I just got this tuner and getting some upgrade parts, since the audio sound is easily upgraded on this tuner to make it a true audiophile apparatus:-)! Precise bass already in place.

The outputstage -Q311- needs OPA 2134P opamp (as well as elsewhere in 2 more spots), new output C's (Elna silmic II, 22 uf/16v) and power C's there as well (Panasonic, 470uf/16v). Also change out the power C on the central power board with Nichicon or panasonic (2200uf/50v).

After 20 years or so the sound is a bit brown and not very deep/wide, upgrading the parts will help a lot.

Ofcourse use a good antenna and have it adjusted! Instructions are on the net for this little operation.

Easy to handle. Remote controller with volume. Sharp filtering catches many weak stations. Very good sound. If you listen to weak stations it's a good buy.

Very sensitive; low distortion; great features.

recently discontinued by manufacturer

Probably the best tuner under $1000 available today. Though it was discontinued by Onkyo a year or two ago (around 1998), it's still widely available used for about $400-$600. The 9090II differs from the original 9090 by virtue of three major features:

1) two antenna inputs

2) remote control

3) variable audio output.

All three are welcome features, and the performance is identical between the older 9090 I still have and the 9090II. About my only quibble is that the tuner will not memorize all of the settings (IF bandwidth, muting settings, etc.) along with the frequency presets, which some older advanced tuners (like the Revox 761) will do. It also lacks AM, but this is probably not desired by many audiophiles.

Until digital radio becomes widely available (and standardized), I think the Onkyo 9090 is pretty much king-of-the-hill. It's been touted by Don Scott over in STEREOPHILE for years as being the top RF performer out there, probably bested only by the McIntosh MR-80. The MR-80 definitely has more "sex appeal" than the 9090, but I suspect the creature comforts of the 9090 and its lower cost will make it preferable to most.

--Marc Wielage
mwielage@hotmail.com

Similar Products Used:

Magnum-Dynalab Etude; Denon TU-800; Denon 660; Onkyo T-4711

Excellent weak-signal sensitivity and adjacent-channel selectivity

Discontinued

This FM tuner offers has the best FM reception performance I've ever encountered. I was able to receive, with a cheap indoor dipole, a 50kw station (98.5Mhz) some 60 miles away with a 50kw (98.7Mhz) transmitter that about 6 mi away.
Unfortunately, it's discontinued and I don't think there will be a new model to replace it, probably due to low demand of separate tuners. It tunes in 250khz steps.
The display looks great. The tuner has 2 antenna inputs, which I like. I'm considering in buying a APS-13 yagi antenna from antennaperformance.com. My only complaint is a lack of a tuning knob, but that's not a problem.
My advice, if you can find it...grab it!

Great RF performance let down slightly by its audio performance

Well, here is a tuner that can be called the problem solver. If the signal is in the air, this tuner will garb it and play tunes for you. But its RF performance is clearly better than its audio performance, as with a good, strong, signal, I get the impression that music has more biody while listening through a Dynaco FM-3 tuner, which I also own. Go figure. So, for ultimate Rf ability, end your search here. If you've got a decent signal, and are looking for ultimate audio performance, there are other tuners to look at. But, please understand that does not mean the Onkyo is bad- far from it. It is, in fact excellent, but better performance is to be found.