VAL 601 SW Tube Stereo AM/FM Classic Receiver | 
| Brand: Val
Category: CE
Buy New: $549.00
Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 82713
Color: Rich natural real wood finish
Shipping Weight (lbs): 23
Dimensions (in): 17 x 7 x 8.5
MPN: 601SW
Model: 601SW
UPC: 410100258346
EAN: 0410100258346
ASIN: B000QB92R0
Availability: Usually ships in 4-5 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | NOT A SAMSUNG PRODUCT Beautiful all solid real wood classic am/fm tube stereo receiver with stereo inputs for MPz or CD player | | • | Very sensitive and selective tuner for am and FM stereo or mono, with all tube single-ended EL84 3 watt Class A amplifiers and built-in dual 5" full-range stereo speakers built-in | | • | Retro styling from the 1940s with huge illuminated round dial and vernier tuning. Also has a blue-green flourescent tube tuning eye indicator on front panel | | • | Features internal AM ferrite antenna, jack for external AM and FM antennas | | • | Headphone jack for private listening and stereo inputs for your iPod or CD player. A complete classic home entertainment center. |
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The VAL 601SW is the best example of a reproduction classic tube stereo radio we have seen on the market. No cheap cardboard or plastic is used, only finely crafted and richly finished solid hardwoods make this a radio you will keep for a lifetime. Excellent circuit and quality components make this a very sensitive and selective receiver. The radio has an all vacuum tube stereo amplifier which matches with specially-made speakers. The sound is very authentic, warm and smooth, very nice to listen to for extended periods. A blue-green magic eye tuning tube is used to tune exactly to center of channel for lowest distortion and clearest signal.Richly finished and finely crafted wooden enclosure of solid hard wood make this a beautiful radio for the den, living room, office, bedroom, kitchen or studio. FEATURES: Stereo AUX IN: to directly connect with CD/DVD or MP3, REC OUT: Record output jackHeadphone OUT: to connect to headphone, FM/AM internal or external antenna, Switchable to either FM mono or FM stereoSPECIFICATIONS: Frequency Range: FM 88 -108MHz, AM 540-1600KHz: Stereo Separation:>25db, S/N: FM 40db, AM 30db, Noise Sensitivity: (FM) < 24db(s/n=30db), (AM) < 64db(s/n=20db)Distortion: FM < 1%, AM < 2%,Non-Distorted Output power:23W/channel,Single signal selection:> 30dB, AC Power supply: 230V/115V (50/60 hZ) Switch (works on either voltage),Inside speakers: 5" diameter x 2 pc -4 ohm, Speaker Frequency response: 70Hz-16KHz, Amplifier Frequency response: 30Hz-20KHz, Vacuum Tube Types: EL84(6P14) x 2, 6N2/ECC88 x 2, 6E2 x 1 eye tube
|
| Customer Reviews:
High Quality Tube Amp Table Top Radio...at last! January 22, 2008
As soon as I opened the double boxed package, I was
impressed! Not only was the complete 'history of radio'
printed on the carton, but inside a beautiful radio
was nestled safely in styrofoam. The radio's wood case
is the first thing that caught my eye and I immediately
knew I was getting my money's worth...
Indeed, this was no cheap replica, but a custom 'made
for today' tube amp radio. They may not 'make them like
they used to' but this radio is the exception to the rule!
Yes, it's made in China but if I had any misgivings about
quality from overseas, this product laid them to rest!
Plugging into AC and turning the power knob, I was greeted
with a nice mellow yellow backlit dial reminiscent of radios
of yesteryear. The main tuning knob is smooth and direct.
After a brief warm up, I plugged in headphones. I was
very impressed by the total lack of hiss or hum; as I
turned up the volume, the control was quiet and linear.
Everything is quality top to bottom, front to back. And
on the back panel, I was surprised to find a serial number
signifying that indeed, this isn't just any radio but
MY radio! A nice touch...
The radio is big. It's going to turn some heads. Like,
"hey, that's really cool"..."where'd you get that?" It's
warm to the touch, but not overly hot...especially given
the visible glow of the tubes inside. And the magic tuning
eye is icing on the cake...
So how does it play? I'm glad you asked. Quite nicely,
thank you. On FM, the radio produced full and rich
sounding audio. Rock on! On AM, I utlitized the external
AM antenna RCA jack and connected a small indoor loop
antenna. As an avid AM listener I was especially pleased
with the quality and quantity of signals received; this
radio is no slouch! And best of all, it produces that
'tube sound' from...well, tubes!
The VAL 601 SW Tube Stereo AM/FM Classic Receiver was
promptly delivered by Vacuum Tube Valley; in addition,
they answered emails with same day responses. I highly
recommend this vendor and product!
"the originals were never this good" November 10, 2007
I write this review after noting the radio is not currently available; I hope Amazon will influence the distributor to provide it again for those of you who would like to purchase one.
Now, having said that, I must report VAL 601 is a wonderful update on the tube radios of the 30's and 40's...without the occasional puff of smoke emanating from the innards of those fondly remembered (and widely collected) relics. As described, this is a large, beautifully crafted wood cased AM-FM broadcast band radio having imputs for a CD player or other modern input device. It has internal antennas for both bands but will accept (thru "F" fittings") external antenna if desired. In my suburban location the internal antennas are sufficient. The sound is much more modern tube hi-fi than antique mono; attributable no doubt to the pedigree....this radio is distributed by the same company that designs and markets the well regarded jolida brand of tube amplifiers.
Comparing the VAL 601 to both a Tivoli Model 2 and the Tivoli "Music Center" yields a rich, warm, room filling sound very reminiscent of the large !950's tube radio/phono consoles made by Magnavox and others during those mid century years. The sound is more lush and warm than either of Tivoli models though probably not as detailed or clinically revealing. It actually reminds me a lot of those big Grundig and Telefunken german SW radios of the same era. One noted failing of older analog radios was signal drift but I noticed a surprising lack of that problem with the VAL 601. As a matter of fact, my only regret is that they didn't design SW bands into the front end, which was very representative of the higher end Philcos, Zeniths and RCAs of the era.
Physically, it's about as perfect as one could ask for. The wood case is beautifully crafted with discrete laser etching to indicate volume and band position. The main tuning dial is very retro with a cream background and black/red markings. The dial appears to be quite accurate with regard to signal position and, with the provision of the center tuning "tube", it is quite easy to zero in on stations.......no digital, remember. The two speakers complement the warm electronics and present a sound stage much larger than the physical size of the radio itself with surprising bass response. But, the capper is to turn this baby on in a darkened room and listen to a classic jazz station send out hours of wonderful recordings from artists of the era accompanied by the tubes' beautiful glow emanating from venting on the cabinet. Just remember that there's a slight delay for the tubes to come up to temperature before one gets any sound out of the box!.......If you can get one, grab it, you won't be sorry.
|
|
|
