Sylvania GTE majestic Maestro console anyone have one working,Opinions

[philips fx82]

Hi to everyone. In the late 60's/early 70's Sylvania had a series they called the Majestic Maesto console.
The tuner was tuned RF on the am and fm bands. Four if stages on fm. There was a separate power amp
solid state, as was the tuner. The Amp was good for about 50 watts per channel. The speakers were Sylvania AS 4000 series. At the time these sold for about $600., not cheap. Does anyone have a working model, and if so, could you give an opinion on its performance on sound reproduction. Is it close to tube quality. From what I read on the literature, the frequency response was quite good. There is an earlier thread on the forum on a member who recapped one on these. I would like to hear opinions please. I understand its not a Fisher or a McIntosh, but how good were they?

my thanks in advance

 

[KentTeffeteller]

It is better than average for a late 1960's-early 1970's era. Very uncommon due to the fact that most every customer refused to pay more than $400 for a console post 1966, without a TV set combination. I'd say the 50 WPC rating is more music power than RMS, so 22 watts/channel RMS is more realistic. When working sounded better than most US console options, and usually nicer built. Very scarce bird. I liked Sylvania in that era the best of the console manufacturers as they had better amplifiers, better speakers, used Garrard and Dual record changers, and usually kept nicer furniture later on than most manufacturers did in this era. The closest thing to GTE/Sylvania quality wise was Packard-Bell, the top Zenith middle class offerings and the middle Magnavox consoles.

 

[DustyOldFart]

It is better than average for a late 1960's-early 1970's era. Very uncommon due to the fact that most every customer refused to pay more than $400 for a console post 1966, without a TV set combination. I'd say the 50 WPC rating is more music power than RMS, so 22 watts/channel RMS is more realistic. When working sounded better than most US console options, and usually nicer built. Very scarce bird. I liked Sylvania in that era the best of the console manufacturers as they had better amplifiers, better speakers, used Garrard and Dual record changers, and usually kept nicer furniture later on than most manufacturers did in this era. The closest thing to GTE/Sylvania quality wise was Packard-Bell, the top Zenith middle class offerings and the middle Magnavox consoles.

Kent the solid state Maestro series had a 50WPC RMs rating. 80wats Ihf. I have had one for over 50 years with a dual 1019 turntable and it is still going strong. Best sounding console I have ever heard. Better than the top of the line magnavox we had and got rid of. Pictures are posted on vintagesylvania.net site model SC 395P

 

[Tim D]

My parents had a Sylvania Maestro SC316C in French Provincial until mom passed away in 2010. My sister sold it off. My dad had purchased it in the early to mid 60's. I was so young I don't remember exactly when it was but the documentation I can find show it still available in 1969. I do know my dad purchased it years before then. I have only ever seen one exactly like it in an auction. I always wondered if it was my parents unit.

It came with a Dual 1009 turntable and was made in Cherry. The console was super heavy and very very well built. I have not run across a console with such furniture grade build ever.

In the 1970's I blew out one of the woofers and my dad had to replace it. I remember the speakers were acoustic suspension (sealed). All the other consoles I've seen have been open baffle.

I do remember the documentation said 200Watts IPP which is a bogus measurement. I remember there were other measurements with it but cannot remember what they were.

That console could rock and I wish I had picked it up when my mom passed away - alas. It would get really loud and it sounded very good. Loved the 3 range volume control and the knobs on it. The hide-away top worked flawlessly. Wish I had one in a Modern style. It might push out my Fisher tube system for primary rotation. It was that good.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Kent the solid state Maestro series had a 50WPC RMs rating. 80wats Ihf. I have had one for over 50 years with a dual 1019 turntable and it is still going strong. Best sounding console I have ever heard. Better than the top of the line magnavox we had and got rid of. Pictures are posted on vintagesylvania.net site model SC 395P

Thanks for that information. I always liked Sylvania of that era the best of the general console manufacturers. The closest thing to a more widely marketed Fisher or HH Scott high end model console. I like the Sylvanias better than I do high end Magnavox.

 

[Tim D]

Well there is a Maestro on the big auction site right now ("Vintage Sylvania SC 81 Stereo"). Nearly the spitting image of my parents model. Only difference I see is the Dual 1019 TT instead of the 1009 in my parents one and the grill cloths in my parents was a yellow color. If it was nearby I'd pick it up but it is over 1000 miles away and pickup only. Nostalgia.

"Vintage Sylvania SC 81 Stereo"