Vintage HiFi Audio Forum

Audio Discussion => TUBES TUBES TUBES => Topic started by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 01, 2014, 06:56:09 PM

Title: Zenith
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 01, 2014, 06:56:09 PM
How is Zenith tube stuff?   Going to pick up a free Zenith tube stereo console tomorrow.   Any experiences?   This pic is literally all I have to go on so far, but it is free and nearby...

(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d11/markshan/photo4_zpse2377b05.jpg) (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/markshan/media/photo4_zpse2377b05.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Zenith
Post by: schwarcw on August 01, 2014, 10:29:57 PM
Don't know much about Zenith.  I loved their TVs back in the day.  I think my parents owned a few.

Is that a mono amp?  As a minimum, you should be able to get a few tubes.
Title: Re: Zenith
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 01, 2014, 11:49:19 PM
It says "Stereo Hi Fidelity" on the top according to the owner.
Title: Re: Zenith
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 01, 2014, 11:50:08 PM
The quality goes in before the name goes on.
Title: Re: Zenith
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 02, 2014, 08:47:09 PM
Not hot chassis and stereo EL84 SET.   A flavor I haven't tried yet!  8)

Plus, I plugged it in (the owners said they had just played it) and other than some pot noise it worked great.   Bonus.
Title: Re: Zenith
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 02, 2014, 08:50:29 PM
To be specific, it has 2x EL 84, one 12AX7A, and two other tubes that I can't recall.   I strongly suspect that one is a rectifier, the other may be part of the tone control circuit, as this seems to be an integrated amp all in the same chassis (which seemed to me unusual for a console, but it may be very convenient).
Title: Re: Zenith
Post by: Dicky on August 02, 2014, 09:05:05 PM
Good score, STAL
Title: Re: Zenith
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 02, 2014, 10:01:11 PM
While it is hard to go wrong with free, I get the feeling that this may end up being a special piece.
Title: Re: Zenith
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on August 02, 2014, 10:20:35 PM
That RCA I picked up in the spring keeps getting pushed back in the "to do" list.   The SC and this both look sweet.   The tiny Maggotbox is far too tight for me to ever do anything with, given my aging eyes and mediocre soldering skills.   I'm thinking of using the OPTs from it and building one of these...

http://www.parksaudiollc.com/budgiese.html (http://www.parksaudiollc.com/budgiese.html)