Price Paid:  $200.00 from Store in upstate NY

Summary:
This is a component with strengths and shortcomings. The black panel is stylish but unreadable; you have to memorize the button functions or get up real close to read the markings. The FM performance is good--if you get a good one. Audio is very good. AM is very good but not the best I''ve encountered. But construction is amazingly cheap. It looks like a badly-made budget table radio inside. I know that a significant number of these didn''t survive from production to consumer because there were a lot of refurbs available. And I''m sure that the ones that are running won''t run for very long. The first one I got was a mess and this one just broke.

Strengths:
Sounds very good, looks nice, works well if you get a good one.

Weaknesses:
Construction-wise, a piece of junk. Just amazingly poor.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer TX-9500 II, Dyna FM-3, a bunch of tube Heaths, Fisher 202-1 (tube)

Summary:
I just purchased a used HK Citation 23 tuner for $250 and find its performance to be beyond expectation, even though this model is 10+ years old.. I've auditioned other medium-priced tuners from other reputable manufacturers, and this one stands out above them all. I'm not prepared to pay $5,500 for a Musical Fidelity tuner and I feel I have the equal in terms of sound quality, sensitivity, and rich detail. Compared to other tuners, this one sounds like I'm listening to a high quality CD unit instead of FM - amazing. If you can find a Citation 23 on the used market, I highly recommend it. The only glitch was that the stereo IC chip in my unit went out when I brought it home, which the audio dealer replaced promptly and easily at no charge. It now sounds fabulous. It's a shame Harman Kardon has recently veered from its audiophile tradition with its new emphasis on "Home Theater" - what a waste of talented engineering from an reputable company.

Strengths:
depth, clarity, sensitivity, fullness

Weaknesses:
IC chip failure, but promptly and easily replaced