Need help choosing the right receiver

[epii]

For the past few years my hobby has been refurbishing and listening to AM solid-state table top radios. The only issue I have is that my hearing, iffy on a good day, could benefit from being able to adjust not only volume but bass and treble as well. Doubtless better speakers would help as well. I've been considering getting a receiver and, as usual, there's a lot I'd need to know first:

1. My interest is AM talk radio, so I'd need a unit that performs well on AM.
2. A few years ago I managed to build a really good AM antenna (one of those 10% skill, 90% luck deals) so I'd need something that I can attach that to. I'm guessing anything with AM has an internal ferrite?
3. Analog tuning is pretty much a requirement.
4. I'm sure there are many more considerations but that's all I can think of on one cup of coffee.

In general, I'm 70 and grew up in an analog world. Digital is fine but when it comes to radio analog, as they put it today, is my jam. Just FYI, I'm no electronics guru - I can do basic troubleshooting, re-capping and AM alignment on a good day - so now you know the level of knowledge you're dealing with .

I'm looking for a receiver/speaker combination that will deliver the above. I don't need anything esoteric, just a solid, well built unit that will last and you can actually get parts for if necessary. I'm not even worried about stereo sound, unless there's a particular advantage when it comes to the spoken word. I'm assuming it will be something vintage, which is fine - I'm vintage so we'll be a matched set. I'm not really looking to collect receivers, more like looking for the one receiver that will, with proper care and feeding, hopefully last for 50 years or the rest of my life, whichever comes first. I don't mind spending some money to get the right unit as long as it fits the bill.

If any of you would like to tell me what I need, and pass along any other guidance, I'd appreciate it very much.

Thanks!

Earl

 

[Shaggy]

For the past few years my hobby has been refurbishing and listening to AM solid-state table top radios. The only issue I have is that my hearing, iffy on a good day, could benefit from being able to adjust not only volume but bass and treble as well. Doubtless better speakers would help as well. I've been considering getting a receiver and, as usual, there's a lot I'd need to know first:

1. My interest is AM talk radio, so I'd need a unit that performs well on AM.
2. A few years ago I managed to build a really good AM antenna (one of those 10% skill, 90% luck deals) so I'd need something that I can attach that to. I'm guessing anything with AM has an internal ferrite?
3. Analog tuning is pretty much a requirement.
4. I'm sure there are many more considerations but that's all I can think of on one cup of coffee.

In general, I'm 70 and grew up in an analog world. Digital is fine but when it comes to radio analog, as they put it today, is my jam. Just FYI, I'm no electronics guru - I can do basic troubleshooting, re-capping and AM alignment on a good day - so now you know the level of knowledge you're dealing with .

I'm looking for a receiver/speaker combination that will deliver the above. I don't need anything esoteric, just a solid, well built unit that will last and you can actually get parts for if necessary. I'm not even worried about stereo sound, unless there's a particular advantage when it comes to the spoken word. I'm assuming it will be something vintage, which is fine - I'm vintage so we'll be a matched set. I'm not really looking to collect receivers, more like looking for the one receiver that will, with proper care and feeding, hopefully last for 50 years or the rest of my life, whichever comes first. I don't mind spending some money to get the right unit as long as it fits the bill.

If any of you would like to tell me what I need, and pass along any other guidance, I'd appreciate it very much.

Thanks!

Earl

Earl, welcome. For spoken-word AM with tone controls and analog tuning, youve actually got it easier than the folks chasing watts.

The AM section is the big one, since a lot of otherwise great vintage receivers had so-so AM. The names people usually steer you to for a solid all-rounder are Marantz, Pioneer SX, Sansui, Kenwood and Technics from the mid-to-late 70s, any of those with a clean analog dial will give you real bass and treble and sometimes a loudness contour, which helps on the hearing side.

Almost all of them have screw terminals on the back for an external AM wire antenna plus a ground, so your homebrew antenna will have a home. Since youre not after volume or stereo imaging you dont need a powerhouse, a modest 20 to 40 watt name-brand unit thats been gone through will outlast you and parts are everywhere. For talk you want midrange clarity more than bass, so a simple sealed bookshelf pair does nicely.

One option if AM reception is truly make or break, some folks feed a dedicated outboard AM tuner into a receivers aux in and use the receiver just for tone and amplification. Might be overkill but worth knowing.

 

[epii]

Good to hear from you. I wound up getting an Onkyo TX-2000 for a very reasonable price off eBay. It was OK when I got it but a careful AM alignment helped quite a bit. Got an inexpensive Boston Acoustic center speaker from the same guy, made the speaker stand out of scrap. Attached my DIY AM antenna and reception is outstanding. Will still refurbish the occasional desktop but this is my go to for listening to AM talk.

Also got an old Rotel AVR and a couple of nice speakers for the TV, big improvement over a sound bar...

 

[Shaggy]

Good to hear from you. I wound up getting an Onkyo TX-2000 for a very reasonable price off eBay. It was OK when I got it but a careful AM alignment helped quite a bit. Got an inexpensive Boston Acoustic center speaker from the same guy, made the speaker stand out of scrap. Attached my DIY AM antenna and reception is outstanding. Will still refurbish the occasional desktop but this is my go to for listening to AM talk.

Also got an old Rotel AVR and a couple of nice speakers for the TV, big improvement over a sound bar...

View attachment 1541

That is so freaking cool!!

 

[epii]

It turned out OK. There's nothing high end here but for my purposes it works pretty well. I had to install a new bulb in the tuning indicator. It's a little warmer hue than the rest of the lights but I'll take it. I left an inch between receiver and speaker for cooling and had a piece of plexiglass that worked well to put the speaker on. The antenna is what really makes it, reception is great. All in all, a fun project.

 

[Shaggy]

It turned out OK. There's nothing high end here but for my purposes it works pretty well. I had to install a new bulb in the tuning indicator. It's a little warmer hue than the rest of the lights but I'll take it. I left an inch between receiver and speaker for cooling and had a piece of plexiglass that worked well to put the speaker on. The antenna is what really makes it, reception is great. All in all, a fun project.

Do you use it alot?

 

[epii]

I'm about to start. I've been re-aligning all of my radios just to make sure they're right and am going to start putting the ones I don't want on eBay. Now that the process is about complete I'm going to start listening more. This unit sits on an old desk next to my computer desk, so I can listen to talk radio and work puzzles at the same time. Nice way to spend an hour or two .