Yamaha T-S500BL AM/FM Tuner (Black)

I recently bought a lightly used Yamaha A-S500 integrated amp, and decided that I wanted this Yamaha tuner because the amp's remote control will operate it. I already had a couple tuners, so kept an eye out for a good deal. After a few months of occasionally checking various vendors and a used audio site that I like, I finally found one in Amazon Warehouse; took a chance and ordered it, $118 delivered and including state tax.The Yamaha box was very rough, badly torn up on one end, but it was shipped inside another box. Was delighted to find that the tuner itself is unblemished, looking brand new. Checked every function, and I do know how - everything works 100%, and the sound is clean and clear with my home-built antenna. All the paperwork, and included accessories, were present. But you can do better than the flimsy straight wire antenna included, which is a push-on F-connector type so if you use it you won't need to order the adaptor.It's a good-looking, reasonably low-profile tuner.If you are using 75-ohm coax, like me (I use quad-shielded RG6 CATV coax) then go ahead and also order a 75-ohm screw-on to push-on adaptor, because the tuner accepts only the push-on. No biggie, the small adaptors are cheap - I ordered a ten-pack because I like to have such things on hand.Now I can change stations from my bed with the remote, woo-hoo!Too bad Yamaha doesn't include a remote with the tuner, but if you own one of their amps then you're in like Flint. And, yes, the tuner has an IR reception window, so no extra wire is required to connect the amp for remote control (as I have seen sometimes in the past). I get noise-free reception from all my local stations using my indoor antenna. Yes, I also stream music, but tuners provide a higher sound quality than most streams, especially internet radio streams, and there are three local stations I really like.I haven't tried the AM, except to know it works. For AM dxing, I have a few excellent portable radios, and a 1948 tube radio in good condition. Yep, my 70-year-old radio works well. Think the Yamaha will in 2088?

I love the simplicity and solid performance of this tuner. It definitely falls under my guiding light of 'Less is More'.You're not paying for a lot of features, bells and whistles which you would not likely use anyway.I don't have a wonderful antenna connected, but this tuner is able to lock in on all the channels I care about. It is clear without a lot of noise between stations while tuning. I probably would not have have protested too much if the tuner had offered RDS, but overall I would have to say a very solid performer.

The sound for this unit could get a 4-5 . I have done A-B comparisons with a number of other FM tuners , those that are new , And those from the 1970's and 1980's . The dynamic sound of this turner was surprising in that is was better in the following areas . Pulling in stations . only the SONY XDR-F1HD , a digital tuner may have been better . other wisethe quality of picking up signals is very impressive . The musical quality was better than any stand alone turner that I had . This was a surprise to me . The stereo separation and dynamic quality of the sound was great .It was very musical . You would have to spend a lot more to perhaps get a better FM radio . The AM radio works , that is about all I can say . There seems not to be too much effort by anyone to build a good AM radio . Overall this is a disappointing omission in the industry . I had a 1970's Techniques , that had the best AM radio. This isn't difficult or new technology . The over all ease of use is excellent too . 40 station memory that is remembered when the unit is unplugged . So I am in most points happy I purchased this tuner . AS a radio that sounds GREAT this gets a 5 . That is the point after all , isn't it . But it has some major and very disappointing features .First there is no remote . It is assumed that one will purchase the amplifier , which has the remote for this unit. This is very shallow corporate thinking . I have purchased mini amps from China for ~ $30 , and these had great credit card remotes . No remote codes given , nor is there a APP that you can use with this radio . Today this is unbelievable . Every electronic device has a app that you can use to control the units , but not this . This case is 90 % air , and is made from very thin and cheap steel , The size of the tuner could be much smaller . It is of course the size to match the amp that goes with it . The above ad says 2 line screen . this may be true , but in reality only one is used .Why are these screens overall size so small , they are hard to see .there is lots of room to have been made much larger. There is no RDS , why not ? This isn't rocket science . A stereo light comes on , but no tuning meter or antenna strength , I find these important in setting up my unit . The lack of these items is just another indication of just how cheaply this unit is made . There is nothing extra . Even the tuners of the 1970's have more features that were important . Of course it isn't a HD radio . I do not know why the stereo companies do not make HD radios.The SONY HD radio was under $ 100 . Of course for some reason SONY stopped making these , and are hundreds $$$$ in the used market . This unit is $250 while not being digital . I can tell you this , if it were a HD unit with the quality of the FM radio , Yamaha could not make enough to keep them in stock . There is a major void in this area of the market for a product like this . This is just another area of not doing anything innovative .I opened the unit and the main board is of course very small . It is probably the same board used in their stereo receivers . The compactors' look good , but are really small .the transformer is as cheap as possible . Disappointed there is not a toroidal transformer .Another corner cut . it is very interesting that just about every connection has a sealing paint on it. If you did a mod , it would be very easy to see . But this isn't a turner that lends itself to mods .So bottom line , It has a great and wonderful sound , great tuning quality . There are not many AM/FM turners anymore on the market . This one is worth getting .

This tuner is for audiophile purists who believe in the rule of separates. That is amp is separate, Preamp is separate and tuner is separate. Clean simple design, LED display, channel presets and rich analog sound. Definitely not internet radio.My one knock on it is that it has no remote control, but if you're gonna go old school like me you might as well get your butt off the couch once in a while to change channel that's how they did it back in the day. I could use the exercise, how about you?

Nice unit, I literally hooked it up for the first time this weekend. Attached to a QuickSilver integrated tube amp. Sadly the tuner seems to wander. Picking up stations not selected. Not sure how to fix this. No worries, this tuner is a back up unit, for T&E on other audiophile gear.

You can only hook one set of speakers up to this. Returned as soon as I opened it.