Parasound TD/Q 1600 FM/AM tuner:

This tuner is superb sounding !

It possesses clarity, detail, resolution with depth and layering befitting that of a higher-resolution source component. It is, a brilliant sounding component.

I had the good fortune of purchasing used (complete with entire full factory packaging, accessories, manual etc.)

There are only a handful of tuners with is type of detail, transparency, sound-staging, high frequency extension, openness and sheer musicality.

If you enjoy/listen to FM/AM, this is what you want !


Simply excellent.

pj

Well-built, reasonable price

I purchased this about a year ago as an addition to my mostly Parasound system (PSP-1000 preamp, HCA-600A amplifiers).

Sound quality is pretty reasonable, given that FM stations don't exactly go out of their way to broadcast audiophile grade signals. The unit does have one or two quirks, with the most noteworthy being that some presets can only be accessed with the remote. The tuner offers 20 presets, but only has 8 preset buttons on the front (with a kind of "shift" key so that each button is used for two presets). Why they couldn't put two more buttons on it is beyond me.
However, how many presets does one person need (or one city offer)? I only use 8 of them myself.

Tuning ability is pretty good (even with the free dipole antenna that came with it), but there are one or two stations in my area that it has trouble with. However, that could simply an issue with my location, as other stations come in very nicely. Perhaps an outdoor antenna would help correct this problem.

The unit is typical Parasound with its solid build quality, but I've had a small problem with the LED display getting dim every once in a while. Parasound offers a huge warranty on it (10 years, if I'm not mistaken), so if it ever does fail completely, it won't cost me anything to get it fixed.

Overall, a decent tuner for the money.

Similar Products Used:

Some old Yamaha I had

very good reception, even with free dipole ant., very nice sound

on/off button doesnt match other parasound components

this is a fine tuner, good reception, very musical sound. i like the looks (i like the looks of parasound), fit and finish is typical parasound (very well constructed), functionality and feel, and the price. no, it doesnt sound like my cd player or turntable but this beats the sound of the other tuners i tried in the 3 to 5 hundred dollar range. it has the sound and features i was hoping for and a hundred dollars under budget.

nothing fancy, just good quality basic gear.
parasound tuner
parasound cd
parasound pre amp
thorens turntable (oldie but a goodie)
adcom gfa 5500 amp
monitor audio silver 7i's (fabulous)
kimber hero interconnects
dh labs silversonic t14 cables

Similar Products Used:

adcom, carver, denon, onkyo

Recently purchased a P/DQ 1600 to match my Parasound P/LD 2000 preamp. I replaced an Adcom GTP450 which I thought was doing a very nice job, however I immediately noticed better sonics. I feel the build quality is very good for a tuner that sells for less than 400.00. Am very happy with the P/DQ 1600. I would give it 3.5 stars if a half star was available.

This is a good tuner for the money, deserves 3.5 stars, but I gave it 4 since it recieved 1 star from the bozos below. These people should consider themselves Casual Listeners not Audio Enthusiasts. One describes the sound as bass heavy, it should !!!, practically all FM stations intentionally boost the bass of their signal. Therefore you need to correct it with EQ. The other bozo needs to buy some CDs, no normal human needs that many tuner presets. The crediblity of these two is questionable. I'm not sure they are qualified to use a tuner.

Quality of performance for price, sturdiness of construction, ease of use

Sound - no significant weaknesses; appearance could be improved

I have owned this tuner for about 2-1/2 years and am very pleased with its performance for the price ($385 list; I paid $300 n.i.b.). I auditioned it against the NAD 412 and liked it better. I bought it when I upgraded from an Adcom tuner/preamp. It is easy to program and operate and seems to lock in stations well along with my Terk FM-50 antenna. The radio stations in my area produce far from audiophile quality sound, so my feeling is that the tuner's sound is at least as good as the source. The only drawback I can think of is that it is very plain looking in appearance, as is all the Parasound equipment.

My system:
McCormack DNA0.5 D amp
McCormack TLC-1 pre
Rega tt w/ Ortofon MC cartridge and Creek phono stage
NAD CD player
Tice line conditioner
B&W 604 speakers
Kimber cables and interconnects

My true rating is 4 stars, but I am giving it 5 stars to offset the negative statistical variation caused by the duplicate one star review below.

Similar Products Used:

NAD 412, Adcom GTP-350

good sound able to pick up weak stations

have to use remote for some of the presets

this has got to be one of the best tuners out there for the money. From my area in boston I can pick up stations as far south as providence and as for north as new hampshire. Yes, their is some static in the receiption of distant radio stations but, not enough to make listening unpleasant.

Similar Products Used:

tuners on various recievers

I bought this tuner based on the Class "c" rating that it received in Stereophile's recommended components issue.
I live just outside NY City, so pickinf up stations clearly is not a problem.

Sound Quality can best be described as being flat and bass heavy, with little detail and a two dimensinal sound.

There is absolutely no transparency. The tuner section of my old Harman/kardon 3350 receiver sounds a hundred times better.

That is the last time I buy anything recommended in Stereophile.
If you have $400-$700 to spend on a tuner, by a Magnum Dynalab, Harman Kardon, Denon or even the Nad 412.

For the money one could do a lot better! The sound quality is par for this price range but the the engineering and quality control of the unit I purchased could be much better!The panel layout is straight forward but the IR remote is required to access 4 of the pre-set stations. On one of the pre-set station buttons #18 the unit will set a frequency but when later recalled will appear to have locked it in a tenth of a KHz off and I must manually re tune it. What a joy!
This unit would be a GREAT unit if it was sold for $50.

Easy to use and setup. Lots of presets.

Sometimes has difficulty with strong adjacent stations.

Reception great for a product in this price range.