Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo New Audio Additions

Once upon a time, there were only 3 sources available to audio enthusiasts, turntable for your vinyl, either a Reel to Reel or cassette tape recorder/player, and an FM tuner.

I picked up 2 FM tuners, a Sansui TU-9900 and an Onkyo T9090, both highly rated by the Tuner Information Center, a wonderful resource.

I set up both tuners with a test system, an Antique Sound Labs MG Si 15dt integrated 5 wpc SET integrated tube amp, a pair of Axiom M22Tis and an SVS 20-39 subwoofer. I get 2 great stations here in Orange County, 91.5 KUSC, classical, and 88.1 KJAZZ. Reception for both is terrific.

How would you expect the sound qualify of FM in comparison to vinyl, tape and streaming? Sounds very good! I prefer it to streaming Tidal or Qbuz through a Gold Note DS10 DAC streamer. So much for the lack of love for the Axiom M22Ti speakers! Sounds better than good.

The sound quality of the Sansui and Onkyo is very similar, the highs are airy and pure (believe it or not), the mids are rich and powerful, bass is excellent. The Onkyo may have a slight edge down low and the Sansui perhaps a bit richer in the mids. Very pleasant through the Axiom test system.

So, I moved the Sansui down to the main 2 channel system. I chose the Sansui because it looks so cool, so analog, and it has meters. I upgraded the preamp from a Balanced Audio Technology VK33 to a VK80, a significant improvement. During the day, the atmospherics don't always cooperate, but at night, FM sure sounds wonderful!

So does vinyl on the Dr. Feikert Woodpecker table and Koetsu Black Gold Line cartridge, and EAR 88pb phono stage, and music played through the TASCAM 32, 2 channel 1/4" reel to reel tape player/recorder.

Audio is great. Music is one of man's highest achievements, a bridge between this bardo and the transcendent.

FM, go get you some and try it! I love it.



Sansui TU9090, Balanced Audio Technology VK80, one of the VK56Se monoblocks and a piece of the magnificent Wilson Audio Sabrina X.



The test system, Onkyo on top, Sansui underneath, Axiom M22Tis, Antique Sound Labs MG Si 15 DT integrated amp, and lurking in the background is not a naval nuclear reactor, but an SVS 20-39 subwoofer.

Silhouette of the amazing very black Wilson Audio Sabrina X, TASCAM 32 and turntable in the background. Sansui emitting its Borg Green glow, meters doing their thing.

FM is great. Try it, you may like it.