Here in Boston, we’re blessed with a number of very good classical FM radio stations.  I had for a long time a Magnum Dynalab Etude tuner and quite regularly was listening “live” broadcasts and many other beauties of urban FM life. I had a few tuners in past but frankly speaking I never really got any serious sonic differents between them. All of them sound in one or another way better or worth, all of them (even the crappies of them) delivered the magic of “live” broadcasts and sense of the broadcast immediacy and coexisting. So, I did not practically pursuit better antenna of better tuner. Audio wise I never was happy with the result I got from my FM sourse, it was OK but nothing special.

A couple months ago I made better antenna and decided to try better tuner again. (It happens with me once in few years and usually after trying one or two “good” tuners I confirm that they were as much crap as my Dynalab and I concluded: “Why bother?”

This time I decided to allocate to the project $1000 and went “to people” to see what it there. I looked what the experienced guys form http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/ said. I knew the Yamaha CT-7000 before and kind of was targeting in that direction but one comment from the Tuner Information Center attracted my intention. 

I do not know who was the author of that post but sh/e was trying to compare thier “reference” Kenwood L-02T vs. an inexpensive Yamaha T-2. (http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/shootouts.html#T-2) I have head some fascinating comments about the T-2 before, however, when I begin to read the article I read:

“The Yamaha T-2 is one of those tricky little tuners that is pleasant-sounding on its own, before any A/B testing against the champ. As a matter of fact, I caught myself listening instead of reviewing quite often. The faults I found were faults of omission rather than any glaring problems.”

Knowing what the read when I read about audio I said: “Hm, this is intriguing… I want to learn what it was”. I when and I bought the T-2 for sub $300 and I’m listening it since then.

First of all I would like to thanks the author of the Tuner Information Center for the direct hit in his quoted assessment. The T-2 is insultingly musical and it dose not sound like any known to me tuner, CD, tape or LP player. It has own, very differently peaceful Sound; with totally idiosyncratic, stunningly dissimilar, heroin-like midrange and with very remarkable ability to reproduce space and ambiance.

This tuner is defiantly something VERY different. I still am figuring out what it dose but the initial reaction to it is highly-unexpectedly highly-optimistic.

Listening the live “La Trovatore” from the National Opera of Bastille
http://www.whrb.org/pg/Summer2004.pdf
Romy the Cat

Jim thanks for the review and for the tip. I was not familiar with the T-2 model before.

I is really interesting what this tuner dose and how unexpectedly musically it performs. I listened today a number of broadcasts from the CDs that I am well familiar (and I do have quite capable digital playback) and for whatever reasons the tuner brushed the performances into very attractive result. What is appealing that the T-2 does not make music effective, showy and do not accent the language of the presentation? Nevertheless, the FM is still modulated sound: how the hell Yamaha did hide the language so skillfully?

Anyhow, I have to report today’s absolutely out of this world experience that the T-2 granted to me. I tuned today to NPR News Station and heard a short speech of the President Bush. My, God! Whatever this tuner dose to Sound but via T-2 the Bush sounded like a person who has IQ higher then a size of his shoe!

Wow!
Romy the caT