Sangean HDT-20 HD Radio/FM Stereo/AM Component Tuner, Black

This is my Second HDT HD Sangean tuner I own, still have the HDT-1 but wanted a digital out to mate with my new RME ADI-2 Dac.My HDT 1 lasted over 15 years and was still working perfectly so the question of are these made to last I would say Yes. I never had a problem with the 1 and so I took the plunge last September on the 2.Wow guys, Sangean outdid themselves. The Kit Looks FANTASTIC. Really looks very well built.So now here’s my reply to some of the reviews on Amazon I’ve read.Too complicated to use. Well yes and No. Sangean put a schiit load of features, buttons, menus for us folks who like to “Play” with our gear.But, you DON’T have to use it that way. I’ve got mine set up like my old HDT 1. Have 10 presets lined up, just like the old days, Tune in a station, hold down a preset button for a second and it’s set!To “recall”, a preset, you have to hit the “Preset” button and then the preset you want to go to. No big deal.Thee other thing is the button layout, most of the button’s have a “Dual” purpose, IF YOU WANT TO GET CRAZY. I just us it like a regular tuner and there is nothing complicated about it. But….if you want to Tweak away, you’ll have plenty to play with.Now, the sound, again, wit a Top Tier dipole inside antenna, reception in the Seattle area is great. Tons of college stations, underground stations and “Sub Channel stations (HD 2 and up) with lots of the sub stations streaming internet radio stations.The sound Quality is Fantastic. Digital output coax into my DAC is 48 KHz and a 24 Bit Depth! Read that again………No digital “burps, clicks, farts, stutters, shadows, nothing but CLEAN reception and truly High Fidelity music.The digital display is easy to see from 10 feet away and at full brightness it is fine, I have no complaints about the display at all.Again, my log HDT 1 lasted 15+ years and is still perfectly functional, so I think that should say something about the reliability of these tuners.And last but not least, th AM section is surprisingly good, compared to so many tuners old and new that sound like crap on the AM band, Sangean should be commended on not overlooking this band because I do listen to AM radio a lot.I keep my tuner in 24/7 by the way, including my old HDT 1, 24/7. Not lying here, the jazz station I listen to keeps the Cats mellow at night.Hope that helps, I’m really digging it, and all the cool HD Sub channels around here really making my experience worthwhile.Gerard Masters

First, reception is not good where I live, a single story home surrounded by 2 story houses. Most FM broadcast towers are 25 or more miles away. There is no "line of sight" for me. Reception with the cheap dipole antenna provided is good. Using an outdoor powered antenna (which is currently located indoor) increases the signal strength and pulls in a few more stations. I am using this tuner in my bedroom; which is really my secondary setup. My primary is in the living room and is more of an A/V system. I have read almost all of the prior reviews (sad but true); and it seems to me that many have not read and understood the manual or the unit it's self.Therefore in response I offer the following:1) My remote works just fine; no trouble with using it.2) The screen is OK, a little bright if you want it to stay always on3) If you need a 1/4" for your headphones get an adapter4) The vol control is for headphones so you don't kill your ears; and was a good idea5) The panel buttons are a hot mess; just use the remote; issue solved6) The tuning dial is not an issue; just push in with your thumb while resting your index finger on the unit.7) If you do not like the alarm don't use it; I don't8) The standby light is to show that the unit is powered and ready to turn on; just like the one on my TV9) The clock is on screen when the unit is off and is a good thingUsing the optical out really increases sound clarity; after getting some longer cables I will use that option. I have not used the AM mode; so no comments on that. Only having 10 presets is a real pain if you live in an urban area. Reviewers need to take into account that this is really a low cost tuner and should be judged in that light. If you are an audiophile with plenty of bucks maybe you should consider a different option for your $40000.00 setup. Final thoughts:This tuner is well worth the $$ (about $185 w/tax) and I would buy it again.

This is a great way to add HD radio to your AV system. It tunes a lot of stations using the small outside TV antenna system I have, but there is a problem with the optical/coaxial digital output.The digital output is silent for most of the frequencies on the FM band. No static and no stations even when they do tune in. I tried two different receivers and even the digital input of a MacBook Pro and the results were the same. The analog output sounds fine, but digital should be the way to go. Has anyone seen this issue? I have to try their support again.AM HD works fine, but there is only one weak station in the area far away, so I can’t use it downstairs.This is the second unit I tried. Both have build dates of 11/2022, but I bought one from Walmart which I returned. This one came from Amazon and I will probably keep it despite the problem. I would give it five stars if not for the digital output problem. There are really no competitive units still being made as HD radio has far more penetration in cars than in homes.