Scott 296 owners

[vendo81]

I have recently been listening to my newly restored Scott 296 in place of my Fisher system. I use the tuner section from a Scott 355 pre/tuner as both were built on the large "G" chassis, and a 4310 is almost impossible to find and very expensive. The 296 has exceptional sound and power to spare. I find the Scott items good looking as well. Easily my favorite tube integrated amplifier I've owned, and the very nice phono section makes it a clear winner.

I know SoCalSam has a nice 296 Are there any other 296 owners out there? They don't seem to be that common. I'd like to hear what any owners think of this monster Scott and how many AK people own one.

 

[SoCal Sam]

If yours is the one I am thinking about, the recent pictures look great. Mine has had a partial restoration and works fine but it needs more. My output tubes are modern replacements so they are too tall for the wood case. Finding original Scott tubes will be as hard as getting clear video of Bigfoot.

 

[robert_kc]

I own two Scott 296s: One in my living room system, the other in my basement system. (The latter is currently at NOS Valves for repair.)

IMO, the important thing is synergy with speakers. With that said, I love the Scott 296. It's one of my favorite integrated amps. (The Fisher X-1000 (6CA7 / EL34) and Scott 299C (7591) are also nice sounding integrated amps.)

 

[vendo81]

If yours is the one I am thinking about, the recent pictures look great. Mine has had a partial restoration and works fine but it needs more. My output tubes are modern replacements so they are too tall for the wood case. Finding original Scott tubes will be as hard as getting clear video of Bigfoot.

Yes it's the one I bought from forum member Snow. Exceptional condition. It came with two good testing original Scott 7581A tubes but I haven't looked for two more. I'm still running the two original Scott labeled 5AR4's! I'm currently using a quad of matched RCA 6L6GC's. I had a quad of 1960's Sylvania's I really liked but I found, like you, that they were too tall if used with the cabinet.

 

[vendo81]

I own two Scott 296s: One in my living room system, the other in my basement system. (The latter is currently at NOS Valves for repair.)

IMO, the important thing is synergy with speakers. With that said, I love the Scott 296. It's one of my favorite integrated amps. (The Fisher X-1000 (6CA7 / EL34) and Scott 299C (7591) are also nice sounding integrated amps.)

Very nice! What speakers are you using? I've found Altec 19's or 17's go great with it. I've had 3 (and still own one) EL34 Fisher X-1000 and they are very nice. It really surprised me when I first listened to the 296. It has the detail I like about my Fisher SA100 but with power to spare. I've owned several Scott tube amplifiers in the past but they sure did things right with the 296. I'd really like to audition a 272 and LK-150 The 296 and 355 are going into my bedroom system but I've been testing them where my Fisher system usually resides.

Here's a photo my 296 as it looked 5 minutes ago. Glare on the 296 but you get the idea....

 

[SoCal Sam]

Yes it's the one I bought from forum member Snow. Exceptional condition. It came with two good testing original Scott 7581A tubes but I haven't looked for two more. I'm still running the two original Scott labeled 5AR4's! I'm currently using a quad of matched RCA 6L6GC's. I had a quad of 1960's Sylvania's I really liked but I found, like you, that they were too tall if used with the cabinet.

I remember that one. Yup, in great condition. Mine is almost as nice. My case is one grade below yours but still very nice. The previous owner had done just enough to clear up a pre-existing problem but I need to re-cap it and do the bias adjustment mod to make it right. Until then, I will have to make do with my three LK-72's.

 

[SoCal Sam]

Very nice! What speakers are you using? I've found Altec 19's or 17's go great with it. I've had 3 (and still own one) EL34 Fisher X-1000 and they are very nice. It really surprised me when I first listened to the 296. It has the detail I like about my Fisher SA100 but with power to spare. I've owned several Scott tube amplifiers in the past but they sure did things right with the 296. I'd really like to audition a 272 and LK-150 The 296 and 355 are going into my bedroom system but I've been testing them where my Fisher system usually resides.

Here's a photo my 296 as it looked 5 minutes ago. Glare on the 296 but you get the idea....

View attachment 1162042

Beautiful! It's 1962 again! IMO, Scott's use of tube rectifiers is a difference maker over Fisher, especially the 500C. I have not heard the X-1000 but I have a SA-100 that I like very much. Great stuff all.

 

[robert_kc]

Very nice! What speakers are you using? I've found Altec 19's or 17's go great with it. I've had 3 (and still own one) EL34 Fisher X-1000 and they are very nice. It really surprised me when I first listened to the 296. It has the detail I like about my Fisher SA100 but with power to spare. I've owned several Scott tube amplifiers in the past but they sure did things right with the 296. I'd really like to audition a 272 and LK-150 The 296 and 355 are going into my bedroom system but I've been testing them where my Fisher system usually resides.

Here's a photo my 296 as it looked 5 minutes ago. Glare on the 296 but you get the idea....

