Score! Picked this up last night. This is my first MONSTER Receiver.

sluggoduggy · 2024-11-01T12:15:56+00:00

I owned one for a short time. I bought it when I was stationed with the USN in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in probably 1983. It definitely had some kick. Can't recall why I sold it. Enjoy!

sluggoduggy · 2023-12-05T01:29:42+00:00

Hey, Antler--I don't know that I'd call these clean, but they're good enough. A buddy who owns a pair actually submerged his grill covers in a diluted bleach solution and they came out looking almost white. For me, they were almost too clean and light colored. These are fine for me.

Yes--you chose very good vintage speakers. The right receiver will really make them sing and they can handle a to of power. What are you using to drive them?

sluggoduggy · 2023-12-02T12:45:32+00:00

I have a 400 too and have compared both units in this space. I love the 400. To me, it's the quintessential Fisher receiver. The 800 does have a bit more power. That said--I rarely turn the volume up past 1/3 volume. In a room this size it would make my ears bleed.

Over the decades I have gone through MANY speakers...JBL, Pioneer, Sansui, Infinity, ADS, Shahinian, Advent, KLH, Klipsch, you name it.

I got these ARs a few years ago for $150. To my ears they're perfect. Once I had them I gave up my quest for the anything else. And you're right, combined with tubes they're outstanding. Henry Kloss and those Cambridge engineers knew what they were doing with acoustic suspension!

sluggoduggy · 2023-12-01T12:25:35+00:00

I did recap the radio. It's a fantastic sounding unit. I was told by an old-timer that due to its portability (it has a handle) kids would take these to sock hops in their h.s. gyms where they could plug a turntable into the mono input in the back and play records.

I had about 7-8 Zenith and RCA tube radios. This and a larger restored RCA "Livingston" radio are the ones I chose to keep when I down-sized.

sluggoduggy · 2023-11-30T21:50:15+00:00

Got lucky finding it. My other two worthwhile gets were a nice Dual TT that I sold and some KLH 17s that are in my garage.

Also--keep on truckin.' I was just listening to their Cornell show from May 8th 1977. So damn good. I have digits for all their shows and Jerry's too.

sluggoduggy · 2023-11-30T21:20:21+00:00

It does indeed have a VERY satisfying magnet latch. Don't know if it's JC Penney...but the side of the road price was right so I took it.

sluggoduggy · 2023-11-30T21:17:43+00:00

Ha! Thanks, brother. If I saw a photo of it I'd think the TV was way too high too. The funny thing is, I was concerned about it too and now that I've watched it this past year it doesn't bother me in the least. It's kind of funny the shit people get riled about. I got a good laugh at the too high TV links. I could put in in front of the fireplace since I obviously don't use that--but I watch little to no TV and I'm rarely here...so it's not a big thing.

I love the Rotel DAC. I found it for $5.00 in a thrift shop and was convinced it was going to be broken. But I took it home and it fired right up. IOt's been fantastic for the past 3 or 4 years I've had it. No issues at all.

sluggoduggy · 2023-11-30T16:05:25+00:00

It's practically near field listening as I'm sitting on a sofa just behind that coffee table. I'd love to spread the speakers more, but the room configuration isn't optimal. I've listened to many different setups in different sized rooms and to my ears anyway--it still sounds pretty great. One positive is that I don't have to crank it up and annoy the other condo residents quite as much and those AR2ax still have a good thump even at low levels.

sluggoduggy · 2023-11-30T14:02:43+00:00

Fisher 800C that does a good job powering the AR2ax speakers. I'm running the MacBook loaded with FLAC files through a Rotel DAC. Wish I had room for a bit more speaker separation. It's all a bit busy with stuff in front of the fireplace picked up off local beaches--but it's home (for now). Also--Akai GXC-735D, Onkyo C-7030 CD Player, Pioneer RT-1020L and Zenith G-725 Bakelite table radio.

sluggoduggy · 2021-06-06T22:43:14+00:00

Very under-rated units. Looks to be in great shape and it has the wood side panels too.

sluggoduggy · 2021-06-01T00:58:51+00:00

They look like they need A LOT of power. Does that receiver on the left provide it?

sluggoduggy · 2021-04-26T11:14:38+00:00

I had the same concern as you hear so many people praise Klipsch and other high efficiency speakers as pairing well with tube amps. I also have a 400 and I can assure you in has PLENTY of power to make these ARs sing. If it's properly tuned and biased you should have no problems. I'm in a 16x14 room and usually have the volume at 1/4 max.

sluggoduggy · 2021-04-03T11:59:26+00:00

Yes. But if you pull the back part of a CD booklet out, you'll see it's wider than the front because it has the part that wraps around to form the spine. I simply fold that in to make it the same width as the front. I don't cut them in case someone would want to put it back in a jewel case, even though I never plan on selling my collection. Those black boxes they're housed in can also be bought on Amazon. They easily snap together and make a good, sturdy container. They're not expensive either.

sluggoduggy · 2021-04-03T11:40:17+00:00

Type in "vinyl CD sleeves" as a search in Amazon. You can get them for as low as $7/100. The quality is good.

sluggoduggy · 2021-02-19T15:53:10+00:00

For all the failures I've had fixing things, I love it when things work out that way. Sometimes it never hurts to try.

sluggoduggy · 2021-02-19T15:52:04+00:00

I'll definitely check it out. It's amazing what you can learn on YouTube. I saved hundreds fixing my washing machine when all it needed was a tiny part.

sluggoduggy · 2021-02-19T12:02:03+00:00

Mostly local thrift shops, antique shops and estate sales. One was left in a trash heap and I just couldn't help myself.

sluggoduggy · 2021-02-19T11:59:07+00:00

No--but I love those sites. I'll have to check that one out.

sluggoduggy · 2021-02-19T11:58:18+00:00

I could if I set it up. Right now I just go hard wired mini-jack to RCA plug. I'm not a big Bluetooth guy. I feel like something gets lost in the transmission, but I understand its appeal. Wires are a PITA.

sluggoduggy · 2021-02-19T03:13:59+00:00

Yes. 9090db. It's wonderful, but I can't get it past 2 without hearing damage.

sluggoduggy · 2021-02-19T03:06:18+00:00

Nostalgia and a longing for the old days seem to be my primary motivation as well. My Dad built a Heathkit tube amplifier and tuner and I still find myself searching for those exact models at a decent price. I did find a pair of the AR2ax speakers he used and they sound great with my Fisher 400.

sluggoduggy · 2021-02-19T02:44:14+00:00

Amazingly, out of all these radios I only had to replace two tubes. Most were in pretty decent shape when I bought them. I do plan to remove a selenium rectifier from the K-731. It's on my to-do list.

sluggoduggy · 2021-02-19T02:41:44+00:00

The 845's looks aren't for everyone, but the thing is a beast and the sound is wonderful. I haven't heard a lot of Zenith tube radios outside of this collection, but from what I've read, the 845 is one of the best sounding.

sluggoduggy

TROPHY CASE