Text: Sensitivity describes the ability of a tuner to pull in weak and distant stations. If you live in an urban area near all the FM stations you want to receive, sensitivity is not of great importance. But if you are located in a fringe reception area, a highly sensitive tuner can make the difference between satisfactory and poor reception. Sensitivity is always stated in relation to quieting, which refers to the ability of the tuner to strip off static from the incoming radio signal so that an interference-free audio signal emerges at the tuner output. If the specification reads: "3 microvolts sensitivity for 30 db of quieting," it means that the incoming signal picked up by the antenna must be at least 3 microvolts strong if the noise is to be quieted to a level 30 decibels below that of the music. The Institute of High Fidelity (IHF) suggests that all sensitivity ratings should be based on 30 db quieting. This standard is known as "usable sensitivity," or "IHF sensitivity," and most manufacturers observe this norm. Keep in mind that, in sensitivity specifications, the lower the figure, the higher the sensitivity.

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