View attachment 1162042

That's a beautiful pair of Scotts! I like the round tuning dial on the 355. My Scott 399 has those round dials, and it looks beautiful at night.

I'm using my Scott 296 with Snell Type CV (living room), and Klipsch RF-7II (basement). Following is a summary of my systems.

Living room: Stereo speakers are Snell Type CV. Subwoofer: Klipsch P-312W. The source components are Oppo BDP-95, and Dual 1249 with Stanton 681EE. Amps include a pair of McIntosh MC30s, Scott 296, McIntosh MX110Z / McIntosh MC275, a pair of Pilot HF-56 mono receivers, an NAD pre-amp and Acurus A250 power-amp for movies, and a McIntosh 2155 driving JBL L830s in the kitchen / dining room. A patch panel (banana plugs) allows me to connect the speakers to whichever amp I want, and a Niles AXP-1 RCA selector switch connects the Oppo to the amp. Chromecast Audio for internet radio and Spotify Premium.

TV room: Stereo speakers are Klipsch Palladium P-37F. Subwoofer: Klipsch P-312W. The source is an Oppo BDP-105. The amps are Scott 399, McIntosh MC225, Kenwood KR-9050, Fisher 800B, Fisher X-1000, Scott 299C, McIntosh MC240, and an NAD C375BEE. The tube amps are for music. The solid-state amps are for movies. A patch panel (banana plugs) allows me to connect the speakers to whichever amp I want, and Niles AXP-1 RCA selector switches connect the Oppo to the amp. Chromecast Audio for internet radio and Spotify Premium.

Basement: Front, center, and left speakers are Klipsch RF-7 II. A single rear speaker is a Klipsch RF-7. Subwoofers: SVS SB16-Ultra, Klipsch R-115SW. Source: Oppo UDP-205. Amps: Scott 272, Inspire “Fire Bottle” SE Stereo Tube Amplifier HO, Scott 222C, McIntosh MX110Z tuner/preamp, Fisher KX-200, Scott 296, Pilot SA-260, Scott LK150. A patch panel allows me to connect the speakers to whichever amp I want, and F/F RCA cables enable me to connect an amp to the Oppo, and a power amp to the MX110Z. Chromecast Audio for internet radio and Spotify Premium.

Office: Stereo speakers are JBL L880. Sources: Oppo DV-980H SACD/CD/DVD, and my Windows 10 laptop with Music Streamer II DAC. Amps: Fisher 500C, Scott 299B, Altec 353A, and an NAD D 3020 for general internet use (and summertime). Banana jacks allow me to connect the speakers to whichever amp I want, and a Niles AXP-1 RCA selector switch connects the Oppo to the amp.

Bedroom: The speaker is a single Klipsch WF-35. Source is an older CD player. Fisher TA 500 (AM/FM mono receiver). Chromecast Audio for internet radio and Spotify Premium.

 

[vendo81]

That's a beautiful pair of Scotts! I like the round tuning dial on the 355. My Scott 399 has those round dials, and it looks beautiful at night.

I'm using my Scott 296 with Snell Type CV (living room), and Klipsch RF-7II (basement). Following is a summary of my systems.

Living room: Stereo speakers are Snell Type CV. Subwoofer: Klipsch P-312W. The source components are Oppo BDP-95, and Dual 1249 with Stanton 681EE. Amps include a pair of McIntosh MC30s, Scott 296, McIntosh MX110Z / McIntosh MC275, a pair of Pilot HF-56 mono receivers, an NAD pre-amp and Acurus A250 power-amp for movies, and a McIntosh 2155 driving JBL L830s in the kitchen / dining room. A patch panel (banana plugs) allows me to connect the speakers to whichever amp I want, and a Niles AXP-1 RCA selector switch connects the Oppo to the amp. Chromecast Audio for internet radio and Spotify Premium.

TV room: Stereo speakers are Klipsch Palladium P-37F. Subwoofer: Klipsch P-312W. The source is an Oppo BDP-105. The amps are Scott 399, McIntosh MC225, Kenwood KR-9050, Fisher 800B, Fisher X-1000, Scott 299C, McIntosh MC240, and an NAD C375BEE. The tube amps are for music. The solid-state amps are for movies. A patch panel (banana plugs) allows me to connect the speakers to whichever amp I want, and Niles AXP-1 RCA selector switches connect the Oppo to the amp. Chromecast Audio for internet radio and Spotify Premium.

Basement: Front, center, and left speakers are Klipsch RF-7 II. A single rear speaker is a Klipsch RF-7. Subwoofers: SVS SB16-Ultra, Klipsch R-115SW. Source: Oppo UDP-205. Amps: Scott 272, Inspire “Fire Bottle” SE Stereo Tube Amplifier HO, Scott 222C, McIntosh MX110Z tuner/preamp, Fisher KX-200, Scott 296, Pilot SA-260, Scott LK150. A patch panel allows me to connect the speakers to whichever amp I want, and F/F RCA cables enable me to connect an amp to the Oppo, and a power amp to the MX110Z. Chromecast Audio for internet radio and Spotify Premium.

