Two New - torc - Radio Road

Radio Road

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

Two New

torc

As I mentioned some weeks ago, I just invested in two "new" tuners - a Scott 350D, modified by Mapleshade, and a Sony XDR-F1HD, modified by Dave the XDR Guy in Oregon.
I've been home from my summer gig for about a week now, and have spent some time with these very different machines. I still can't figure out how to get an attic antenna in my peculiar layout, so my comments are based on the Scott using a C. Crane dipole, and the Sony using a conventional dipole.
On the two stations I love and need to hear, the Scott receives WGBH and WHRB, both in the Boston area, very well. The sound is rich, especially in the midrange. My previous best tuner, a Pioneer 9800 TX, had abundant, wonderful bass, but was grainy in the treble. It sounded good, but was fatiguing after awhile. The Scott is lush, a little looser in the bass, but very dense and colorful. I enjoy so much more than I did the Pioneer. I know that a better antenna will reveal even more.
The Sony sounds a bit like my Polk XM radio (using a good external DAC) - clear, but a bit thin, a little splashy in the treble (an aggressive drummer wailing on his cymbals can cause harm after awhile). But it gets in everything! Yikes - I am finding stations I didn't know existed, because turning the dial of the Pioneer or even the Scott did not reveal them at all. For example, I am listening as I type to MIT's WMBR, and it is wonderful. Right now it is playing classic jazz, and last night, it was playing a strange, drone-like electronic music that was fascinating! But regardless, good or bad, the Sony pulls it in.
When the HD part gets caught on the fringe and wants to keep switching back and forth from analog to HD,I can use the "forced analog" switch that Dave the XDR guy installed.
Anyway, I think that for now, I have both of my desires met - a good, musical, fatigue-free tuner for the stations I know and love, and a way to explore all the other stations in my area, albeit with a lesser sonic delight.
I'll figure out the antenna before too long...

Edits: 08/10/18

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Topic - Two New - torc 13:03:17 08/10/18 (14)

RE: Two New - BFitz 07:38:25 08/14/18 (0)

Could I clmaly suggest thet until you have a dierctional antenna with some useful gain, you don't know a thing - Timbo in Oz 02:55:45 08/11/18 (6)

While I agree completely on the antenna - Awe-d-o-file 10:17:42 08/12/18 (1)

yes, he prefers the Scott's sound. - Timbo in Oz 00:02:56 08/13/18 (0)

RE: Could I clmaly suggest thet until you have a dierctional antenna with some useful gain, you don't know a thing - torc 11:32:59 08/11/18 (1)

A few feet with you nearby could be important as the signal will be bouncing around the room, and picking up - Timbo in Oz 17:13:25 08/11/18 (0)

And even then... - Triode_Kingdom 08:41:52 08/11/18 (1)

I agree! and we have measured it here off the old antenna array. - Timbo in Oz 18:00:41 08/11/18 (0)

Boston area FM - M3 lover 13:25:07 08/10/18 (5)

So, what kind of antenna was he using, - Timbo in Oz 02:57:34 08/11/18 (4)

RE: antenna - M3 lover 09:54:58 08/11/18 (3)

overdue response?! - Timbo in Oz 22:27:28 08/11/18 (2)

reception in the physical world - M3 lover 09:31:52 08/12/18 (1)

Same thing has happened here, but not to the two stations, that where the only ones I wanted - Timbo in Oz 14:36:58 08/12/18 (0)

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