05-18-2013, 10:10 PM
In a Ford vs. Chevy world, I would call Zenith a Dodge or Plymouth. I've worked on Zenith sets...I've owned a couple...and I can see why people like them so much - those big black dials which hold so much allure, almost to the point of being hypnotic.
As a general rule, when it comes to performance, they aren't as good as a Philco or RCA - in my opinion. They have under-rated power transformers especially in the later prewar models, and they produce a sound that is OK - just OK, nothing fabulous. I've heard a Stratosphere, and I was actually disappointed. The Strat did not sound as good as a Philco 37 or 38-690. Before you say I'm prejudiced in favor of Philco - and, yes, I am to a certain degree - the Strat can't hold a candle to a McMurdo Silver Masterpiece V. But that's like comparing a Plymouth to a Mercedes-Benz.
As a general rule, when it comes to performance, they aren't as good as a Philco or RCA - in my opinion. They have under-rated power transformers especially in the later prewar models, and they produce a sound that is OK - just OK, nothing fabulous. I've heard a Stratosphere, and I was actually disappointed. The Strat did not sound as good as a Philco 37 or 38-690. Before you say I'm prejudiced in favor of Philco - and, yes, I am to a certain degree - the Strat can't hold a candle to a McMurdo Silver Masterpiece V. But that's like comparing a Plymouth to a Mercedes-Benz.
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Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
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