enough the Sony ST-D777ES with all the limitations of DAB radio, I think Sony really nailed it with this DAB radio,it's a bit complicated to use and needs a good quality airel, but what a great sound.
Agree. It sounds fantastic.
Yes I've just brought one from Ebay for £190 what a fantastic sounding tuner
I found a Harman/Kardon TU911 tuner, in the garbage... last winter. It's now on duty pretty much everyday. Hard to beat for the money! Thanks for the cool review!
Thanks, and it's a nice little tuner. Definitely hard to beat for the money, if it was free!
@@MrVinylista Btw Mr. Price, a Riff on the Gyrodec woudl be so nice. J.A Michell has such an interesting history, a bit like Croft, small independent with unique products.
Thanks for the review. Enjoyed it!
I cant say I've ever heard a "live broadcast on bbc r3" 🤠... but I've heard DJ Trace and Ryme Tyme pumping on Kool 94.5fm 😅
Now that FM tuners are given the yo heave as vinyl records were post-CD (or CDs post streaming), I’m looking for one. I had an MD-102, no complaints, but I need a match for my Naim XS3. So what an interesting review this is. I was thinking about a Naim NT05 XS but it sounds like David might lean toward the Sony. If I can only find one (I’m in the states). At any rate, thanks, what a great discussion.
So used to enjoy FM, on my NAD 4225.
Great Video, guys! Please ask Phil from Nytechaudio to lend you an old nytech receiver for review.
Thanks. He's actually got mine and is rebuilding it!
Oh yes many memories of the Leak Troughline tuner, a fine sounding animal provided you weren't plagued by lots of stations of dubious legality, it lived for a time with ones Stereo 20.
I remember hearing a entry level Technics tuner in the early 90's, fully synthesized with presets which wounded ill defined and midrangy for want of a better expression on FM and very poor on AM.
Some tuners had adjustable stereo high frequency blending for lessening hiss on distant stereo transmissions.
Something to bear in mind is that on shows most material is played out of digital files lossy and low bit rate ever since many studios did away with local record and libraries so live concerts tend to be the best sounding audio that's transmitted outside of stage productions such as Drama.
I had a Leak Troughline 2 Tuner (the one pictured), with the external valve stereo decoder made by EAR (Tim de Paravicini), available through Hi-Fi World. Not the most sensitive tuner, even after servicing - I used a Magnum Dynalab aerial booster which helped - but a glorious sound. I recorded many BBC Radio 3 concerts onto DAT and then a Yamaha hard disc recorder/CD Burner. I’ve since transferred them to my NAS drive, and they still sound wonderful.
Sadly, I had to sell the Troughline and decoder a few years ago, and now use Internet radio through Roon. Good, but not the same level of texture and solidity.
Great story! I seem to remember GT Audio was doing a Trough Line decoder too, at one stage.
I remember all variants of the Leak being horrendously insensitive, but when they got a good signal the result was quite mesmeric - better than most high end vinyl in my experience. I could see why there were so many FM devotees, back when digital hadn't infiltrated things.
In the 770ES version, unlike the 333ESG, the "Advanced SST" section is not soldered. Does the 770ES tuner have an SST function ?
Yes, I believe so.
i have many tuners ,love them ...
Great tuner. The only tuner I’ve ever had that sounds better than my 730es is the a late 70s luxman t-88. It’s amazing sounding.
I just a few days ago managed to purchase an ST-S730ES off ebay. Wonderful receiver!!
Excellent news 👍
Mike
Hi gents, thanks for talking about high quality FM tuners. Its a rare topic. I'll share a little secret the Sony ST-S333ESG is the identical twin to the 770ES inside. I had mine aligned and the de-emphasis corrected with high precision parts. my top tuner now.
Excellent Hi-Fi knowledge 👍
Hi lads what do you think about the SONY ST-777ES DAB/FM/AM Tuner?
Probably one of the best hi-fi DAB tuners. Not as good as the ST-S770ES on FM or AM, but then little is.
Hi chaps, I beg to differ about your choice for best tuner. May I suggest the Yamaha T85…….
I got a Denon 260l 2 FM tuner on ebay for 10 pounds, sounds amazing, is night and day compared to my other tuners
I thought radio stations recorded vinyl onto carts for playback on air??
Back in the 1970s, 8-track cartridges were often used for sound effects and 'stingers' between tracks - these were then replaced by cassettes in the 1980s in many broadcast studios.
In the 1970s and 1980s, music was mostly played on turntables - Garrard 401, EMT and Technics usually - generally with Stanton 500A phono cartridges with spherical styli tracking at 3 grams or more, so they didn't skip easily.
Then in the 1990s many radio stations moved to MiniDisc for a while, and then to full HDD based music libraries in the 2000s.
@@MrVinylista Cheers for that interesting bit of info. Love yours and Michael's videos 👍
Whats the difference between the sts 770es and the sts 707es. 🤔 I tried online for answer with no joy. You guys know your stuff so can you please answer. Thanks 👍
Same here...
It is only the remote eye, which is not there in the 770 and perhaps the memory section, 30 vs 40 chanel.
I am the proud owner of a 707 and visitors allways think the CD player is running, when actually they hear the tuner. It is symply superb and can match the best in the world.
@@alfredsolenthalerThanks, i got the 707 too and your absolutely right the sound is superb. 👍
I've got a Creek CAS3140, that I used to love listening to, but sadly it's in storage due to becoming completely disillusioned with FM. And I tried DAB when it came out and it was OK-ish at first but now is even worse than FM, truly dreadful. I then went over to digital radio through a SKY box, which was better.
Th Sony ST-S730ES is by far the best. It was more expensive than the Linn LP12 in its day.
I have the S770ES as well as the Hitachi FT-8000. The Hitachi is an excellent sounding tuner, but it doesn't have the dynamics and clarity of the Sony.
Nad 402 tuner did it for me.