Fabulous sound - excellent FM reception.

The unit weighs in at around 36 lbs!

I bought this thing in a weak moment (so I thought)..got it
home and hooked up a couple of speakers and turned it on.
Nothing happened. I forgot that tube equipment needs a moment to warm up...:) But then it came on and I tuned it to my favorite Classical station. I swear my jaw fell on the floor! All the little hairs stood up on the back of my neck and I got goosepimples all over the place, the sound was that astonishing! I'm still amazed every time I turn it on. Anyway, I took it to an old "tube" guy who realigned it and replaced a bunch of capacitors and even a couple of tubes. I later matched a pair of vintage Fisher xp7 speakers ($100) to it for even more incredible sound. AS I gave up vinyl years ago, all my music is on cd and the unit brings whole new qualities to digital cd's. When it was worked on, the guy modified it to run quite a bit cooler. Said that will vastly extend the lives of the transformers and the output tubes. Yes, output tubes are expensive. But remember, they can last for many years even with daily use.
You can still pick these units up at yard sales, auctions, and EBAY for under $200. Even if you have to put another $200 - $300 in it to bring it up to snuff, you're still well ahead of the game in audio quality. Also, consider that these machines sold for around $350. in the early sixties. That would translate to around $1500. in todays dollars!!! The prices on these things are going to soar so grab one while you can..:)!

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Scott 340 stereo reciever

I have enjoyed listening to music for years. I am a recent convert back tothe warm sound of tube stereo. If you have the chance to buy one of these by
all means buy it. They should sell for between $200.00 and $400.00 depending
on condition, and whether or not it has the original walnut cabinet. I bought one of these beauties for my Dad in mint shape for $175.00. Remember these are now over 30 years old. They will need to be re-aligned, tubes checked, selenium
rectifier replaced with IN 4007 diode. I sent mine from MA to Mike Zuccaro in
CA who checked this out for me. This one was/is a low hour original unit and
it showed. Mike had never seen one that did not need some original capacitors
changed before he opened this one up. After Mike gave it a tune-up we got it
back in great shape. The sound is absolutely incredible on these Fishers. Thank
God the "collectors" have not driven up the prices on these like the over priced
and valued McIntosh, and Marantz tube stereo. For under 400.00 you should be
able to experience what everyone is talking about with "tube" stereo sound. All
I can say is the sound of tube stereo is much more life like. These not only look nice, but they sound even better. They are built like a tank and mine will last another 30 years or longer. Just remember to have the bias "turned down" a bit like mine was so the expensive 7591 output tubes last almost forever. Mine are now over 30 years old and should out live both my Father and I. Do yourself
a favor and buy one of these. No doubt collectors will soon drive up the prices
on these in a few years.

Very smooth sound,bouncy and tunefull bass. Very alive sounding. Good tuner.

Very heavy, runs hot, will probably need soom work as they are almost forty years old.

These old recievers really need to be heard to appreciate what they can do. They were built back when quality was very important. The sound they deliever is soom of the most musical I've ever heard. Listener fatige is almost non-exsistant.
If you purchace one be sure to have a competent repairman check it out before you even plug it in. The aged parts can fail and cause more damage.
The tuners on these (FM only on 500C, AM&FM on 800) are very good. I've only heard a few that can perform better. No new tuner I know of is this good.
These do have tubes in them and run HOT. Tubes eventually do wear out and need to be replaced.
The 5ooC is rated at 35 watts, but will sound louder, as tubes tend to sound louder for their power rating.
These tend to sell for between $150 (needs work)-$600 (professionally rebuilt).
All in all, I can't think of any reciever that can outperform this.

