Stereo Theater near LA

[Hydrolastic]

Hello guys, This is something I would be interested in if it was closer. Also not sure if condition is good enough but I like the BW 21" ? Still pre astrosonic, So would be all tube chassis? https://santabarbara.craigslist.org/ele ... 33531.html

[William]

I like the cabinet, it's to bad it's 2000 plus miles away from me. I did a little research and found this in the 1961 Magnavox brochure.

Model 1-MV358R
24" picture tube
30 watt amp...guessing it's a 9300 series amp and with it being a six knobber it should be the 200 series tuner.
2-15" woofers
2-6" midrange
4-4" tweeters.
Retail price $695.00

Bill

[Firedome]

Nice, a compact aircraft carrier! didn't someone here express the view that the 93 series amp was among, if not the, best amp Maggie made? Please expand on that if possible, as I may look out for a tube Maggie console in EA style.

[electra225]

Bill, I think that is the model that is based on the Symphony, rather than the more common little Imperial specs. That particular model has the cone speakers ala Symphony.

And, yes, most of the Stereo Theater models in at least the 300 and 400 series instruments have the 93 series amp. The 93 is and was THE best of Magnavox. That's the one the console rapers always want. Once you have a 93, nothing else in most console stereos, will come close. The main advantage of the 300 series to the 400 series is that the 24" picture tube doesn't hang out as much on the back of the cabinet. The 27" picture tube in the 400 series is easy to damage if you aren't careful. The Magnavox Stereo Theaters are made up of shelf parts, cobbled together into a "magnificent" instrument. They are truly works of art, the best of the best in their day.

[William]

Here's my 2 cents!

The 9300 series amp has it's own sound. It's simple, not a bi-amp. For the most part, it has the most bass than most other Maggie amps. It has variable bass and treble controls, like modern amps that all other companies use. It produces its "own" sound. Having my Imperial up and playing now, the one that is not supposed to exist, I need to add this. The Magnavox bi-amps produce there "own" distinct sound too. And, mine has as much bass as my Symphony which uses the 9300 series amp. I'm starting to believe my Imperial might be the rare exception??? Both amps are excellent performers. Both amps sound different. Which one do I like the best? Both, because of how they both interpret music differently.

Greg, I can't remember, is your ST a six knobber? And, remember my Symphony is like your ST with 12" woofers and horns. Go figure, it's Magnavox.

Bill

[electra225]

Mine is a six-knobber. The one feature on mine that I wasn't expecting is that the bass control is not continuous, but is stepped like on the bi-amps. It's got horns and 12" woofers that surprisingly sound as good as the 15's normally associated with the 93 series amp. No room for 15" speakers, especially on the end of the cabinet with the TV tuner. Mine has remote control so it is pretty crammed with electronics. And miles and miles and wads of wiring going every which direction. I straightened the wiring out best I could, but the TV doesn't work 100% yet. I may get to remove the tuner before it's all said and done. Oh, goody.....

You're right. It's a Magnavox.......

The ad says the seller will accept offers. He'll be lucky to get any at all. This one should be grabbed by someone on here. The console rapers would have a field day. If this is a working instrument, including TV, that would be a real shame. This is a nice one that might not take a lot of work.

This Stereo Theater is in the model 665 little Imperial cabinet, but uses the Symphony electronics. Yeah, it's a Magnavox. Go figure...

[danrclem]

I firmly believe that the Magnavox way was to use what ya got. I have the same cabinet without the TV chassis. Never had it. Mine is a Little Imperial with a 9300 series amp and horns.

If you can get it for the right money it's well worth buying.

[electra225]

The 665 is the model Little Imperial I have on my bucket list.

I'd bet $50 cash would take it home. The console rapers won't pay much more than that trying to flip the amp on ebay.
You can't get in too deep going in. They cost a fortune to rebuild completely.

Shipping is the killer with something like this. You need to be able to pick it up in person.

I'd bet that no two Stereo Theaters are identical. Magnavox liked to mix and match and would build to custom order.

I wonder how the dirt gets in between the picture tube and the glass in front? There is a seal between the glass and the picture tube mask. Bugs and "big" dirt gets in there. And, you'd be amazed at how black and dirty the face of the picture tube gets.

[Firedome]

My experience is that even with 2 of the exact same models with the exact same factory components it's nigh near impossible to draw valid conclusions as to performance, unless both were restored using the exact same parts - caps, resistors &c - in the exact same way to factory original specs, and even there, who knows if some unknown component not replaced is "off,, or a bad factory solder joint, or bad wire, or...? There's too many variables to make valid conclusions. They may have varied somewhat even right out of the factory; they're designed and built by humans!

Most folks don't have room for a ST, much less a "normal" console. I hope to find a smallish 93 amp EA stereo Maggie someday, but even then something else would have to go - probably the treadmill in my office!

What years were the 93 amps in use?

[electra225]

The 93 series amp was concurrent from 1961 to 1963. There is always room for a Stereo Theater. You can always learn to stack. A wise man once said there is always room for just ONE more.......

Seriously, Magnavox used fairly small cabinets for their three-way combinations. My ST is only 60", which is two more than the CG. Lots of combos were in 8 or 9 foot cabinets. The 358 shown here is in the little Imperial cabinet, which, if memory serves, is only 54".

[walyfd]

One thing I always looked forward to was the daily update on the Stereo Theatre... Fisher had one (Living Theatre) with an Andrea crt... love to find one of them...

The fact that Magnavox had so many units including various TV consoles is amazing. And the survival rate is also impressive. It's a shame that any one of them today could be parted out but...

[electra225]

.....they are heavy, and have black and white TV's, for the most part. And they have the 93 series amp that sells for at least $200 on ebay. All reasons that if any of them survive it will be a miracle. Even stereo console collectors don't want to fool with one, or doesn't have room for one. They should be preserved and put into collections. Nothing like them will ever be produced again.