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Modern tube vs vintage Fisher

buglegirl said:
Hiya,

I happen to be in the minority that thinks that the 400CX is in most every case over priced for what it is.

Now that is not saying its not an excellent Pre-Amp because it certainly is. But if I had one I would off load it to someone who wants to over pay and buy something newer that has less un-obtanium inside.

So my advice to the OP is to sell that 400CX and then take that money and buy something newer that can be serviced.

Frannie
Click to expand...

What is unobtainium in it? Besides the transformer.
 
Hiya,

wendelltate said:
Those pieces are difficult to deal with as I find out with the volume knob.
Click to expand...

Screw that trade as that is not a good deal. Now all you need to ask yourself is.

Is this preamp worth 3600.00 to you. Some people will answer yes and they have that right. But some others will say they can take that 3600.00 and buy a much newer tube preamp that better fits their needs and have money left over.

The 400CX has circuitry that most folks don't even use and its not a good fit with more modern devices IMHO without bolting other things to it.

Now if you are comfy with living with state of the art 1965 that is great as its a good place to be. But if you have moved on like some of us you will need more and for 3600.00 does this really make sense.

And please don't get up in arms 400CX owners. Its a EXCELLENT preamp just I question its modern day value when people are willing to throw funny money at it just to own it.

Frannie
 
I don't think that mine is worth $3600. Those last two on fleabay were really beautiful. My faceplate is not as pretty and I have replaced the capacitors inside. I could be wrong. I would think it is closer to $2k to $2500. Again, I could be wrong.
I am also building a Pass F5 amp and BA-3 preamp. I get really restless and bored from time to time.
 

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wendelltate said:
Hi. I have a Fisher 400cx-2 that I love dearly. I have been offered a trade off a brand new Rogue Cronus Magnum II 100 watt tube integrated for it.
I have listened to the Cronus in the store and it sounded just fine.
I am wondering what people think regarding how these new pieces of tube gear stack up against the vintage stuff. I am aware of the magic of the Fisher piece. It does sound great.
Click to expand...

Fisher used really good "kinda special" resistors, and I think that's where some of their signature sound that so many like come from. I'm talking about the shiny reddish ones. To me, the old Fishers have a very smooth sound, maybe too smooth if it's running Mullards instead of Teles. The one time I heard a cronus EL34 it sounded just fine to me, and I would probably take it over a Fisher, YMMV. It's all subjective, and which fisher and all that, but I'm speaking in very general terms. I have a couple Fisher pieces I would never part with, but none are receivers, just plain power amps.
 
wendelltate said:
I am really in no hurry to get rid of the Fisher. I have had it for the last year and really love it. I have been driving it with a TPA3116 that I build a couple of years ago.

I am just worried that in the future it is going to break and I am not going to be able to afford to get it repaired. I am not sure about how much can go wrong with these. The power knobs are an obvious item. I am sure that Fisher didn't expect these things to be so used 50 years later.
Click to expand...

A lot of Fisher owners run power strips for off and on switches to preserve the one in the unit.
 
wendelltate said:
Hi. I have a Fisher 400cx-2 that I love dearly. I have been offered a trade off a brand new Rogue Cronus Magnum II 100 watt tube integrated for it.
I have listened to the Cronus in the store and it sounded just fine.
I am wondering what people think regarding how these new pieces of tube gear stack up against the vintage stuff. I am aware of the magic of the Fisher piece. It does sound great.
Click to expand...

You'll be sorry keep what you have save up and restore it the only guy making out on this deal is the dealer your Fisher will appreciate where the Rogue will depreciate I have been there and done that.
 
OK. I think that I agree with you guys in that I would be sorry to let it go. I am going to keep it and work on the amp to go with it.
 
wendelltate said:
I run it now from a power strip since I had the switch bypassed. I wish that I had done that before it broke.
Click to expand...

That switch can probably be fixed:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=670818

As well as the face plate:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=669398

In a way, I'm with buglegirl: if you're intent on running a modern system, them sell it for the dough and go on a journey for a replacement. If, on the other hand, you want a vintage set up that also performs largely due to a spectacular vintage piece, then keep the CX. It ain't gonna lose value neiher.

If it were mine, I'd invest on working on its warts in order to make it more presentable.

Finally, ask yourself, "Self, why the hell is this dude wanting my Fisher?" I doubt very much he is simply wanting to be a nice guy.
 
Since I'm an engineer I'd go with the one with better specs. But I must admit id be biased towards a Mac system since I know their r&d department is among the finest.
When a company proudly shows you data sheets like the ones that come with the macs, you know how it goes...

Regards, C.
 
AlTinkster92 said:
Wendell, keep it and be patient, switched are out there and also repro faceplates. My 2 cents. Al
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Repro faceplates? didn't know that,will check it out.The comparison between the 2 pieces in my mind would be akin to tradeing a classic 1972 chevelle 454 with cowl induction for a new Camaro.
The Fisher 400cx is there absolutely totl preamp and as such is top dog in vintage early fisher seperates.Trade for a newer integrated tube amp ...not this cowboy.
The early tube seperates are really in a class of their own and there numbers are not growing.
These pre's were paired with Fishers classic early mono amps in many instances and to own an early Fisher seperates system is pure joy for anyone serious about vintage audio
My 400c doesn't carry the x behind it I value it highly for its sound/functionality

hunter
 
Well, I hope it doesn't change the OP's mind, but one of the Westinghouse 7591's in my 800C redplated last night. I'm hoping it's just a faulty tube, as I had the thing professionally-restored last year by a tech who specializes in classic tube gear and consoles (and he did give me an extra pair of n.o.s. WH 7591's). But if it's gotta' go under the knife at all, it's gonna' be a drag because I'm trying to save up for a Marantz 8b.

That said, I still love my Fisher. I really dig the look, plus they're such a good match for my main speakers. I haven't been in the vintage game long enough yet to put together a good supply of backup gear. The maintenance gets expensive, and with my main turntable being an old idler-type, it can be hard to keep up with everything. In time though. Once I have the 8b and get that up and running smoothly, it'll be nice to have a backup tube model in case one or the other goes down.

Dang it. I miss the thing already. Normally, I'd be listening to music right now while I eat breakfast, but today I'm stuck listening to the voices in my head (One of them says 'Hi' by the way).
 
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Man. I am sorry to hear about your 800c. I am sure that is going to happen to me some day. I guess that I will have to deal with that when it comes. Do you troubleshoot that on your own or do you take it to someone?
 
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