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Heathkit, Eico, Harmon Kardon, Altec, Pioneer, Sansui, Scott, Marantz, GAS

If you are primarily a music lover I urge you to hunt around foe one of these sweet singing receivers. These are tubed components, so if you are not aware of how to bring a classic piece of gear back to life you would be well advised to purchase your 500C from a reputable audio dealer. My two are still running very well indeed with the original tubes and the only serious drawback is the output tubes are getting scace and EXPENSIVE. ! there are a few schematics to convert the output tubes to 6L6 types and I suspect good 6L6 and varients would sound well, however I hope I can keep mine running the correct tubes.There is also the fisherdoc online and he can repair referbish or specout any Fisher product. IF you know a competant tech. he will be able to keep your 500C singing. After thes warnings let me describe why these are so popular nd still in use. They sound open warm and musical. they have damn good f.m. sections (perfect for n.p.r. in your office !) they are at once articulate as all get out and relaxing ! They allow you insight in musicians playing of each other and a feeling of sweet conectedness to music. They have the ability to let you easily enjoy stylistic diferences of different interpretations.
I have a lot of audio gear, I build a lot, but You will have to spend a lot to hear better than an up,spec 550c. Oh they really add joy to c.d.'s !! call that coloration if you like, but try it first.

Extremly well built.It weighs a ton.Awsome tube sound for CDs.Tube tuner is extremly good.From the days when Fisher was high end.But please use it without the wood frame to show off good (back then) made in the USA craftsmanship.Sounds good with the Paradigm Atoms V2 for a budget system.

In the fall of 1979 at the age of 20 I was in the market for a new "stereo system" when afriend of mine in Berekely CA talked me into buying his "old" receiver for
$50 so that he could "upgrade" and I could save some money (starving undergrad). This
was the best fifty dollars I've ever spent. I'm now in the position at age 40
where I can buy just about anything I really want, but I've NEVER heard an amp
or tuner than can beat this old tube Fisher, and I'm talking about stuff that runs
into the THOUSANDS! For the past 12 years I've mated the 500c to a pair of KEF 102
speakers and a Denon CD player. I'm very, very happy with this set-up.

I must say that I am no audiophile, but I've never heard anything better than
Art Pepper's classic recording of "You'd be so nice to came home to" from
ART PEPPER MEETS THE RYTHYM SECTION blasting through the 500C.

If you can find one, BUT IT!

Well built, great sound, classic American styling

age. Will need restoration if not already done.

I have a large collection of vintage hi-fi equipment and can tell you that the 500C is one fine receiver. It is well built and has a classic style that is refreshing as compared to modern asian black box equipment. The sound from this unit has no equal in today's hi-fi market unless you are willing to part with well over $1,000. Even then, you can get more power, but not better sound unless you go with a modern vacuum tube amp. My 500C needed several component upgrades which could cost you a couple hundred dollars unless you can do the work yourself. Since I work on this equipment as a hobby, the repairs were not a problem, but the cost of restoration is something to consider before you buy one of these excellent sounding receivers. One drawback was the availability of the 7591A output tube, but they are again in production! Anyway, this is a fantastic unit and well worth a look. Since restoration, my 500C has run trouble free for the past 4 years.

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Scott 340B, Fisher 800C, Scott 380, Scott 399

has that "magic" sound quality

very big and heavy...expensive output tubes

I got this 500C on eBay a while ago for $200.. and really did not know what to expect.. the guy i bought it from said the tuner needed alignment, but i got it because the amp in it is supposed to be very good.. and theres no doubt about it, this 500C sounds very very good indeed.. It is still in pretty much original condition with all the tubes being Fisher except the 4 output 7591a's which are RCA.. the 7591a output tubes run hot so i keep a small 8" fan blowing on them all the time which makes them run a lot cooler...
When i first turned it on and played it, i was very disappointed..the sound was very dead, muddy and flat sounding, but luckily i let it run a while and in a couple hours that muddy dead sound transformed into the sweetest warmest, richest detailed sound i've heard on very precious few amps..i was amazed and needless to say ecstatic!! I suppose its been 20 years since this old 500C has strut her stuff and just needed some reburning-in lol
It plays with a passion and emotion i've heard on very few amps and it has the "magic" very pleasing amp..i give it my highest rating for an amp so reasonably priced but it's changing fast i saw one on eBay yesterday at $250...they will go up fast now i think..good luck!!

