Yamaha T-80 AM/FM Tuner Review

gene · Feb 23, 2005

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warnerwh · Feb 23, 2005

Gene: Happy to see you share this information. You are correct,a modded vintage tuner can fool many into thinking they are listening to a cd player. Also they can be had for a few hundred dollars. Performance will rival or better tuners costing thousands and certainly put to shame the junk in most receivers these days. This is the truth to those who may question the validity of that statement. Presently I use Kenwood KT 7500 Jim Rivers of fmtunerinfo.com modded for me. It is my most used source and although not as good as my cd player it's so good it's quite enjoyable and sound quality is amazing. Anybody who wants to know more should check out fmtunerinfo.com. Tons of great info on tuners there with numerous reviews. The people there are very nice. And if any of you listen to FM much a good antenna is a necessity on any tuner.

Dan Banquer · Feb 24, 2005

Yamaha T-80

One of the most pleasant surprises that I got from this project was the final performance of this unit. I never knew FM radio could be as good as this. I am listening to a lot more classical music these days and enjoying it more. The many hours of work that was put into this project has certainly been worth it.
d.b.

Rock&Roll Ninja · Feb 24, 2005

This article was entertaining and informative. I hope Audioholics does alot more coverage of restored & modded equipment, as this is probably the most confusing area of audio for consumers.

mtrycrafts · Feb 25, 2005

Dan Banquer said:
One of the most pleasant surprises that I got from this project was the final performance of this unit. I never knew FM radio could be as good as this. I am listening to a lot more classical music these days and enjoying it more. The many hours of work that was put into this project has certainly been worth it.
d.b.

Now that you have all that experience modding the T80, how much for the next one?

Dan Banquer · Feb 25, 2005

Yamaha T-80

The great bulk of the work in something like this is replacing parts. I wouldn't be surprised if the total time just to do that came to 12 hours alone, and possibly more. This is very slow work because I have to double check myself constantly to make doubly sure that I am putting in the right part in the right place. When you think about doing that for close to 100 different parts you begin to understand what kind of time a project like this can take. The output buffer was a very quick design because I already knew the theory. The installation to make sure all the connections are going to the right place is again a matter of tracing things out and making doubly sure that you are doing this correctly.
If I ever do another one the time should be less because I know now what I need to do and where, the initial analysis appears to be correct, so yes it's a little less time to do the second one.
What can I say here; it's what maniacs like us do when we decide the unit is a keeper and plan on living with it for the next 15 years or more, because it is very doubtful that tuners of this quality will ever be manufactured again in my lifetime, at any kind of sane price point. Probably the only thing manufactured today that will come close to the performance I have here may well be an Accuphase, and if I remember correctly that retails for about 5,000.00
There is one thing I forgot to mention in the article. When I added the ground straps to the underside of the P.C. Board I found I no longer needed the Jensen Audio Isolator. So less than $3.00.00 worth of wire and shrink tube saved me over $110.00.
Hire the Handicapped: We're fun to watch.
d.b.

mtrycrafts · Feb 25, 2005

Dan Banquer said:
The great bulk of the work in something like this is replacing parts. I wouldn't be surprised if the total time just to do that came to 12 hours alone, and possibly more. This is very slow work because I have to double check myself constantly to make doubly sure that I am putting in the right part in the right place. When you think about doing that for close to 100 different parts you begin to understand what kind of time a project like this can take. The output buffer was a very quick design because I already knew the theory. The installation to make sure all the connections are going to the right place is again a matter of tracing things out and making doubly sure that you are doing this correctly.
If I ever do another one the time should be less because I know now what I need to do and where, the initial analysis appears to be correct, so yes it's a little less time to do the second one.
What can I say here; it's what maniacs like us do when we decide the unit is a keeper and plan on living with it for the next 15 years or more, because it is very doubtful that tuners of this quality will ever be manufactured again in my lifetime, at any kind of sane price point. Probably the only thing manufactured today that will come close to the performance I have here may well be an Accuphase, and if I remember correctly that retails for about 5,000.00
There is one thing I forgot to mention in the article. When I added the ground straps to the underside of the P.C. Board I found I no longer needed the Jensen Audio Isolator. So less than $3.00.00 worth of wire and shrink tube saved me over $110.00.
Hire the Handicapped: We're fun to watch.
d.b.

