![]() ![]() We listen for audio reproduction quality of local stations and evaluate how many stations the tuner can receive while we sweep through the dial. If the tuner has acceptable performance related to the parameters above we connect the unit for listening tests with a simple dipole antenna. This adjustment also helps us verify signal strength meter function. Sensitivity & Signal Strength Meter Function - By lowering the output of the SG80 we can simulate weak stations and determine how well the tuner will be able to pull in weak distant stations. Stereo Separation - A properly working stereo tuner will have minimal crosstalk between the left and right channel.Ħ. Dial Tracking - How accurately the tuner dial or display indicates the actual frequency of the broadcast being received.ĥ. FM Mono Reception & Tuning Meter FunctionĤ. This device, in conjunction with an oscilloscope allows us to properly evaluate the following parameters:Ģ. The SG80 allows us to “simulate” an ideal radio station using precision test signals instead of music. If the unit passes visual inspection it is bench tested for a handful of key performance parameters using a Sencore SG80 AM/FM Stereo Analyzer. ![]() These parts are inspected for smooth operation. Vintage analog tuners also have moving parts related to the tuning gang and dial string. ![]() On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. These PDF links may not match up to this exact model, but are close enough for historical purposes. Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better The pictures show it darker than it looks in person.Ĭlick below to add our recommended matching cables from Kimber Kable, all brand new as SkyFi is an official Kimber dealer. The display is a cool gunmetal color that's not quite black, not quite gray. Internally it's quickly obvious that this is more of a lab piece of equipment than a home component. Nothing else was needed which is a testament to the build quality and thoughtful engineering. We cleaned and retested the controls and aligned the display. Any imperfection you see in the display are cause by the refresh rate of the camera, not visible in real life. It is able to reproduce a strong stable signal as you would expect and is sounding fabulous. The CRT Scope is super bright and very responsive. Writing about these features just doesn't cut it - from our YouTube: And there's also a 4th mode titled External Vector which allows you to input external signal. It has several different modes - Panoramic, Display Tuning, and Tuner Vector. Probably the neatest feature is the built in oscilloscope that is hard to miss. It was really designed for radio stations to analyze their signals and understand their performance limitations, and was quickly adopted by home owners that wanted the absolute best of the best. And you can tell by its construction, design, parts quality, and presentation. There were other variations like the reference models that easily exceeded $10,000, but this was considered reasonable/within reason, as this is more of an actual lab instrument than a piece of home audio equipment. When this tuner came out in 1974 it was almost $2000, which is almost the price of a car in today's money! During its run which ended in the late 90's, it went all the way up to $4,000 in this variation. These 3 tuners were the absolute best of the best, and this Sequerra was the most sophisticated and most expensive by a large margin. Much better than their British counterparts.Ī lot had to do with the fact that in the US designers had the additional challenge of designing tuners to work over significant distances to reach stations - unlike the UK which is a more compact area. The Marantz Model 10B had been around for a little bit, and the McIntosh MR78 had just come out a year before, so there were three all-American made tuners that are now considered the best tuners ever made. This particular tuner series came out in 1974 at a time where there was some pretty fierce competition. ![]()
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