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Zenith Hi-Fidelity Phonograph Console
#1

My latest find.  According to the guy who had it for sale, "It sounds bad, like something is wrong with it."
The price was almost free, so I drove the 25 miles and picked it up. I believe its from the mid 50's.  It has a push pull amp with a pair of 6V6's. 

Cabinet is in pretty good shape.  A touch of static when turning the bass control.  I put on a record and yes, it sounded pretty bad.

The changer part of the turntable would not work at all. There was very little range to the sound. Very flat and lifeless. the electrostatic tweeters didn't work.  I only played it for a few minutes, and turned it off. 


That was last weekend. Today I picked it up from my radio repair guy after he had it for a few days.

Now everything works. The changer changes records, and the tweeters are working. LOTS of life in the tone now. Much more bass, but nothing wall rattling. Records sound great. My music on my laptop sounds great. I stream it to a Bluetooth receiver that I plug into the phono jack on the chassis.  For mono it has a very nice "soundstage". Not focused in one spot, but wide and rich. 

I have moved some things around in my living room. I think I will be getting a lot of enjoyment out of this one. 




I don't know what this model is called. Maybe a "Cantata"?
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#2

Even if I could never make it play I might keep it for the looks. Good luck, that is eye candy for me. 

Paul

Tubetalk1
#3

Nice looking set.
1956, so still counts as an antique.
6V6 pushpull gotta sound nice.

People who do not drink, do not smoke, do not eat red meat will one day feel really stupid lying there and dying from nothing.
#4

It does sound nice. The cabinet is sort of a timeless style. It goes with just about any décor. (wife requirement for living room) LOL.
#5

And it has the last iteration of the Cobramatic turntable which was made by VM. Beautiful unit. 

Ian M. Gordon

HARPS
NJARC
NEARC
#6

I do like the turntable. The "eyes" on the Cobra head made my wife say. "WHAT!!!??? That looks like a SNAKE!!!"
#7

Nice size and great looking console!
#8

I have this same phonograph-given to me by the principal of a school I taught in @early 1970's. Trying to rehab for my son who loves recoords. Plug definitely needs rewiring and probably a needle. Pretty good shape.




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