Fisher Studio Standard (Japan)

[timsclips]

There does not seem to be a lot of love for this maker, I know it does not measure up to the USA made line that was primarily tube oriented but just how bad was it really?

Is the bad rep based on reality or prejudice?

Anyone happy with their Japan made Fisher?

 

[wmgwizard]

Some of the black faced "studio standard" was made by Sanyo. Not bad, but far from great.

Much of the collectable Marantz was also built in Japan, just designed and engineered in the USA. Japan's labor was cheaper than US labor and to keep the product competitive he choose to spend less on manufacturing than design and engineering.

In the end it didn't much matter, the company was sold and resold and the product suffered.

The last several years have seemed to be a resurgance within the brand and there seems to be some quality gear bearing the legendary name.

There is lots of info on the rise and fall of Marantz and many individuals much more knowledgeable on the subject than myself.

 

[Recpro]

I believe there are a few out there that are fairly nice. There are a few threads here about SS Fisher gear.

This little reciever and cassette are one of my favorites, 25wpc. receiver (rs-110) was made in Korea, Deck (cr-110) in Japan. Hooked to a set of Kef c40

 

[AdrianG]

I have an RS-270 from a friend, power lights come on, but nothing functions, tried both Phono inputs, Tape onitors and FM, Can anyone help me>

 

[ggregg]

Much of it was really cheesy, especially the speakers. There were a few good pieces and most of the first few years of it are OK. They really didn't sound bad but the quality of the parts they used were not even close to the next tier product. I'm basing this on the late 70's-80's rack systems. The separate components were a little better built.

They sold a buttload of rack systems that were really nasty but what did you expect for $400-$500 back then for everything. They sounded surprising OK for the crappy speakers they used. Us salesmen loved them because they had a good margin and it was a decent sale, when most people who bought more expensive stuff bought it a piece at a time.

Many times I would have a customer bring an amp in with a dead channel and I would say "just remember this when it's time to upgrade". I would pop a new output fuse in and they were on their way. Never saw one back then that actually had blown outputs, it was always the fuses. The product, overall, was pretty reliable, particularly the amplifiers.

BTW nearly all of it (if not all of it) was made by Sanyo who owned the name for years. Not sure who does now.

 

[Recpro]

I have an RS-270 from a friend, power lights come on, but nothing functions, tried both Phono inputs, Tape onitors and FM, Can anyone help me>

Check for dirty controls. Wiggle everything and see if it makes any noise. I had to clean the volume pot on my rs-110 it was dead when i got it.

 

[Recpro]

Much of it was really cheesy, especially the speakers. There were a few good pieces and most of the first few years of it are OK. They really didn't sound bad but the quality of the parts they used were not even close to the next tier product. I'm basing this on the late 70's-80's rack systems. The separate components were a little better built.

They sold a buttload of rack systems that were really nasty but what did you expect for $400-$500 back then for everything. They sounded surprising OK for the crappy speakers they used. Us salesmen loved them because they had a good margin and it was a decent sale, when most people who bought more expensive stuff bought it a piece at a time.

Many times I would have a customer bring an amp in with a dead channel and I would say "just remember this when it's time to upgrade". I would pop a new output fuse in and they were on their way. Never saw one back then that actually had blown outputs, it was always the fuses. The product, overall, was pretty reliable, particularly the amplifiers.

BTW nearly all of it (if not all of it) was made by Sanyo who owned the name for years. Not sure who does now.

Pretty sure it's Panasonic now, not positive.
I can't find any information on the Studio Standard stuff that was manufactured in Korea in the early 80's, it has a slight resemblance to Samsung

 

[ra7c7er]

There were two different studio standard lines. The late 60s early 70s stuff and then the 80s stuff. The early stuff is underrated and the 80s stuff is pretty much junk minus a few pieces.

If you can find any of the early studio standard line you will be pleasantly surprised by it.

