My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - Printable Version
+- The PHILCO Phorum (https://philcoradio.com/phorum)
+-- Forum: Various and Sundry Categories (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=37)
+--- Forum: Vintage Hi-Fi, Stereo and Audio (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=30)
+--- Thread: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers (/showthread.php?tid=8442)
+- The PHILCO Phorum (https://philcoradio.com/phorum)
+-- Forum: Various and Sundry Categories (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=37)
+--- Forum: Vintage Hi-Fi, Stereo and Audio (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=30)
+--- Thread: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers (/showthread.php?tid=8442)
My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - Ron Ramirez - 01-11-2014
With the purchase of the house in which we now reside, and the desire to decorate it in Mid Century Modern furnishing to match the era in which the house was built, I found that my electronic interests began to change.
It all started with this 1966 Philco:
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/Phorum_Stuff/P1002-1.jpg]
Deceptively good looking, I soon discovered that in reality, it was a flea-powered POC that requires 32 ohm speakers.
So, I decided to find something better.
But first, I found a nice pair of early 1960s Wharfedale W60 2-way speakers.
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/Phorum_Stuff/Image00001-15.jpg]
These are the most natural sounding speakers that I have ever owned.
Turning back to the search for a 1960s vintage receiver, the purchase of a circa 1968 Fisher 175-T did not turn out well.
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/Phorum_Stuff/Image00011-2.jpg]
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/Phorum_Stuff/Image00012-1.jpg]
I did get a refund on this one.
So, scanning craigslist as I became wary of trying eBay again for a good receiver, I found a Marantz 2215B (built between 1973 and 1977):
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/Phorum_Stuff/Image00003-13.jpg]
Yes, it's a little newer than what I was looking for, but this is just a great, great receiver. It and the Wharfedales work very well together.
But I still wanted a vintage Fisher. I soon found this 1973 model 170:
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/Phorum_Stuff/Image00002-14.jpg]
It is going to require some work as the left channel has a lot of distortion.
I still wanted a 1960s Fisher, and ultimately, I found a really great 1967 model 220-T. I had to return to eBay for this one. Fortunately, it was packed better and survived shipment very well.
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum/Phorum_Stuff/Image00003-12.jpg]
Looks great, and it works great too. I am very pleased with this one...probably more so than I would have been with a 175-T.
The 220-T is sitting on top of a circa 1978-1980 Toshiba SA-735, which is currently not working. I bought the Toshiba to repair and then most likely resell. I will probably do the same with the Fisher 170. But the Marantz and the Fisher 220-T are keepers.
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - Phlogiston - 01-11-2014
I've been doing this along with the old radios for - well since some of those receivers were new. The Marantz is a great unit. I have one in the museum for background music. No, not elevator music, classic rock. I have several Fishers. They are good, but my favorite is a 7800 Sherwood. It is the unusual model with FM and AM. It is in my office with a pair of speakers I designed using a Seas woofer and Scanspeak mid and tweeter.
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - jerryhawthorne - 01-11-2014
My Ron, I certainly like that Fischer.
Jerry
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - Eric T - 01-11-2014
That Marantz looks like the one that occupied a shelf in my grandparent's living room from the mid-70's until they passed away about 10 years ago. Even though it played elevator muzac most of it's lifetime, us grandkids would switch it over to the rock station now and then and it'd blow our socks off.
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - morzh - 01-11-2014
So you are into transistors now, eh?
I remember almost 20 years ago someone gave me some old stereo tuner-amplifier which would play a little and then quit. I was lazy to fix it though with transistors I can fix things with my eyes closed.
Then I bought me a Kenwood in 1992.
It is still with me and is my main stereo in the house. But it is not a tuner-amp, it is modular.
I was into transistor stereo amp design and building way back in 80s.....somehow it passed. Maybe 'cause I did not have my own place back then and could never set up a good shop.
Anyways, Ron, if you need any help with transistor boards not working, let me know.
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - Joe Rossi - 01-11-2014
Great collection. I like the Toshiba...same brand as my laptop!
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - Jayce - 01-11-2014
Good luck with the new collection. I have had a love-hate relationship with vintage stereo equipment myself over the years. Usually I end up with so many headaches that I give up and go back to my pre-war radios. The old stereo consoles sound good, but can hog up a lot of space and now they are getting very pricey in my area. I suppose I could try and resurrect that old Emerson stereo/TV console I was given. Not sure how it will sound with those two 25EH5 output tubes in it.
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - y2kbruce - 01-11-2014
Hi Ron-Cool stuff you are getting. I think highly of 'The Fisher' stuff. I got on a fisher kick a few years ago and enjoyed reading all about them. I have since sold off all my Fisher stuff except my minty 1958 console R-20.
If you need some room, I know a nice warm corner for that McMurdo you have
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - Ron Ramirez - 01-11-2014
LOL...thanks, Bruce, but the McMurdo would be the last radio I would ever let go of. Yes, I think more of the McMurdo than any of my Philcos.
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - Jayce - 01-11-2014
Fisher stuff is nice, but can also be rather HEAVY! I helped move a Fisher console a few weeks or so ago. One thing I remember about it was it only had two output tubes, but they were an odd push-pull in a single tube type. Sounded good though.
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - Ron Ramirez - 01-11-2014
I've never seen a "The Fisher" console, but I have seen some photos of a few different models.
Morzh, thank you, I appreciate the offer of help, and I will probably take you up on that from time to time. It has been several years - close to two decades, actually - since I worked on any solid-state equipment, with the exception of building my SSTRAN AMT3000 transmitter. But the SSTRAN was new and it was simply a matter of putting it together, not doing any troubleshooting on it.
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - morzh - 01-12-2014
Any time, Ron.
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - BrendaAnnD - 01-12-2014
Where I worked when I was 18, we sold stereo gear, along with other electronic trinkets, though our primary business was consumer electronics repair.
Along came quadraphonic. We sold quad tape decks, CD4 and SQ4 turntables, and... this HUGE 120W/ch "The Fisher" quad receiver. This thing was a monster, and took everything my scrawny body had just to lift it onto the shelf. Sure did sound good, though.
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - Phlogiston - 01-12-2014
I saw one of those about a year ago. I think the guy wanted $100 for it. I could not figure out what I would do with the other 2 channels (hate surround) so I passed on it.
RE: My New Hobby - Stereo Receivers - Ron Ramirez - 01-12-2014
Russ, you mentioned a Sherwood S-7800. For many years I owned an S-8900A FM-only receiver from circa 1974. I bought it used and non-working, replaced output transistors and electrolytic caps in the power supply, and it then gave me several years of excellent service before popping output transistors again, at which time I got rid of it. That was a great receiver. 60 watts per channel, a sensitive FM tuner, great sound. Maybe I should have kept it and repaired it again.