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Are hybrid tube/SS consoles worth anything (or my time)?

elitopus

elitopus

Addicted Member
Locally there is a Sylvania console for sale. They are asking 75 bucks obo. It looked SS to me but I contacted the owner anyways. They sent me pics of the console and of the tube layout. Its a vacuum tube preamp/tuner section and SS power amp section. Is this thing worth the 50 I would offer for it?
Usually I buy consoles either because Im going to gut them, I like how they look and am going to restore them, or just because Im a hoarder. I feel like this falls into the hoarder catagory.
Out of the 5 consoles I have right now the only ones I intend to keep whole are my Grundigs. The amp chassis' are not small enough to use stand alone even if I wanted to
What I really want is a tube amp from a Magnavox to play around with. Problem is there are hardly any American made tube consoles in my area. Plus those Maggie amps are getting to be really expensive on ebay. Most of the time you can get the whole console for less than 100 bucks, and thats what I'm willing to pay for one.
So back on topic, what do you guys think about these hybrid consoles?


Not mine obviously
http://gainesville.craigslist.org/ele/5407341730.html
 

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Unless it's a Fisher I would have no interest. Even then Germanium transistors can be rather fragile and hard to find.
 
ggregg said:
Unless it's a Fisher I would have no interest. Even then Germanium transistors can be rather fragile and hard to find.
Click to expand...
Honestly the most valuable part of the console are the two or whatever 12ax7 tubes that are in it. I don't think I could ever get my money back if I wanted to sell it.
 
Hold out for a Magnavox...they are not that rare. I see them around...I paid $35 for a 6V6 175 about 4 years ago.
Consoles seem to have made a comeback but the ones I see in thrifts are usually way overprices and SS.

I would not be surprised if many thrifts are simply throwing them out.
If you have a large SA or GW keep checking the furniture sections.
 
icenine said:
Hold out for a Magnavox...they are not that rare. I see them around...I paid $35 for a 6V6 175 about 4 years ago.
Consoles seem to have made a comeback but the ones I see in thrifts are usually way overprices and SS.

I would not be surprised if many thrifts are simply throwing them out.
If you have a large SA or GW keep checking the furniture sections.
Click to expand...

I do think I will find a Magnavox to play with eventually. I would like to find one of the newer 6bq5 amp versions. I have alot of 6bq5 tubes but no 6V6.
I really enjoy listening to my little RCA tube amp. 5wpc on some efficient speakers can get surprisingly loud.
The area of FL I live in just does not have alot of vintage audio. Its funny because I live in the nation's oldest city but there is hardly anything old here!
 
I have a 175 console pull with Russian 6SPS equivalents which sounds pretty good with 4 ohm speakers.
I have 196-00 6BQ5 SEP that sounds ok...I like the 175 better. Maybe if I could find the right rectifier tube the SEP would sound better.

I think the Maggies are ok but not as nearly as good as say a Fisher 400. I find that I enjoy my Adcom GFA-535 amp with a Chinese Music Angel Preamp driving it much more than my console pulls.
 
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