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Questions about HK "Award Series" FA-3000X tube amp/tuner

V

vintagefan01

New Member
Hello All,
I am going to come into possession of a Harman-Kardon "Award Series" FA-3000X stereo tuner amplifier soon. I have some questions regarding this component, and I would really appreciate it if somebody could answer them for me. The first question is: How many watts per channel was the FA-3000X? Also, what did the "contour" switch do? What was the difference between "phono high" and "phono low?" Was this component made in 1965, or is that date not accurate? I have noticed that in pictures of the FA-3000X where you can see the power cord, that the two-prong electrical plug has a flexible rubber "loop" or "handle" protruding from the back of it, and the power cord goes into the side of the plug. Why was the electrical plug designed that way?
If you know the answer to these questions, please let me know.
Thank You
 
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Welcome and congrats on your HK.
A pair of 7408s makes about 12 - 15 WPC, so you have that times two for the left and right.
Contour is what some other mfgs call Loudness. It is supposed to boost low freqs at low listening levels. There were many ways that companies did this, with varying results. The effect is fairly minimal on the HK, in my opinion.
Phono Lo is for magnetic phono cartridges and the circuit goes through the RIAA curve. Phono Hi is for ceramic carts and it also goes through the RIAA curve but it's signal is knocked down with a couple big resistors. Not the best way to do it, but it's a problem most of us will not have. If you did use a ceramic cart you could compare the sound between Phono Hi and Aux or Tuner, which were actually made for hi level inputs.
I would expect the date to be earlier than '65; around '62 - '63 but if you post a pic of the date codes on the transformers we might be able to narrow it down a little. The power cord loop/handle is just that, it is supposed to make it easier to unplug it. Another example of a company solving a problem that did not exist. Don't mind my cynicism - these are great amplifiers and receivers.

Another AK user - I think it was ziradog - is working on one of these - - check out his thread too.
 
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Dear RWood,
Thank you for your kind reply and for your help. I have not received the Harman-Kardon FA3000X yet (it's still very early for it to come), but from what I can see in photographs of the transformers, the codes stamped one of them is H10512345C and below that, 648410.(not sure if those are the manufacture date codes or not) Will that give you a better sense of the year of manufacture? Also, I have a few more questions. 1.) The equalization switch has two positions, NARTB (National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters??) and RIAA (Recording Industry Artists Association??). My question is, under what circumstances would you use the RIAA position, and under what circumstances would you use the NARTB position? I'm pretty sure the scratch filter switch dampens the crackle you hear when the phonograph's tone arm comes in contact with a minor scratch in a record. I think the rumble filter dampens the noise the tone arm picks up from the vibrations of the phonograph's motor, but I am less sure about that one. Am I right about the function of the rumble filter?
 
Usually, that second line gives us the EIA code for the Mfg and then the date and month of manufacture. In this case (using the sticky for this forum, EIA Codes - Learn to Love Them), shows company 648 as American Radionic Co, which makes capacitors. Not a likely match. The date code, 10th week of 1964 supports that this receiver could have been made for or in 1965. There are three transformers on this receiver - check them all when you get the unit.

The RIAA curve won out for magnetic cart EQ, but there is nothing wrong with trying each curve and using what you like. It won't hurt anything. I think NARTB was often used for reels.
Scratch filter cuts highs, rumble filter cuts lows. I don't have much use of either of them and they can be problematic when the contacts are dirty (same with Tape Mon circuits). DeOxit those switches when you get the unit and feel free to try them; again it won't hurt, they just constrict the frequencies a little.
 
NARTB is tape head EQ, used in the days before tape decks had internal preamps. You'd really never use this. Its not horribly different from RIAA but things will sound more tinny using it.
 
Hello. I just received an HK 3000x (XAM mark vi) and I have one question: on the inputs an rca input exists labelled ‘aux’. However, I do not see ‘aux’ anywhere on the faceplate or under the function selector. Can someone advise me how to access that line?
thank you in advance
 
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