Sony XDR-F1HD vs. Sangean HDT-20 Fringe Reception

Both tuners are sharing an outdoor Winegard HD6055P antenna via a two-way splitter. The antenna is aimed directly north toward Portland. It's roughly 100 miles or so from here to the transmitters for the Portland stations. No tricks whatsoever have been used to make this comparison turn out more favorable to either tuner.

[rickyhouchens]

The Sony Xdr fi hd is pretty hard to beat, great FM tuner!

[harryt]

Great comparison test !! Thank you for posting

[aworminmybook]

great video, thx! i'm very happy with the modded xdr you built for me. someday, i'll put up an outdoor antenna on my apartment's terrace.

[Shakey]

Great video. I have the Sony on my main audio/visual set up in my living room. I'm looking at a 2 channel only set up for my area up stairs. I have an amp and a CD player, but was thinking about getting the Sangean as a tuner. Now - hard call! Also - thanks for listing the antenna. Most people miss that!

[bulldogbrower]

Great Review, good technique. Thank you for the posting.

[Homer]

Well done. I entertained the idea of buying the HDT-20, but no longer. Not Sangean's best effort.

[dxsphere]

Nice video! I've received the HD signals from KLVP, KKRZ and KOPB from Central Washington.

[grandadmiral]

why does the sanfean sound worse than the fm radio on my walkman that doesnt even have an external antenna?

[thejojolopez]

Seriously what is up with that batch of Sangean tuners? They all sound like that on fringe stations. The HDT-1 was close to the XDR-F1HD... but ALL the newer Sangean tuners (HDR-20, 18 & 16) have the same flawed reception that sounds all muddy like that on fringe stations. I think they messed something up.

[jameshooker]

I just bought the Sangean, i live between Seattle and Vancouver BC and can pull in most stations from both cities as well as Victoria. Works pretty good for me!

[Homer]

If you ditch the splitter (ie-direct connect to the HDT20), does the HDT20 still suck? Said another way, I wonder if the Sony adapts better to the splitter impedance. Thanx.

[jojolopez]

I've had the same experience. Interestingly the older Sangean HDT-1 performs much better than the HDT-20. The HDT-1 is much closer to the XDR-F1HD for me, but still... nothing can touch it the Sony. Why has no other company decided to pick up where Sony left off and make something comparable and affordable for us hardcore DX'ers yet?

[joeythedime]

Anyone know how these compared to the Onkyo Multi Platform Tuner T-4555P / Integra Multi-Platform Tuner TUN-3.7 with AM/FM/HD/SAT card?

[clambeaker]

Add a LNA with bandpass filters on the HDT-20 will help the fringe issue.

[figaro]

The Sony may be more sensitive for fringe but I replaced a well regarded Yamaha TX-950 with the Sangean HDT-20 and the Sangean is more sensitive and sounds great. My station is 20 to 30 miles away. Anybody need a Yamaha TX-950?

[libertycabbagemusic]

Does Eugene have a good commercial Hard Rock, Classic Rock, or Adult Contemporary stations or do you have to get those from Portland?

[hqdefault]

My dream tuner, what I don't get is why it was discontinued.

[goriajk]

The older Sony delivered - I have the Sangean HDR-18 HD Radio table unit with antenna - I'm able to get my HD Radio stations well in LA

[solstar]

Is there a way to get better reception on the upper frequency’s on the HG -20 my to is fuzzy?

[val]

I have the older the older Sangean HDT-1 tuner AND that same Sony that run neck and neck, unlike your newer Sangean.