Old tuner coming

[Reyhifi]

I was more or less looking for a vintage tuner, because I like the look. So I came across a harman kardon F500X that went a got for a song, is missing tubes and is going to be a project for sure but I'm up to the task. I have 50 % of the tubes here already. So I hope I can get it fired up next week, still not here. About the cabinet, not sure if I'll go with dark or light wood.

 

[KiM3Ce]

Nice! That looks a lot like its brother, the Citation III. I bet that cabinet would fit, but they are rare and hard to find. Have fun with your project!

 

[gadget73]

wouldn't surprise me too much if some of the design features were shared. Cheaper to engineer one thing than two. The construction of that sub-chassis is really kind of interesting. Don't see too many tuners where the entire IF strip can just come out like that. The MPX as a a removable unit is less uncommon.

 

[Reyhifi]

Nice! That looks a lot like its brother, the Citation III. I bet that cabinet would fit, but they are rare and hard to find. Have fun with your project!

Thanks, very little actual information about the unit online. I already have a cabinet designed. Most of the missing tubes. So let’s see how it goes.

 

[Reyhifi]

wouldn't surprise me too much if some of the design features were shared. Cheaper to engineer one thing than two. The construction of that sub-chassis is really kind of interesting. Don't see too many tuners where the entire IF strip can just come out like that. The MPX as a a removable unit is less uncommon.

I’m trying to chase down a schematic or anything for that matter, But is proving difficult, the F500 is easy to find, already have it. But to me is part of the fun.

 

[Reyhifi]

Ok the beast is home, dusty but no oxidation. I heard a rattle, so I investigated a screw from the multiplex came loose. So you can see, someone open it up before. I need to get the missing tubes and then will see whats actually going on with it. I manage to find the manual which includes the schematic and even a parts list with prices from the 1960s.

 

[gadget73]

Looks like a piece of desoldering braid would make a nice replacement for that frayed ground strap. Guessing someone used a dull beaver instead of a soldering iron to remove that at some point in the past.

 

[Reyhifi]

Looks like a piece of desoldering braid would make a nice replacement for that frayed ground strap. Guessing someone used a dull beaver instead of a soldering iron to remove that at some point in the past.

Haha not even a sharp beaver

 

[gadget73]

stuff like that bugs me just because its so sloppy looking. Its not that hard to desolder things and do a neat job.

 

[Reyhifi]

stuff like that bugs me just because its so sloppy looking. Its not that hard to desolder things and do a neat job.

Is more than sloppy, to me is not caring. Like stripping the head of screws, because you use the wrong screwdriver or a worn out one.

 

[Reyhifi]

My ocd took over yesterday, I had to do a bit of cleaning and prepping so when I have all the tubes I can fire it up. I cleaned a bit, without going crazy and erasing any of the factory markings. The different discoloration visible, I'm not sure were it came from but for the first cleaning came out pretty nice. The tubes were used to get some deoxit in the sockets. Right now I'm working on the knobs, one had a lot of oxidation.

 

[cpu_]

The large dial window and panel give me the impression of the Marantz 10B.

The modular IF strip looks a lot like the IF strip in the Citation III. Modular sections are a nice approach.