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I know Im stupid but I thought we called these Tuners?

"Tuner" is how Italians pronounce a large ocean-going fish. The term "Receiver" has been used for about the last 25 years. Get with the program Home-Slice.

I'm in for one.
Here's a great review:
http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/xdr-f1hd.htm

Actually "receiver" is a unit that receives all of the audio signals for your audio system and switches between them, the tuner is just the part that tunes broadcast signals. An amplifier is a device that amplifies the signal for your speakers. Most receivers have tuners and amplifiers bundled in them.

#1, Tuner does not have Amp. Receiver is a combination of Amp and Turner. Tuner + Amp = Receiver

Great review indeed. Anyone notice this?

"Although the XDR-F1HD has two EEPROMs for nonvolatile storage, neither retains the tuned frequency or station presets. This information remains valid in controller RAM only for a few minutes after power is lost. This is long enough to ride through a brief power interruption, but too short to let you switch off the tuner overnight with another stereo component."

So the thing loses all 20 presets if it loses power for more than a few minutes. Typical brain-dead Sony implementation. WTF were they thinking?

I got this at Amazon yesterday for the same price but with free shipping.

Tuner: Tunes
Amplifier: Amplifies
Pre-Amplifier: Switches between sources, processes signal.
Receiver: Amplifier + Pre-Amplifier + Tuner
Integrated Amplifier: Amplifier + Pre-Amplifier

depending on your source, you don't necessarily need a pre-amplifier - that is, if it sends a line-out signal already (i think).

Is HD Radio worth it? I barely listen to regular radio because of poor quality and too many commercials, is HD "good enough" on both fronts to warrant consideration?

Read some reviews. Supposedly this has a better tuner than top-of-the-line receivers. According to reviews many of the sub channels broadcast with few or no commercials right now.

For FM HD
Most multi-channel HD stations have no commercials. The multi-channels quality (depending upon configuration by the radio station) is generally that of a high quality internet stream. The standard HD-1 Channel carries the exact same programming that you'd hear on the regular analog station. The difference in quality there, is that it is capable of delivering a full 20KHz of audio (standard FM only carries 15KHz) and the signal is digital, either you have the station or you don't. If you don't get enough digital signal, your HD radio will "fall back" to the analog station just like the good ole days.

For AM HD
There are far less AM HD stations, but the quality of an AM HD station has been equated to making the AM station sound as if it's an FM station. A pretty big difference.

Find the HD stations near you!
http://www.ibiquity.com/hd_radio/hdradio_finastation

If there are any other HD Radio qustions, let me know, I'll try to check back here.

Does this have Sony's famous DRM?

DataVision has them for $89 with free shipping.

#2, I was kidding, we all know this is a Tuner and by all I mean the non retarded people.

Ossarian, yozez sow easy dare.