Rating tube amps of yore.
- Thread starter Locobreth
- Start date
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By "available now" do you mean vintage units that can be readily found? Because I don't think anyone is making tube receivers anymore.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a fully-restored vintage tube receiver or integrated amp for under $600 these days. Anything that goes for that price will probably need at least another $200-300 worth of restoration, assuming it doesn't have a serious problems like blown transformers. Scott, Sherwood and Fisher would probably be the most popular brands but in good working condition you should expect to pay twice your budget or more.
If you're looking for more affordable, have to shop outside the usual suspects. Bogen, Pilot, or Stromberg-Carlson might be considerations, though I don't honestly know if S-C made a receiver. They made integrated amps and tuners though.
Personal opinion but if you aren't planning to use the radio, I'd probably be looking for an integrated amp. Less stuff in the box and generally easier to restore. Some of the early receivers weren't FM stereo either, if thats a problem for you. FM stereo in it's current form didn't exist until 1962.
Personal opinion but if you aren't planning to use the radio, I'd probably be looking for an integrated amp. Less stuff in the box and generally easier to restore. Some of the early receivers weren't FM stereo either, if thats a problem for you. FM stereo in it's current form didn't exist until 1962.
IMO, most FM broadcasts are such poor quality, it doesn't make sense to take on the restoration and maintenance expense of a tube-type tuner or receiver. That's especially true given the low cost of many excellent SS tuners on the used market.
Jack
Jack
