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Fisher 500C
- Thread starter Soundork
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century tek
Addicted Member
The internet? What is that? 
True or not true, what do you think? Have you heard one yet?
True or not true, what do you think? Have you heard one yet?
trainbuftony
Electron Herder
The internet is a combination of the opinions of those who use it. In the collected experience of this group, the fisher 500 is near the top of the heap. It would be a good solid choice to build a system around if you want a receiver.
Soundork
Super Member
...The internet? What is that?
True or not true, what do you think? Have you heard one yet?
No, I have not heard one yet.
I would like to own one tube receiver. There are number of reviewers that rave about the Fisher 500C. There was a website that claimed that it was the best tube receiver ever made along with HK430 in the vintage SS category.
I asked the question with the goal to survey opinions from which I would generate a full list of potential candidates. Then, within the next couple of years, I would like to find ways to listen to them in order to identify the one that sounds best to my ears. Once done, I would buy one as a reward for earning a graduate degree while working full time. (I guess I should have explained this in the original post, now when I re-read it, it seems to me that I do look like a troll).
I understand, that I would not be able to compare them neither side-by-side, nor even with the same speakers.
Best
Soundork
trainbuftony
Electron Herder
Give the HH Scott 340 a fair chance, its probably just as good.
To reach it's full potential ANY receiver from the tube era needs to be updated, both for Sound quality, Safety and increased reliability. Most all of them were run at the ragged adge of the units SOA(Safe Operating Area), in an effort to beat the other guys with highest wattage, or specs. The 500c is one of the Best FISHER made but it has competition internally from the 500B (which can be argued to be the Best FM only TUBE receiver FISHER ever made). If FM Multiplex is not an issue I would put up the TA-800 and the TA-600(7189) in the competition. Also the EARLY Version of the 400. and the 500S. But the ultimate decision is your's to make as your ears and brain connection is different than anyone elses. FISHER made some Damned good stuff. But so did H.H. Scott, McIntosh, Sansui, PIONEER, and a host of other manufacturers.
baconbadge
Active Member
I have a 500c and love it, but that's still a ridiculous statement that has no real meaning without discussing specifics. Sure sounds like something the internet would say!!
It's TWUE. It's TWUE! (My apologies to Madeline Kahn)
Stereophile Said so...................................... https://www.stereophile.com/historical/605fisher/index.html
6moons audio said so too............................ https://6moons.com/audioreviews/fisher/fishers.html
Both of these reviews are from 2005 and the units tested don't have the benefit of the intervening 14-1/2 years of improvements that have been made due to the various audio forums and the Techs that are on them. If anything a properly restored 500c should be as good as or better than it left the factory. And Safer too.
I'm not sure 'what' it is but it just turned 30. I asked it what it wanted for it's birthday, it said, "for people to stop quoting me and believing everything I say".
Haven't owned a Fisher. I think I will some day. I do own a Scott 340a and 399 and love their sound. You should add them to your possibilities. They look killer also.
Is FM an important part of their package? If so, know that the 340a is Stereo FM and the 399 is mono but has a mpx jack for, what was then, the upcoming Stereo broadcasts. You can buy an outboard MPX adapter (Scott makes one). I had that set but it was hard to keep it running right, got rid of the adapter, and now actually enjoy FM in mono. It helps having the 340a when the the Stereo mood strikes.
Good luck with that, but you have given yourself some time so... who knows.
Here's a pic of my 399/335 combo to whet your appetite.
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Soundork
Super Member
Thank you for your replies.
I would agree that the Internet makes tons of grand statements, but discussing that isnt helping me at all. I would really like to focus on creating a list of vintage tube receivers for consideration. I am leaning more towards a receiver, because of the looks. The tuner performance and power output are not a concern at all. I listen at very low levels, really low: 75dba is my pain threshold.
Thanks in advance.
