Any Eico guys out there?

[vendo81]

Its been awhile but I still want to replace my fisher 800C with this set up, all the tubes are original and I have all the manuals and receipts. Just need to get my lazy but down stairs and order the caps

Wow! That's an awesome set up. With the original tubes it couldn't have gotten alot of use. What is that sitting on top of the tuner? ...a MPX unit? :scratch2:

 

[vendo81]

hey,
I've got a pair of HF-32's.. ( that's 4 El 84's each!) and I recently finished a HF-85 Pre....and like Jay says its great!

Hey Kirkleclair...very nice! That first photo is great. Makes you want to spend some time listening to all that great gear :yes:

 

[vendo81]

I'm rebuilding an HF-89 which I snached-up after falling in love with the sound of an HF-87 (which wasn't for sale) a number of years ago.

Needless to say: I expect great things out of this amp after the rebuild is completed.

I'd love to hear those units though.

I've heard they call the HF-89 the Dynaco killer?? What output tubes does it use? I bet it sounds great.

 

[vendo81]

I got the little brothers to the OP's amps:

Truthfully, I've liked the 6L6 Eico amps better than any of the others. Just sound more like a "modern" hi-end amp, to my ears. Neutral to the end and back.

Would have to agree with Pak, too. HF50 is a great sounding amp. Does need to have the bias circuit tweaked a bit, to avoid red-plating those valuable tubes (they will oftentimes be right on the verge of red-plating in stock form)...

Regards,
Gordon.

Those are very nice Gordon. Are the output tubes GC's?
Eico really seemed to get the most out of OP tubes by pushing them to the limit.

 

[vendo81]

I have the 2536 receiver, but uses it mainly as an integrated amp. Lovely EL84 sound.

You can never go wrong with EL84 output tubes. The amp I listen to every night has EL84's in it. To me they sound very pleasing and have a smoothness that is hard to find in the more powerful amps. My other project is a Scott 222C which uses EL84M/7189's and I'm really looking foward to using it as my nightly amp.

 

[goldear]

I've heard they call the HF-89 the Dynaco killer?? What output tubes does it use? I bet it sounds great.

I've not heard that quote before; although I would tend to agree with it. It uses the exactly the same tube complement as the HF-87, and the circuit is almost identical as well. The difference is that the HF-89 has fixed bias (versus self bias on the 87), a little higher B+ voltage, and larger output transformers resulting a higher power output.

However being a dynaco killer is not exactly high praise in my book, as this takes very little effort IMO. (FWIW: I am not a Stereo 70 or Mark III fan, having long thought that the only good sounding Stereo 70s are the ones which have been completely rebuilt with a more modern design). But not having heard a wider selection of Eico gear, I can at least say that the sound of these particular models is something rather special.

 

[mhardy6647]

Virtually any piece of EICO gear will "kill" any comparable Dynaco piece, if we're comparing stock circuit to stock circuit. Just sayin'.

 

[vendo81]

I've not heard that quote before; although I would tend to agree with it. It uses the exactly the same tube complement as the HF-87, and the circuit is almost identical as well. The difference is that the HF-89 has fixed bias (versus self bias on the 87), a little higher B+ voltage, and larger output transformers resulting a higher power output.

However being a dynaco killer is not exactly high praise in my book, as this takes very little effort IMO. (FWIW: I am not a Stereo 70 or Mark III fan, having long thought that the only good sounding Stereo 70s are the ones which have been completely rebuilt with a more modern design). But not having heard a wider selection of Eico gear, I can at least say that the sound of these particular models is something rather special.

I don't own anything made by Dynaco so I can't really comment on the sound. I have been interested in, and have read about the Stereo Eico amplifiers and I had read that quote somewhere.
I do agree that the Eico's sound special :yes:

 

[k**rkleclaire]

Hey Kirkleclair...very nice! That first photo is great. Makes you want to spend some time listening to all that great gear :yes:

Thanks, you are right....I do spend a lot of time listening...but I need to spend more!!!

 

[cooljjay]

Wow! That's an awesome set up. With the original tubes it couldn't have gotten alot of use. What is that sitting on top of the tuner? ...a MPX unit? :scratch2:

Yep it was all hid inside of a huge console made by three brothers. It was really funny, all this really nice equipment but the speakers were the cheapest I've seen, one 8in jensen in a box made from fence boards and an AR-2a. The ontop is a pilot MPX

 

[vendo81]

Yep it was all hid inside of a huge console made by three brothers. It was really funny, all this really nice equipment but the speakers were the cheapest I've seen, one 8in jensen in a box made from fence boards and an AR-2a. The ontop is a pilot MPX

That is strange to put together such a nice system and then forget about decent sounding speakers! Doesn't really matter how nice your stereo is when the speaker cabinets are fence boards.
That Pilot MPX is nice. Looks real well built. I have a few mono tuners and a few years back I was hunting for MPX units. I've never seen that one you have. I'm guessing there are not many around.

 

[cooljjay]

I have a few mono tuners and a few years back I was hunting for MPX units. I've never seen that one you have. I'm guessing there are not many around.

I don't think there are, I don't see them come up very often. They are suppose to be really good. It will need to be over hauled too, even if it works I don't trust 50+ year old caps. My own problem is I don't know what FM tuner to use with the mpx.

 

[k**rkleclaire]

I have the 2536 receiver, but uses it mainly as an integrated amp. Lovely EL84 sound.

Agreed the EL-84 sound is terrific....no doubt after all the praise for Eico gear the prices are due to rise at that famous auction place that said lots of Eico gear are mono blocks.... double your pleasure double your cost!... Kidding
Here's my HF-85 on the bench.

 

[stereorob]

eico stuff is neat, i dont think they get enough credit though, they made some really quality stuff, i have a eico hf-35 mono power amp that i love!

 

[vendo81]

I don't think there are, I don't see them come up very often. They are suppose to be really good. It will need to be over hauled too, even if it works I don't trust 50+ year old caps. My own problem is I don't know what FM tuner to use with the mpx.

That's a very nice MPX unit! Great condition. You even have the advertising flyer :yes:

 

[vendo81]

Agreed the EL-84 sound is terrific....no doubt after all the praise for Eico gear the prices are due to rise at that famous auction place that said lots of Eico gear are mono blocks.... double your pleasure double your cost!... Kidding
Here's my HF-85 on the bench.

Nice room to listen while your working! :thmbsp:

 

[vendo81]

eico stuff is neat, i dont think they get enough credit though, they made some really quality stuff, i have a eico hf-35 mono power amp that i love!

Hi Rob. If I remember right the HF-35 is a Mullard design. Very nice sounding amp. Their looks always remind me of my Heathkit W5M's.