Office: Stereo speakers are JBL L880. Sources: Oppo DV-980H SACD/CD/DVD, and my Windows 10 laptop with Music Streamer II DAC. Amps: Fisher 500C, Scott 299B, Altec 353A, and an NAD D 3020 for general internet use (and summertime). Banana jacks allow me to connect the speakers to whichever amp I want, and a Niles AXP-1 RCA selector switch connects the Oppo to the amp.

Bedroom: The speaker is a single Klipsch WF-35. Source is an older CD player. Fisher TA 500 (AM/FM mono receiver). Chromecast Audio for internet radio and Spotify Premium.

Exceptional items! How do you like your Scott 272 and LK-150? They don't seem to come up often.

I have a nice collection of McIntosh, Fisher and Marantz tube items but don't have them set up like you do. They are all stored on shelves or packed away since I moved 7 years ago and the wife made new "stereo rules" I had a MC30 obsession at one time, owning twenty, but I've thinned them out. I do still have a small console in a spare room with a C22, MR73 and two MC75's in it but it only gets played on the holidays.

 

[robert_kc]

Exceptional items! How do you like your Scott 272 and LK-150? They don't seem to come up often.

I have a nice collection of McIntosh, Fisher and Marantz tube items but don't have them set up like you do. They are all stored on shelves or packed away since I moved 7 years ago and the wife made new "stereo rules" I had a MC30 obsession at one time, owning twenty, but I've thinned them out. I do still have a small console in a spare room with a C22, MR73 and two MC75's in it but it only gets played on the holidays.

"Twenty MC30s"

FWIW, I prefer the Scott 296 to the 272.

I own two KT88 amps: the Scott LK150, and McIntosh MC275. I use McIntosh MX110Z pre-amps with these, in order to attenuate the treble a bit.

Bottom line, I think that if you like the "warm" sound of MC30s, you'll like the Scott 296.

 

[vendo81]

"Twenty MC30s"

FWIW, I prefer the Scott 296 to the 272.

I own two KT88 amps: the Scott LK150, and McIntosh MC275. I use McIntosh MX110Z pre-amps with these, in order to attenuate the treble a bit.

Bottom line, I think that if you like the "warm" sound of MC30s, you'll like the Scott 296.

Thank you! I'm guessing liking the MC30's sound so much is why I like the 296.

 

[soundmotor]

"Twenty MC30s"

FWIW, I prefer the Scott 296 to the 272.

I own two KT88 amps: the Scott LK150, and McIntosh MC275. I use McIntosh MX110Z pre-amps with these, in order to attenuate the treble a bit.

Bottom line, I think that if you like the "warm" sound of MC30s, you'll like the Scott 296.

As an MC30 and 296 owner, the 296 is a bit more dynamic. But geez man, to compare gear lists is crazy. You've cloned my past buying habits. In house -

MC275
MC30s
(2) 296
272
222 (forget which)
LK150

Good grief!

The HH Scott shelf -

 

[vendo81]

As an MC30 and 296 owner, the 296 is a bit more dynamic. But geez man, to compare gear lists is crazy. You've cloned my past buying habits. In house -

MC275
MC30s
(2) 296
272
222 (forget which)
LK150

Good grief!

The HH Scott shelf -

Very nice collection! That shelf of Scotts is a thing of beauty!! Looks like most models HH Scott made.

How does the LK-150 compare to the 296? I may need to hunt one down

 

[soundmotor]

Very nice collection! That shelf of Scotts is a thing of beauty!! Looks like most models HH Scott made.

How does the LK-150 compare to the 296? I may need to hunt one down

There's a few I missed. I like both, that's a tough call. Bass tighter with LK-150 but 296 may be better on vocals. Never had them side by side running at same time.

 

[vendo81]

There's a few I missed. I like both, that's a tough call. Bass tighter with LK-150 but 296 may be better on vocals. Never had them side by side running at same time.

I'll have to hunt one down and give it a listen

 

[vendo81]

As an MC30 and 296 owner, the 296 is a bit more dynamic. But geez man, to compare gear lists is crazy. You've cloned my past buying habits. In house -

MC275
MC30s
(2) 296
272
222 (forget which)
LK150

Good grief!

The HH Scott shelf -

Looks like you have a couple 299's and LK kits as well? It must have taken a LOT of hunting to find so many Scott integrated amplifiers in such nice condition

 

[soundmotor]

Looks like you have a few 299's or kits as well? It must have taken a LOT of hunting to find so many Scott integrated amplifiers in such nice condition

A good chunk of those are yard sale snags, likely from ex-Scott employees. I am ~15 miles from Maynard, MA.