Hafler SE-130 Tuner Review

The digital phase-locked-loop (PLL) Hafler SE130 stereo tuner has eighteen preset station memories divided into three banks of six, two for FM and one for am. The all-black chassis presents an attractive, functional appearance. All the front-pan-el controls are black buttons about 3/8 inch in diameter. There is a single row of control buttons and a small window in which the tuned frequency appears, along with a stereo indication and the preset channel number, if applicable. The control and panel markings, white against the black background, are exceptionally clear and legible.

The six preset buttons are located below the display. Slightly to their right is a button that steps between bands and preset banks (FM 1, FM 2, and AM). Green lights above the buttons identify the selected band and bank. To the right of these are two pairs of tuning buttons. The TUNE buttons step up or down one broadcast channel at a time (200 kHz per step for fm and 10 kHz for am). Touching the up or down SEEK button initiates an automatic scan across the band, stopping on the first receivable station. The two SCAN buttons, one for the full band, the other for the selected bank of presets only, initiate an automatic scan to the next station, where the tuner pauses for several seconds (with the frequency display blinking) before continuing to the next signal. A second press on the button halts the process.

The mute and mono buttons have green status lights above them. Regardless of the setting of the mute button, the tuner is always silenced while scanning between stations. When mute is engaged, the audio program will be heard only if the signal strength is great enough for listenable quality. If the signal strength is below the muting threshold, a red distant station light comes on to confirm the presence of a weak signal, giving the user the option of switching off the mute circuit (and possibly pressing the mono button to reduce the noise).

The SE130 has a somewhat unusual signal-strength indicator. A single light, normally colored green, appears on the panel when a strong signal is picked up. At lower signal levels, the light gradually changes to yellow and then orange. In the absence of a signal, the light is red. The color changes are sensitive enough to serve as a guide for orienting a directional antenna.

The SE130 also has a feature that is almost universal in automobile tuners though rare in home components. As the signal strength drops, the stereo channels are progressively blended to reduce noise. If the signal level is fluctuating significantly, the mono button can be used to force the tuner into that mode.

The Hafler SE130 measures 17 inches wide, 8-5/8 inches deep, and 3 inches high and weighs 7-1/2 pounds. Optional rack-mounting brackets are available from the factory. The rear apron has an F connector for a 75-ohm coaxial antenna lead-in as well as binding-post terminals for a 300-ohm FM antenna and a pivoted wire-loop AM antenna (furnished) or long-wire AM antenna. A single pair of audio output jacks carries the program at a fixed level. Price: $300.

Lab Tests

The SE130’s usable sensitivity in mono was 14.4 dBf (2.9 microvolts, or μV). Its 50-dB quieting sensitivity was 16.5 dBf (3.7 μV) in mono and 37 dBf (39 μV) in stereo. At a 65-dBf (1,000 μV) input total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD + N) was 0.21 percent in mono, and the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) was 68.5 dB. In stereo, the distortion was 0.32 percent, and the S/N was 62.5 dB.

Output from a 100-percent-modulated FM signal was 0.65 volt. The fm frequency response was +1.2, -0 dB from 30 to 15,000 Hz, and the 1,000-Hz channel separation at 65 dBf was 42.5 dB. Separation ranged from 37 to 46 dB between 30 and 2,000 HZ, diminishing to 22 dB at 15,000 Hz. The auto-blend circuit came into operation below 40 dBf (55 μV), reducing the 1,000-Hz separation from about 40 dB at higher inputs to 12 dB at 35 dBf (30 μV) and 4 dB at 20 dBf (5 μV).

Capture ratio was 1.7 dB, and AM rejection was a very good 75 dB. Image rejection, at 50 dB, was only fair, as was the alternate-channel selectivity of 57 dB. The muting and stereo/mono threshold was 43 dBf (78 μV). The 19-kHz pilot-carrier leakage was - 66 dB, and power-line hum was —69 dB. The am tuner section's frequency response was + 2, - 6 dB from 20 to 3,300 Hz.

Comments

Operation of the Hafler SE130, despite being a bit different from that of other tuners or receivers, is mostly intuitive. For example, to store a station frequency in memory, you tune in the signal and hold the desired preset button down for about 3 seconds, during which time the audio output is muted. When the sound returns, the frequency storage is complete, and the next time that button is pressed the same station will be recalled.

Although we had some initial reservations about the auto-blend system, its operating range is well chosen. The blending action occurred only at marginally low signal levels, which are unlikely to provide quiet stereo reception with full separation anyway. Any separation that remains in the blended signal can be considered a bonus, and we found in some cases that the system provided audible separation with acceptably low noise from weak signals. In sharp contrast to the many car radios that deliver true stereo reception only in extremely high-signal areas, even though their lit stereo indicators may convince some users that they are actually hearing a stereo program, when the SE130’s front-panel signal-strength light is green, you can be sure that it is providing full separation.

Although the Hafler SE130’s measured performance did not challenge the state of the art, the tuner was so easy and natural to use, and it sounded so good, that we find it difficult to criticize in any major respect. At its price, the SE130 represents a good value.

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