Tuner Nat 05 versus Nat 05 XS

Posted by: PTCM on 03 September 2016

I understand this has been discussed before, and yet the topic was closed.  For that reason, I am restarting this discussion on Nat 05 Tuner.

I recently bought a used Nat 05 Tuner, and I have been extremely happy about it because it has exceeded my expectation big time.  I never thought radio can sound this good.  That said, I am curious to know how much better the Nat 05 XS is.

It's always not possible to accurately quantify outperformance given hardware combination variations, but can someone who own both please give me an estimate?  Other things being constant,  if Nat 05 is a "7" on a scale from 1 to 10. 

Nat 05 XS / HC = ?

Nat 05 XS / SC = ?

many thanks in advance.

Posted on: 23 September 2016 by Mike-B
PTCM posted:

 

I am told that magnum dynalab 205 can make huge diff on 01/02 setup. No idea how it functions differently relative to Smith's type of aereial. 

A MD 205 is a signal tuner box.  Its a full size box with just a few components on a small circuit board that is claimed to fine tune the aerial input.  Ron Smith's Galaxie aerial's are a design of FM aerial that can pick up both horizontal & vertical polarised signals,  as such they are slightly different & a lot larger than standard aerials,  but they are just another version of the zillions mounted on rooftops everywhere.    Whoever is telling you about "huge" differences with the MD 205 seems (maybe) to be over enthusiastic.

If as you said in a previous post you live in a HK city environment,  in an apartment/housing block 30 stories high &probably using the communal TV/Radio system, I think you are best advised to do nothing & listen to what you have.

Posted on: 23 September 2016 by james n

Mike makes a good point. Given your location and your building, you don't have a lot of options (if any) apart from the communal feed which with its roof mounted antenna, has the best chance of giving you a usable signal. Adding something like the MD 205 might give you more problems depending on how well the communal system has been designed and implemented and how well the distribution amplifier(s) are working in what is likely to be a difficult RF environment. 

If the Stereo light is illuminating and you can hear very little noise (apart from a small hiss) underneath the actual radio program then that's the sign of a good signal on these tuners. 

Do nothing and listen is good advice 

Posted on: 23 September 2016 by Mike-B

To add to the MD 205 question:  Do you live in a weak signal area, do you have a specific difficulty receiving some stations; if the answer is no then you don't need it. The tuning function might (might) help in a extremely strong / crowded-signal situations & maybe (maybe) help receive a weaker station that is adjacent to the frequency of a stronger station. The signal amplifier function might make further problems as amplifying a weak signal is you are also amplify the noise.

 

Posted on: 23 September 2016 by PTCM

Thanks Mike and James

Posted on: 19 October 2016 by Christopher_M

What's the  FM aerial latest for your NAT02?

C.

Posted on: 19 October 2016 by Ghettoyout

I'd be wondering this too.

Posted on: 19 October 2016 by PTCM

Magnum Dynalab ST2