Hi fi seperates tuner advice needed please

[gpo746]

Seeing how some people were so helpful when I was after the key fobs for the Escort I thought i'd ask here.
Forgive my writing cos I know it irks some people so sorry in advance
I have a hi fi seperates thing - nothing top end but good I got a pre and power amp cd and tuner the tuner is an old
Sony ST-S700ES and its like 23 years old and it was old stock then I seem to remember it sounds great and I have a proper FM aerial on the roof - not the horse shoe shape it's a better quality 5 bars thing. Its been iffy for a bit and one channel keeps cutting out I checked the leads tried different input on back of amp etc it doesn't change if you wiggle cables it just more often than not doesn't work I could get it fixed but I think its time to move on as they keep seeming to say FM Radio is going off soon and it will be DAB thing

So to the point what's a good tuner to get I borrowed a mates Denon Dab but found it sounded very bright - the Sony is very clear but rich when you compare it and that was on FM not just DAB which I understand is more compressed. I cant remember the Denon model though
I am open to price without going too high - the Sony was £300 odd back in 1989 -

The only real requirement is that it is preferably a full size unit which is 430 cm or so
I know for DAB I need another aerial as well as I looked into that so that will be sorted
I could have an internet connection to it as there is a connection to the x box that comes down and connects to the Ethernet socket we had put in the wall then the x box Ethernet plugs into it I am getting one of these put there to make more than one connection anyway so we can plug the SMART TV in as well instead of swapping cables and it would give me 2 spare sockets

http://www.netgear.co.uk/business/products/switche...

So an internet come DAB come FM ( for as long as FM) is going could be an option.
Remote control isn't vital but easy to use presets would be. I don't want an I pod dock and don't think I could afford Sonus type stuff I am happy with my Pre/Power Amp CD player and the Ariston Deck on top for LP's - don't laugh you cant get Buckingham Nicks and some others on CD

Any help you guys can suggest would be appreciated

[TonyRPH]

As you have heard after listening to DAB - it is inferior to FM in just about every respect.

I suspect the Sony tuner just has a dry joint on one of the RCA sockets, and probably needs resoldering.

Don't waste your money on a DAB tuner - the UK adopted an out of date system anyway.

You would be better off getting a device that can "tune in" to internet stations - there are a few good choices out there for around the £300 mark.

And of course, internet stations give you a far greater choice than DAB - and for the most part, quality is usually far better than DAB.

ETA:

SuperFi have a Denon for £219.95

The Denon also has an FM/AM tuner so if you don't like internet stations, you can still rely on FM.

They also have a Pioneer for £247.98

Both of these network players will receive internet radio stations through your normal broadband connection.

Seriously - don't waste your money on DAB.

I bought a Cambridge DAB tuner a few years back - and I plugged it into a separate DAC for best quality - but it was crap.

I now use a Logitech Squeezebox touch for internet radio.

Edited by TonyRPH on Monday 24th June 13:53

[JimbobVFR]

Yeah what he said, You can get some rubbish quality streaming stations but in the main most stations are available at far better quality than DAB, Plus lots of quality stations that aren't available on DAB as well.

[gpo746]

Many thanks
Looking into that pioneer now

[JimbobVFR]

gpo746 said:

Many thanks
Looking into that pioneer now

Also a good opportunity to start ripping your cds to FLAC and start streaming your own music.

[gpo746]

JimbobVFR said:

Also a good opportunity to start ripping your cds to FLAC and start streaming your own music.

That's not really something I would do but I do have a lot of stuff stored on a laptop that connects to the amp - downloaded stuff etc

[gpo746]

Right this is what I decided to do. Go for an internet radio device - the pioneer probably but baring in mind we have had 3 long outages of internet here since xmas I think ill also get a dab tuner - possibly a Teac ive been offered a good deal on. I just don't want to be without the radio if the nets down and fm gets switched off soon I keep being told. I then got a choice which unit I put the existing fm aerial through as both have fm radio tuners. Im owed some favours and a mate will install a DAB aerial on the roof for me and another mte reminded me that because of how our router is we use a prosafe gigabit 8 ganger thing just after the router and he will take 2 cables from there and put them to wall sockets so that means I don't need to get another gigabit switch thing.
We are redecorating anyway so basically we will have a 3 switch plates thing on the wall one going to the telly one to the x box one to the internet radio thing.
The missus is happy with that and I am too I would have liked the internet radio to have fm/ dab and internet but ive been looking and cant see that option offered.
Now I have to find some good quality interconnects to go from one of the boxes to the amp but hopefully I can find something similar to the sony ones I have now tough they are like 25 years old haha

[P700DEE]

The original date for FM shutdown was 2015, however the Govt has backed away from doing so because uptake is so poor.
DAB is generally not as good and coverage is worse.
Everyone has FM radios, it will not be a popular move and polititians don't like that.
The DAB option the UK has is already out of date and not fit for purpose.
Internet radio is better quality and has greater choice. Freeview is also beter. As we all become more reliant on 3G and 4G data services do they even need to keep DAB ? Replace both for more mobile broardband ?
Is DAB the minidisk of the airwaves ?
I certainly won't be spending money on DAB even for my car. If it becomes essential there will be converters for FM tuners.

[gpo746]

Thanks to the posters above I got the pioneer installed and working at the weekend
Its fantastic.

[Mojocvh]

A very informative thread thanks guys.

Mo.

[The_Burg]

One of the best Tuners i ever heard was a Sugden T48, ugly square brown and orange box but very impressive. Assuming you are looking for FM try and find an anologue Trio or Yamaha retro silver jobby. The high end ones were amazing and look cool as, in a retro way.