Need help With Tuner

[KP11520]

I forgot to make one other recommendation that I read. When you are inside the tuner you will notice the FM antenna leads. One goes to the 75 ohm connector and one goes through a Balun to the 300 ohm connector screws. Remove the balun and disconnect the wires from the connector. On the 75 ohm side, replace the set screw and ground strap with a coax connector for your 75 ohm antenna. This is supposed to add upto 2 db of gain. That might be the difference between hiss and no hiss on some stations! And of course, make the strong ones even stronger!

And always use 75 ohm coax cable for your antenna connections. RG6U is better than RG59.

Regards//Keith

[Serratoga]

Keith, I would have to open up the unit first, you kind of lost me on that one, mind you 2 dB
extra? not to shabby , I'll take that any day.


Slate

PS. what do you think of the Godar FM 2a ? or do you think the Magnum Dynalab ST-2 is the way to go? strictly indoor

[KP11520]

Hi Slate,

The Godar is $69.95 on sale on their site. I have no experience with them. I don't know anybody with one either.

What I do know is that it is strictly indoor as you say and that it is directional. That means as you scan across the FM dial, you need to rotate the antenna accordingly. I didn't hace a 42 inch circle to do that so the ST-2 won for me (no turning required). I also intend to move within 1 year and will mount it high and outside when I get a house.

The Godar in the attic with a rotor might be a nice setup but that gets expensive.

It would be nice if you could test them all side by side and keep one.

Regards//Keith

[Serratoga]

Keith,
I just finished installing the Black Gate Capacitors in the audio path of the Sansui.
How long do think the burn in time might be?

Slate

[KP11520]

Hi Slate,

Congrats! You move fast!

Don't forget to remove that Balun and forget about the 300 ohm FM Connection. Then add a coax connector to the internal 75 ohm wire connection and remove the set screw and ground strap (use a little creativity, there is no exact method) while you have it apart.

I am assuming you don't like what you hear initially or you wouldn't be asking this question!

Now I am no expert, but what I keep reading here is that the Blackgates take quite some time to "burn in" for many of our fellow forum members. Sometimes people get the positive results immediately and then it gets even better with additional hours. However, you should hear some difference immediately, even if it sounds harsh (this happens often and gets somewhat better usually within 10 hours). Don't despair, if it gets somewhat better after a few hours, let it burn in for a week or two continuously (168 hours in a week, so 2 weeks would give over 300 and that seems to be what many say these need). So turn it on, tuned into a strong station and leave it on. No amplification required. Then give a listen and I hope you love what you hear! Then go do the PS caps and rectifiers, etc. They supposedly make a nice difference too.

Regards//Keith

[Serratoga]

Hi Keith,
They did sound fantastic out of the box, they are more articulate, you hear everything. I found on the classical station it made the most difference, before it was un-listenable, now it's nice.
I think the ones that were in there were just dried up.......
I bought an extra set so that in 10 years I will replace them again , just in case there is no more to buy. Yes I may do the power supply ones as well.

Thanks
Slate

[KP11520]

Well then......

With time, they will only get better too!

Way to go!

Don't worry about 10 years from now, hopefully, and I mean hopefully, they will have something even better!

If you really get adventurous, re-do the front end of the Tuner too and that will get you into Nirvana. The TU717 will compete with the best when modified (and it is already VERY nice)!

Regards//Keith

Don't forget the balun!

[Serratoga]

Keith,
I started a new post.
" Tuner Capacitors"

Slate