 

[ggregg]

There is no late sixties Studio Standard. US made Fisher solid state, yes, which was "The Fisher" or just "Fisher". The 500TX in my avitar is 1969-70 and they are awesome but alas have been discovered. Prices now for a good 500TX are running between $500 and a G. I got that one about 13 years ago for free and later stupidly sold it. One of the nicest solid state receivers, of that vintage, from anyone.

Seems that the change over was in 1971-72. Still was "Fisher" for a while before the "Studio Standard" logo came out around 1973-74. Nothing wrong with the earlier seventies stuff but they were not the same as the US built product although they did their best to make it look like it. Lots of quad stuff too. By 1975, the cheapness had started already.

Pretty sure it's Panasonic now, not positive.
I can't find any information on the Studio Standard stuff that was manufactured in Korea in the early 80's, it has a slight resemblance to Samsung

Could be but Fisher was still controlled by Sanyo. Sanyo had nearly identical systems to the Fisher ones for non-Fisher dealers.

 

[Wigwam Jones]

According to Wikipedia (which can be unreliable, I know), Fisher was sold to Emerson in 1969, and then to Sanyo in 1975. Sanyo itself was sold to Panasonic in 2010, and discontinued along with Sanyo in 2012.

The Fisher website (www.fisherav.com) appears to list Fisher and Sanyo products and claims to be a continuation of Fisher, but their domain name is registered via GoDaddy to an individual in Russia. I would be somewhat suspicious that they are in fact a legal entity; just my opinion of course.

 

[ra7c7er]

There is no late sixties Studio Standard. US made Fisher solid state, yes, which was "The Fisher" or just "Fisher". Seems that the change over was in 1971-72. Probably didn't happen all at once. Nothing wrong with the earlier seventies stuff but they were not the same, lower price point, etc., right away. Lots of quad stuff too. By 1975, the cheapness had started already.

Well then I guess the date stamped on my Fisher SS 122 is wrong. Perhaps the date the wood cabinet was made? It's stamped DEC/1969 and then 12/ 69 on another. The copyright date on the schematic sheet is 1970.

 

[Wigwam Jones]

According to Billboard magazine (October 7, 1972), Fisher Radio introduced the "Studio Standard" series with models 304, 404, and 504, which were stereo receivers. Some speakers with the same insignia were released at the same time.

http://books.google.com/books?id=-A...#v=onepage&q=fisher "studio standard"&f=false

I believe this was the beginning of the Studio Standard line, which continued on in various formats through several subsequent owners.

I have always been fond of the stainless steel Studio Standard equipment, although I confess I know nothing about how good it is internally. Of the later Studio Standard, I am told as others have said that there were a few decent models; but most were substandard and contributed greatly to the demise of "Studio Standard" as a sign of quality.

 

[ggregg]

Well, I stand corrected! It would seems everything happened a year or two earlier than I thought. I would suspect that not all models switched at the same time. Probably as the new models were introduced. My 500TX must have been one of the last US made models.

Wigwam, I would suspect that your information about the sale to Emerson and Sanyo is correct. It was right about 1975 when the big change took place in Fisher quality and as rc7c7er and you pointed out, the earlier Studio Standards are nice, which they are. Probably when they were controlled by Emerson.

 

[danrclem]

A lot of people love the RS-1080 and RS-1060 but I haven't ever heard one. Some people say that they are junk but I have to wonder if they've ever heard one. They're built very heavy.

I have an RS-1052 and I have to say that it's sounds pretty good considering the price that I gave for it.

 

[ra7c7er]

Well, I stand corrected! It would seems everything happened a year or two earlier than I thought. I would suspect that not all models switched at the same time. Probably as the new models were introduced. My 500TX must have been one of the last US made models.

Wigwam, I would suspect that your information about the sale to Emerson and Sanyo is correct. It was right about 1975 when the big change took place in Fisher quality and as rc7c7er and you pointed out, the earlier Studio Standards are nice, which they are. Probably when they were controlled by Emerson.