Best
Soundork
I would agree that the Internet makes tons of grand statements, but discussing that isnt helping me at all. I would really like to focus on creating a list of vintage tube receivers for consideration. I am leaning more towards a receiver, because of the looks. The tuner performance and power output are not a concern at all. I listen at very low levels, really low: 75dba is my pain threshold.
Thanks in advance.
Best
Soundork
baconbadge
Active Member
Power output is definitely a concern because we don't know what speakers you'll be using. You should figure out what you want from the receiver, or what you need it to be capable of based on your listening preferences, budget, speakers, number of inputs you need, the amount of maintenance you're willing to do, and your level of electronics knowledge. How it looks should be more towards the bottom of the list. How does one measure their pain threshold? What's the db level of an unwanted late night text from your boss?
Baconbadge is spot on with his comment. I have recently fallen hard for vintage tube gear, and acquired integrated amps, receivers, and stand alone amps from the likes of Fisher, Scott, Pilot, and Grundig. They all have very outstanding sound qualities, and all sound reasonably similar, but yet a bit different. I'm sure the 500C is great, I don't own that one yet.
What I will say, is they could all be end game pieces for me. As Baconbadge suggested, figure out what you have to have, and what is a wish list item. I believe the 500C has a headphone out, and 500B does not. 500C and 800C are very close relations, but the 800C adds AM. If you don't need a tuner, there are lots of integrated options that likely equal the sound quality of the 500C, and maybe even best it. Then there's power output. EL84 output tubes make about 13 watts in most of these brands, and they make some sweet sounding watts. 13 watts can be plenty of power in the right sized room with the right speakers. I believe the 500c has 7951 output tubes (a bit less common than EL84, but NOS and new manufactures make them easy to find), making about 30 watts of power typically. 30 watts increases your speaker choices quite a bit. Phono stage performance varies between these models, and my experience here is limited to my Scott 222B which has a very nice phono stage. I have read the Fishers are pretty good too, but I have no experience with them yet. As mentioned above, unless you find a restored unit with credentials (the terms restored, recapped, serviced, and through the shop are used very loose), anything you buy will need to go in for a full service. Receivers cost more to restore due to the added complexity of the tuner rebuild and alignment. So take all this tell me how anyone can declare which unit is the best. The good news is, with some planning and component synergy, we can all experience very hi levels of sound quality for a very fair price. Most of these pieces of gear will stand the test of time, due to the nature of the design. No complex IC chips to burn out only to find out the stock on those parts ran out years ago, and there is no replacements, or elaborate displays that develop issues with no source for parts. You get the idea. Don't worry about best, and aim for what suits you. Pick one, get it serviced and optimize the components around it to suit your taste. I will make a wildly general statement, and I hope I don't get blasted for it. In my opinion, as the watts go down, the midrange and high frequency sound quality sweetness goes up. Obviously output transformers, power supply, and other design choices play a part in this, but I believe there is a trade off in sweetness as power goes up.
Onebean
604man
Super Member
I have a 500C that I use as a secondary system at our cottage , I recapped it , did a few mods
and I got quite a few positive comments about it with it's original wood case and mellow tube
sound. one friend liked it so much he bought one.
What ever you do, keep your mitts out of the IF strip and multiplex.
and I got quite a few positive comments about it with it's original wood case and mellow tube
sound. one friend liked it so much he bought one.
What ever you do, keep your mitts out of the IF strip and multiplex.
The 800c has AM....
...and goes to eleven
... but now that you mention it, it was the innerwebs that convinced ME to get a Fisher tube receiver
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/fisher-800c-project-for-2014.564752/
...and goes to eleven
... but now that you mention it, it was the innerwebs that convinced ME to get a Fisher tube receiver
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/fisher-800c-project-for-2014.564752/
604man
Super Member
The Fisher 500 family , Vacuum tube Valley "Pdf"
https://web.archive.org/web/2013112.../Pioneering-Wireless/eMagazines/VTV/VTV06.pdf
