Shortwave Tuners

[Bruce C. Miller]

Are there any Shortwave radio tuners out there that aren't the cheap
portable kind? I'd like something that would look nice with my hi-end
home stereo (all black fascias) on an audio rack with 7" high spaces.
I'd like to get rid of my AM/FM tuner component (instead using a PC
tuner card for AM/FM reception), and replace it with a shortwave tuner.


If not, I'd also be happy with a shortwave tuner card in my PC and
keeping the AM/FM tuner component. My PC is hooked up to my preamp.

[[email protected]]

Well, they're called receivers, not tuners. The only one I know of
that looked like a hi-fi piece was the old McKay Dymek.

"Look nice" is subjective but you could look through the WRTH Handbook
and Passport to World Band Radio to see if anything catches your fancy.
Most are smaller than 19" but there are rackmount kits. Ten-Tec sells a
kit you could rework in a discarded silver or black hi-fi unit's
chassis and front panel.

[Robert Morein]

An R-390 would look pretty "high end" :)


"Bruce C. Miller" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Are there any Shortwave radio tuners out there that aren't the cheap
> portable kind? I'd like something that would look nice with my hi-end
> home stereo (all black fascias) on an audio rack with 7" high spaces.
> I'd like to get rid of my AM/FM tuner component (instead using a PC
> tuner card for AM/FM reception), and replace it with a shortwave tuner.
>
>
> If not, I'd also be happy with a shortwave tuner card in my PC and
> keeping the AM/FM tuner component. My PC is hooked up to my preamp.
>

[Margaret von B.]

"Bruce C. Miller" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Are there any Shortwave radio tuners out there that aren't the cheap
> portable kind? I'd like something that would look nice with my hi-end
> home stereo (all black fascias) on an audio rack with 7" high spaces.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/commrxvr/0340.html

Got one 3 months ago. The best if you know what you're doing and have the
antenna to match it.

Cheers,

MvB

[Bruce C. Miller]

wrote:
> Well, they're called receivers, not tuners.

Is that because most of them have a speaker output? I realise most
shortwave people aren't interested in sound quality, and neither am I
(when it comes to shortwave that is). But, I was hoping to combine it
into my system, since I prefer to have one system do everything (music,
video, computer, radio, etc).

The thought of listening to anything, even shortwave, through only a
single 3.5" paper cone makes me feel nauseous.

> The only one I know of
> that looked like a hi-fi piece was the old McKay Dymek.

Hmmm, that model does look nice. Would clash with my current system's
black components though.

[[email protected]]

If you found a beat up one and refinned it in a tasteful non-stock
scheme, sure.

[[email protected]]

In the real world a device that takes a baseband signal and imposes it
on an RF carrier is a "transmitter", and its corresponding reciprocal
device is a "receiver". Think "modulator" and :"demodulator' or
"pitcher' and "catcher". It actually goes back to telephony, the
forefather of all audio transmision.

The audio industry is whacked, always has been, and has evolved
Scientology-like verbiage in which a "receiver" is a receiver and a
power amplifier together with additional inputs for other signal
sources. A receiver that only has a line level signal out is a "tuner"
even though it has not only a tuner but a detector, EQ (for
de-emphasis),and amplification, but bizarrely usually no AF gain or
volume control. That's because of a union agreement giving another box
called the "preamp" that job. However, the tuner could have a small
power amp and a gain control if it's called "headphone" .