Was Fisher only sold in the US or was it a Asian brand to? Could mine have been from overseas? Perhaps that is why it's earlier than you thought?

 

[ggregg]

To my knowledge, up to this point, the Fisher name was as American as apple pie. But, I don't know who built the 1st Japanese models. There was a lot going on at this time as Fisher, Scott, Marantz, and Sherwood all converted to Japanese manufacturer around this same period of time. I suppose they all felt they needed this to be able to still compete with each other. Pioneer, Sansui, and Kenwood were already becoming very popular in the marketplace, with much more to come.

 

[tubed]

I happen to have a silver-faced Fisher "Studio Standard" RS-1058 that still seems to function flawlessly.
It sounds as good as it looks
Very nice FM listening to boot.

 

[day67]

I love my RS 1080. Yes, a beast over 60 lbs. Not as detailed and not the finesse of the Pioneer SX line but close. I've been wantin' to recap it but....... fine examples of the era of the "Receiver Wars."

 

[larryderouin]

FISHER was Privately OWNED by AVERY FISHER Until the 1969-1970 Model year when it was bought by EMERSON Electric Co. In 1972 SANYO bought Fisher from Emerson, and in 1975 a wholly owned subsidiary Co FISHER Corp was incorporated in Delaware.

Components were made in the US until about 1970 when some lines of Receivers were fabricated in Hong-Kong (there were some models built by HITACHI and TAMRADIO) until about 1972 when fabrication shifted to JAPAN. SANYO actually built a large Factory in Southern California in the 1970's for I believe speaker and receiver production. By 1973 ALL Receivers were produced in JAPAN.

Mr. FISHER stayed on as a consultant to EMERSON and later SANYO until about 1977. The term, "STUDIO STANDARD" actually was used 1st in the EARLY 60's as part of the Advertising for the X-1000 Amplifier. SANYO bastardized it in the Mid 70's by slapping it on everything. Rumor has it that Mr.Fisher objected strenuously. But it was left on (marketing Dept. has a lot of power). By the early 70's the Engineers were not running the Co and designs started taking a downturn, and the Chair Warming Rear Echelon Penny Pinchers were in charge.

The last of the FISHER's was the Wall mount CD Players with twin speakers that were designed for office's (executive offices, yeah right!). Since 2012 the name has been owned by Panasonic(Matsushita Corp) with no production.

 

[Recpro]

FISHER was Privately OWNED by AVERY FISHER Until the 1969-1970 Model year when it was bought by EMERSON Electric Co. In 1972 SANYO bought Fisher from Emerson, and in 1975 a wholly owned subsidiary Co FISHER Corp was incorporated in Delaware.

Components were made in the US until about 1970 when some lines of Receivers were fabricated in Hong-Kong (there were some models built by HITACHI and TAMRADIO) until about 1972 when fabrication shifted to JAPAN. SANYO actually built a large Factory in Southern California in the 1970's for I believe speaker and receiver production. By 1973 ALL Receivers were produced in JAPAN.

Mr. FISHER stayed on as a consultant to EMERSON and later SANYO until about 1977. The term, "STUDIO STANDARD" actually was used 1st in the EARLY 60's as part of the Advertising for the X-1000 Amplifier. SANYO bastardized it in the Mid 70's by slapping it on everything. Rumor has it that Mr.Fisher objected strenuously. But it was left on (marketing Dept. has a lot of power). By the early 70's the Engineers were not running the Co and designs started taking a downturn, and the Chair Warming Rear Echelon Penny Pinchers were in charge.

The last of the FISHER's was the Wall mount CD Players with twin speakers that were designed for office's (executive offices, yeah right!). Since 2012 the name has been owned by Panasonic(Matsushita Corp) with no production.

Have you ever seen any info on the stuff built in Korea? 36th and 39th? week of 1981
Dan