The TU-X1 has been described by many as the best vintage tuner out there. This may be a bit misleading. I have two of these, both extensively modified for improved sound quality. Anyone who thinks that a stock TU-X1 is as good as FM can be, has never heard an IMPROVED TU-X1 !

Frankly, I have heard a stock TU-X1 and found other great tuners to be its equal.

Note that, for all the amazing and unique technology which has gone into the AM section, the TU-X1's AM will never live up to its expectations. You do NOT buy this tuner for its AM.

However I have compared my Stereo-Surgeons-modified TU-X1 to a number of tuners, including the amazing (and super-expensive) Accuphase T-1100, and this modded TU-X1 was the clear winner. In fact, until I received my Audio-Horizons-modified TU-X1 (which Joseph Chow modded to my extensive and specific requirements), the Stereo-Surgeons Sansui TU-X1 was, at the time, BY FAR THE BEST SOUNDING tuner I had ever heard.

Amazing 3D depth, superb stereo image, extreme deep bass, mellifluous vocals, great sense of musical momentum. Gives other audiophile sources such as top-flight turntables and SACD players a run for their money.

But, remarkably, it is left in the shade by my Audio-Horizons (Joseph Chow) Sansui TU-X1. Bass is tighter and more detailed, sound stage is amazing, orchestral and vocal timbres are incredibly lifelike and involving. Joseph Chow himself said, after completing his mods, that he thinks it is the best sounding Sansui TU-X1 he had ever heard (and, by extension, the best sounding tuner he had ever heard).

Relaying live classical concert performances, it is as close as I can imagine to being in the actual concert hall (I attend some 20+ live classical concerts every year, so I have a good sense of what they REALLY sound like).

In short, a good, competently upgraded TU-X1 will comprehensively wipe $7,000+ tuners off their pedestal. And I suspect that my no-holds-barred Joseph-Chow-modified TU-X1 is close to, if not THE best sounding FM tuner on earth!

Value for money: What price perfection???? $3000 for a well-modified TU-X1 would have to be considered a real audio bargain. $3,500 for a "standard" Joseph Chow modded one is definitely very good value. For his top of line mods, including full point-to-point rewire, power supply mods, IEC power connector, silver/gold RCAs, Audio Horizons fuse, etc., $4,500 would not be unreasonable at all. My no-holds-barred Audio Horizons tuner? $5K would barely even pique my interest.

You can get a Revox B760, and you have strong bass and a beefy midrange, but a grainy sound. Or an Accuphase T105 with its sweet but flat and just a bit liveless sound. A Sansui TU9900 has an overall nice sound, but just a bit harsch and not as musical as you would (you can change the op-amps and it will shine, but this is another story). Many old Sony are amazing, but with an old transistor flavour in the sound. Do you like it? A more recent Sony, like the ST-SA5ES is a winner... if you like digital sound. Would you try with some tube tuner? I agree with you! A McIntosh MR71 is nice, no doubt, but will it be able to get all your favourite stations? A Scott has an even sweeter sound (under his strong hum for the AC tube filaments), but it will not be able for sure. Or you can get a Sansui TU-X1, with its amazing overall sound and its unreal stereo imagine, with all the instruments well defined, rich of body and soul. May be some top tuner is sometime a tad more beefy or sweet, but it is the best, plently of life, able to get even the most distant stations without esitations. I've owned and own many tuners but imho the TU-X1 is a breed in its own right. It is heavy and big and not so beauty, but it disappear when the music come on. When it has got its place in my home all the other tuners are vanished: few minutes and I was hearing the music, not the tuner. Some month have been spent and it is the same magic.

Does it all extremely well

Too big...a huge beast of an animal.

Way overbuilt. When put in a true audiophile system, this unit holds its own against all of the other top flight components in your system. Huge soundstage, lots of depth and detail. Truly a high end piece. And as you upgrade other components in your system....you won't be upgrading your tuner, because there is not better. If you ever get the opportunity to purchase one of these bad boys...do it immediately. Everything that everyone here says about this unit is absolutely true.

great stereo, precise imaging, 3d feel now and then, it simply makes listening radio a joy !!!

size: (w:480,h:197,d:450 mm). weight: 16.2 kg.

When listening I almost automatically try to distinguish and place the seperate instruments. That gives the music an extra dimension to me. This tuner surprised me many times when I was listening to music that I thought I knew well but suddenly had an extra dimension. I'm very happy with the TU-X1, despite it's size and weight.

Hard to describe, have had 7 tuners or so in the last years, but now....: its crazy - feels like the first time!

Weight, depth!!

Best Tuner ever!!!!

Similar Products Used:

AIWA AT-9700, Sony STS-590ES

the best tuner ever!

size

This is really an amzing tuner. The sound quality is incredible. It has lots of features and it is build like a tank. Also very good AM reception end sound quality. Sound quality on FM is the best I ever heard from a tuner. You just forget the equipment as you are listening to music.
It's strange that hardly anybody saw the quality of this product when it was new. For me it's six stars

Really the best tuner I have ever heard,

none

There is no comparison. Sound is extremely 3d, wide, open, silky smooth, punchy, huge soundstage, detailed.

Similar Products Used:

Accuphase T105, Kenwood KT 1000 Revox B76, Sequerra

superb sound

none

This one is even better than the TU 9900. It sounds exceptional 3d, open, big, warm and detailed. Never heard a better sounding tuner!
All audiophiles should look around, The TU X1 might not easy to be found, but it's a better buy than the TU 9900!

Similar Products Used:

TU 9900

SILKY SMOOTH SOUND, GETS TOUGH STATIONS, STURDY WITH GOOD FEEL TO KNOBS AND BUTTONS, 4+1 METERS, AM IN WIDE MODE SOUNDS LIKE FM, FEATURES FEATURES FEATURES...

HUH?

AWESOME 3D SOUND, MORE DETAILED THAN MY MR78 (STOCK) AND PICKS UP AS MANY STATIONS IN BOSTON AREA... BYE BYE MCINTOSH!

X1 AND SUMO CHARLIE ARE THE MOST UNDERRATED TUNERS. CHARLIE MIGHT BE THE BETTER DEAL GOING BUT I WANTED AM AND X1 MAYBE BEST AM-FM TUNER EVER.

Similar Products Used:

MR-78,MR-80,DENON TU-680NAB,SONY SA5ES,YAM T-2,NAK ST-7,CARVER T-11A,SUMO CHARLIE (ALSO KICKS BUTT)

Very musical, excellent sound. Simply the best!

Big and heavy (16Kg), no presets

This tuner simply is the best tuner I ever heard. Very accurate an nice-looking too. I've used other high-end tuners, but this one is noticably better.
If you get a chance, buy it!

Similar Products Used:

Revox B760, Sansui TU-919