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2a3 set Denon 75 wpc

Sound that never fails to astound me with its quality, and an FM section to die for.

Wish it had a little more output power- but, I'm the diehard that insists on using AR-3a speakers with it- some of the most power-hungry beasts ever.

Where do I start when talking about what is probably my favorite piece of audio gear ever?

The warm, slightly "smoky" sound quality- but well defined and well staged?

The FM section- sounds wonderful, and picks up more stations than I'd ever imagine- I live in a tough part of the city for FM.

The feeling of sound engineering and solid build quality- this thing is built like a tank!

OK, so I'm in love with the unit. I must be- I've dropped another $300 in upgrades and repairs since I bought it- money well spent, in my opinion- I doubt very highly if I could get anything that sounds better for the money- even considering it at the $450 total I have in it- and the money spent greatly enhanced the reliability as well.

I can't recommend this model highly enough- given a pair of medium to high efficiency speakers of equal quality (hey, you can only do so much with 30 wpc), it'll give a listening experience in most any room that you couldn't match for five times the price with the stuff they sell today.

I only can think of two things that one would need to be cautious about. One is obvious- capacitors throughout, the diode in the power supply (has all been done on my unit).
The other is inefficient speakers- as I stated earlier, I'm using AR-3a speakers (world class power-eaters- they chew up a late model 100 wpc Sony receiver I also own, and spits it out)with mine- I absolutely love the sound, and it works well enough, but there are occasions that a little more power would be welcome. Thank God my listening room is smallish, and I don't listen at high volume levels.

When you consider a nice 500C can be picked up for less than $300 (and less than $200 if you're lucky), there's absolutely no reason not to have one. I have no plans to ever part with mine.

BTW- The Fisher 800C is the same unit- just adds an AM section to the tuner.

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Tubed electronics from Dynaco, Sherwood, and Scott, as well as other Fisher gear.

Five years ago, my girlfriend was looking at the vacuum tubes I had on the coffee table from my Fender amp and said "I've got something in the trunk of my car that has those things in it." She opened her trunk, and I pulled out this Fisher 500B reciever. It had been her grandfather's, she didn't want it, she left it with me. It was by far the best thing to come out of any relationship I've ever had.
Surprisingly, it worked perfectly after spending however many years in a garage and then several months in the trunk of a Civic; and I, after owning what I considered great equipment (an Onkyo reciever, a Pioneer CD player, a pair of Infinity speakers) was entirely blown away.... What an incredible sound! Each record I played, every CD, tape sounded brand new. I finally understood what all of this fuss I'd been reading about in magazines was all about- I could feel the music, see it , taste it, it enveloped me, and I was hooked. This was my introduction to The High End. It was also the beginning of a nonstop project that involved buying an equally old oscilloscope to bias the power tubes, driving all over Florida to get my hands on NOS tubes, vintage capacitors, finding a guy who had a stash of these special display light bulbs...many hours and fingers burned on the soldering iron....

The thing finally died after running practically nonstop during the intervening 5 years. Output transformer melted on the left channel. I replaced it with an Audiolab integrated amp.

The Fisher 500 series is a fine sounding piece of equipment, and although I love mine and still have it (anyone know a source for 30 year old transformers?), when compared to even modest newer stuff like the Audiolab, some deficiencies show up: it's certainly lacking in the soundstaging, resolving of low level detail, the phono section hums slightly even with new ceramic tube sockets with gold pins and Telefunken tubes, the power tubes run hot enough to set a cabinet on fire, the 7591's are nearly impossible to find.

Still, I'll probably never have the feeling again I had that first night with the Fisher when music came alive for me. Now it's just a matter of degrees. By the way, the girlfriend eventually moved off to Los Angeles and took up residence with her ..ahem.. "life partner". All's well that ends well. Five stars for turning me into a raving lunatic obsessed audio nut.