I am wondering whether or not it is worth the fm stations to have my tuner connected or should I just disconnect the tuner. Although I occasionally use the tuner I find the system much quieter when the tuner is unplugged and out of the chain. I find that the tuner adds noise to the system just being connected and with in the chain even when the tuner is turned off. I don’t know if I use the tuner enough to sacrifice the overall sound with RF noise which the tuner does add even when turned off. Has anyone else noticed this and uninstalled the tuner for this reason?
No.
I removed my tuner only because I needed space in my rack and I rarely used it. But it never created noise that I could hear.
My experience throughout the years is that having a tuner in the system adds enough RF noise to be noticeable. When ever I sent in my tuner for repair I noticed that the system sounded quieter. I just 10 minutes ago completely disconnected the tuner and now I am getting better sound! It’s not my imagination. My system sounds better without the tuner connected. I even unplugged the ac cable as the ac cable itself could effect the sound. Sometimes for the benefit. In the past my system used to sound better when a Shunyata cable with their magic crystals( I think Kiing Cobra) would be connected to the ac even if just to the wall socket if in line with the system.
Sounds like a no brainer to me. If you are like most people here, you spend big to lower noise and increase performance. It’s just not worth it to compromise that over one little used source.
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Precisely. I’m experiencing better sound with the tuner completely disconnected.
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I have never experienced this problem, but would disconnect my tuner if it introduced noise - reconnecting only when listening to it.
Curiously, does the noise dissipate if just the antenna is disconnected?
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I believe it to be the issue of the tuner itself. It may be my imagination but I hear cleaner sound still by unplugging the ac cable. Although the cable may not induce noise it still may have a bit of sound by the character of the cable. It could be a nice character but I disconnected the ac cable just to be sure. I am getting better sound with the tuner out of the system and I don’t use the tuner anymore just the same. Although fm off the air on a good tuner is pleasing I find my digital more satisfying. Both CD and streaming. I have a tuner for sale. I will post it on Marketplace later.
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Have you compared the SQ of your tuner and through internet radio streaming services and if so, what is your verdict?
The tuner SMOKES internet radio.
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What tuner do you have?
Oops I see your for sale post.
Nice unit.
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Magnum Dynalab MD106T. It is listed on Marketplace
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Doesn’t sound like you have isolated the source of the noise…
FWIW, my MD Etude tuner was converted to a 102T model and balanced outputs were added.
I am assuming your tuner has unbalanced outputs. I wonder if balanced outputs could make a difference.
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I was using balanced outputs. I had the balanced outputs upgraded with Solen Teflon caps. The noise I speak of is an RF haze not a loud ground noise. I’ve noticed this with what ever tuner I have used. I found the RF noise was more if the tuner was on. It’s like a kind of cross talk of RF. It’s not too bad. It’s just that the digital is subtly cleaner with the tuner disconnected. I would imagine it to be system dependent.
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10-4.
It intrigues me you experience this issue regardless of the tuner used.
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I have always noticed a little “hash” when tuner would be on while listening to digital. Less so but still a little when tuner is off. I have noticed this with every tuner in any of my systems.
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My tuners are long gone and as such no longer missed as present FM has so little to offer. During the ’70’s it was more rebellious in nature and to my ears more fun to listen to. These days all that FM has to offer is Community Radio and Public Radio, both impacted by the shuttering of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Streaming via Tune In does offer access to FM radio, further making an FM tuner a bit of a dinosaur.
As far as my FM tuners impacting the overall sound of my stereo systems, I noticed no degradation.
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Listening to my collection in random mode exceeds anything FM can offer. I made my own commercials.
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I use a Luxman L-110, modified by Don Scott, and it sounds great, and does not introduce any noise…do not use it all the much, but very happy to have it in the system…
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If I had room to put it, I would buy another McIntosh MR-77. I still listen to the jazz and classical stations but via streaming and the sound is predictably lousy. I loved the FM sound.
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