The Yamaha T-85. Buy this modified tuner: $599 Make your Yamaha T-85 into a killer DXer: There are several ways to improve the DX performance of your Yamaha T-85. As you know, The T-85 has sold for up to $300 on Ebay. Why spend the money if you're not going to get the most out of what the T-85 has to offer?. Here is a list of modifications that numerous FM DXers have taken advantage of to boost the DX performance of their T-85: 1. Install 3-pin sockets replacing the five FM 10.7MHz ceramic filters. 2. Insert SNR or Murata 110khz filters in the sockets. 3. Adjust IF offset to center frequency. 4. Defeat Stereo threshold detect. Let Steve modify your T-85. E-mail me with your inquiries. $200 plus shipping New: A link to reviews of the Yamaha T-85: IBOC buster: With tuning to .01 increments, you can actually tune in precisely to the sidebands of an IBOC signal and here remnants of that distant station. Now more than ever you need a super selective T-85! On a budget? Can't afford a Yamaha T-85? May I suggest the following options:
DENON TU-800 SOLD! Buy This Modified Tuner: $299 This is an incredible tuner! I just modified one and inserted 3 different filters into IC sockets. 2 110khz and 1 80khz really does the trick. Sound quality is superb in WIDE and selectivity/sensitivity is FANTASTIC in SUPER NARROW. Signal meter, sound quality and sensitivity BEATS THE YAMAHA T-85! Click here for more information from FM Tuner Info.
SONY XDR-F1HD NOT AVAILABLE-CHECK EBAY AND PAY REDICULOUS $$$ This is the much publicized incredible HD tuner Sony decided to discontinue. At first widely available at under $100, now you can't find it used on Ebay for under $175. The sound quality is pretty good. The selectivity is the BEST I've ever had in a non-modified tuner. The RDS and HD readout is nice. The biggest limitation to this tuner is it's muting/squelch feature when signals are weak. I had one on loan and sent it back for this reason. Then they were discontinued. Now thanks to a friend I have another on loan. I listen mostly to my Denon TU-800 and Yamaha T-85, unless I am listening to an HD station.
YAMAHA T-80
DX friendly advantages: 1. Fine Tuning steps in .01MHz steps 2. Excellent rejection of local overload 3. Better signal quality meter than T-85. 4. Better AM reception than T-85 5. Record calibration setting 6. Sells for hundreds less on Ebay Drawbacks: 1. Auto Stereo/Mono button auto-scans in "Auto" mode 2. CSL muting 3. Only 4 ceramic filters (5 in T-85)
TECHNICS ST-S505 Buy this modified tuner: $199 This is a really cool little tuner that performs very well when modified. There are three filters that are easily accessible to replace with IC sockets. Throw 3 110khz filters and watch this tuner perform. Sounds great and is very sensitive. Has a digital signal meter and a SUPER NARROW IF bandwith selector! Look for one on Ebay, there aren't as expensive as a Yamaha or Denon.
FM Tuner modifications Make your FM tuner more sensitive and selective. How? Specifically for the Yamaha T-85:
1. Install 3-pin sockets replacing the FM 10.7MHz ceramic filters. 2. Insert SNR or Murata 110khz filters in the sockets. 3. Adjust IF offset to center frequency. 4. Defeat Stereo threshold detect.
---->Here's a quick list of satisfied customers who have purchased Steve's modified tuners, or have sent their tuner to Steve for modifications!:
Michael Temme-Soifer-New Jersey (Yamaha T-80) Shawn De Cesari-Rhode Island (Yamaha TX-530 & Stereo Probe 9) Anthony Wicker-New Jersey (Technics ST-S505) Keith McGinnins-Massachusetts (Signature Tuner) Russ Edmunds-Pennsylvania (Yamaha T-80) Tim Cronin-Illinois (Realistic STA-80) Paul LeFreneire-Minnesota (Technics ST-G5) Paul LeFreneire-Minnesota (MCS-3050 AM Stereo) Charlie Tumosa-California (Sherwood S-6010) John Holcomb II.-Pennsylvania (Yamaha T-85) Chris Rigos-Illinois (Honda AM/FM cassette) Dave Williams-Oregon (Technics SA-450) Joe Kelly-Louisiana (GEO Modified AM/FM Cassette) Rob Kloppel-Tampa Bay (Yamaha TX-950 tuner) Giampiero Bernardini-Milan ITALY!! (Yamaha T-85 Tuner) Robert Steadman-Milwaukee, WI (Yamaha T-85) Jorge Thompson-Miami Lakes, FL (Yamaha TX-1000U & Yamaha T-85) Jacob Norlund-Hermantown, MN (Yamaha T-80) Bob Bowes-Cleveland, OH (Yamaha T-85) Samuel Smith, New Jersey (Yamaha T-85) John Callarman, Texas (Yamaha T-550) Michael Sloan, Ontario, Canada (Yamaha T-80) Harvey Houghton, Toronto Canada (Denon TU-800)
Here's what Harvey had to say: I had to go out for most of the day, but when I returned this evening I unpacked the unit and gave it a test run. It worked flawlessly. As I am typing this e-mail I am listening to WNED-FM, the Buffalo, New York PBS station that I was primarily interested in. You were right on the money. Your modified unit readily receives the signal and I am most pleased with the sound quality. Thanks again Steve for your interest and help with this. I am definitely alerting my friends to your service. Harvey Houghton
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><br>
My other hobby is DXing FM. I've heard Florida via Tropo and
Mexico via E-skip. Check out the sections devoted to my hobby.
I'm a proud member of the WTFDA, The Worldwide TV FM DX Association.
If you are also involved in DXing TV or FM, you should sign
up to the E-mail list on http://topica.com then sign up and
choose "WTFDA". We alert each other when there is
skip, and chat about anything related to TV and FM DXing.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Then of
course I need a section for my pictures. The lovely woman I'm
sitted with is my fiancee' Liz, who puts up daily with my hobbies.
"I'll be in the radio room honey..."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Thanks for
checking out my website. Click "Contact me" if you'd
like to give some feedback or if you'd like to trade tapes!</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Steve</font></p>
<p>Hot Hits, FM DX, Airchecks, steve mcvie, FM Tuners, WTFDA</p>
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