Thanks.
I need to se if I even have it still

I'd like to put my finger on a Modaferi designed tuner, either a McIntosh or another one of those old companies. He did a number of technical articles for The Audio Critic, including the specs on his. Unreal.

Dan Banquer · Feb 25, 2005

Yamaha T-80

Modafieri did some top notch work as I understand it. From what I have read, and I don't know if this is true, is that the FM tuners he designed were primarily aimed at the DX folks. What's your priority in a tuner? The reason I ask is that DX is predominantly used for getting very distant stations, and the typical sacrifice is more distortion. I mostly listen to NPR here in Boston and about two other local stations in local stereo mode, no DX.
Do you have a basic understanding of how DX in an IF section works? Are you handy with a soldering iron and can you read a schematic?
d.b.

mtrycrafts · Feb 25, 2005

Dan Banquer said:
Modafieri did some top notch work as I understand it. From what I have read, and I don't know if this is true, is that the FM tuners he designed were primarily aimed at the DX folks. What's your priority in a tuner? The reason I ask is that DX is predominantly used for getting very distant stations, and the typical sacrifice is more distortion. I mostly listen to NPR here in Boston and about two other local stations in local stereo mode, no DX.
Do you have a basic understanding of how DX in an IF section works? Are you handy with a soldering iron and can you read a schematic?
d.b.

FM is just casual listening whenever it is handy at the time I am interested in music. Classical on FM while driving or home doing things, or tired of other music for the week. DXing was of interest some time ago, not now

Not sure about it in an IF band, but am handy otherwise

All this was just an interesting thought.

fulcrum256 · Feb 28, 2005

Vintage Yamaha T-80 AM/FM Tuner Manual

Does anyone here have a service manual for Vintage Yamaha T-80 AM/FM Tuner ? I am going to do some tune-up but do not have a service manual. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Alex

Dan Banquer · Mar 1, 2005

Yamaha T-80

You can get one from Yamaha Service out in California.
d.b.

teccorp · Mar 9, 2005

T-80

I am also refurbishing a T-80. I have replaced several caps and have found that the FM coil @T201 on main board has dried out and can not be tuned. Does anyone know where i can get one. The part no. is GE1005600 and the Yamahs discription is FM-1FT-Coil. I have contacted Yamaha service and was told part is no longer available.

thanks in advance Dave

Dan Banquer · Oct 27, 2005

Yamaha T-80

I have the service manual for the T-80. Please send your snail mail address to banquer@erols.com I will make a photo copy for you and mail it out.
d.b.

sts9fan · Oct 27, 2005

Hey Dan,

I also love boston radio but I am sure we are not listening to the same things. I listen to 88.9 WERS mon-fri a ton. Their reggae show and hiphop show are some of the best stuff I have heard over the air. The Jazz lunch is great too but unfortuately my lab gets poor radio reception.
I do rock NPR in the mornings though

Anyway do you know of any diy clubs in the area? I live right next to
"You-Do-it electronics" and the damn place is taunting me.

Dan Banquer · Oct 27, 2005

Yamaha T-80

I mostly listen to Eric in the Evening Jazz show on WGBH during the evening. He can do some great shows, and I just love it when he does a McCoy Tyner night. I don't get to listen to the radio at work so I miss out on the WERS jazz show. I will tune it to WHRB for some decent classical.

I like your moniker, but feel free to change it every now and then to BIG PAPPI!
d.b.
P.S. I know of no DIY clubs in the area. If you have a particular project in mind contact me and if I have time I might be able to help. Between working and writing for Audioholics I can probably sneak something in.

sts9fan · Oct 27, 2005

Cool I really no so little about this stuff. I find it facinating but seeing my training is all in the biological areas a lot of the theories are over my head. Do you have any suggestions on a easy projest to get my feet wet? I have practiced some soldering and ruined a few boards but not really done much.

Dan Banquer · Oct 27, 2005

Yamaha T-80

Ya gotta get those soldering skills happening first!
Heck: I've taught investment bankers how to solder so since you're lower on the food chain you just may be trainable.

d.b.

Yamaha T-80 AM/FM Tuner Review

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