Consumer Tube Hi-Fi Separates MSRPs (1950s-1960s)

cicada_shell

cicada_shell

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After my thread in the McIntosh sub-forum the other day on production numbers, I trolled some catalogs (RadioShack, Allied Radio, various newspapers, eBay brochures, etc.) for list pricing for tube hi-fi separates of the 50s-60s. This is by no means exhaustive, plenty of less-discussed manufacturers (Madison-Fielding, Brook, Stromberg-Carlson) left out, as well as some major ones (Heath, Bogen...). Original suggested retail pricing has been discussed plenty in the individual manufacturer forums, so this is really just for general interest. I did include Acrosound to showcase what a company without much concern for marketing was charging for good-quality assembled components. Citation and Dynaco are priced as assembled components, in other words, none of the following are kit prices. The year noted is the date of publication of the catalog, advertisement, or brochure I saw the pricing, not the year of the component's debut. They're from a myriad of places so I didn't cite the publications. And just as today, MSRPs are MSRPs, meaning the likely sale price is closer to 10-15% lower than quoted in many instances. The biggest disparity between brochure list-price and actual advertised-in-the-paper price was Marantz. Pricing also often does not always reflect cages or cabinets, which were usually a $5-10 or $25-30 up-charge respectively. Further, there are no integrated amplifiers, tuners, receivers, or anything fully transistor-powered pieces below. If anyone has any requests for other manufacturers, I'm happy to dig up pricing and append it to this thread.

The only observations I have from all this is Fisher and Scott had a lot of products. It seemed to me they were chasing the GM model, in other words, there's a seat for every kind of rear-end. Fairchild was also extremely-poorly advertised in all media and to me seemed to be focusing more on their turntable line as well as some of their pro gear. I believe the totem-building around their amplifiers today is more a sign of collector high-browing if anything. Further, despite the Scott 265A's rarity, it has failed to appreciate the most relative to its initial price, especially compared to others in the $300-350 price range (Marantz 9, SA1000). Or I should say, perhaps, the Model 9 is a major outlier compared to the others below. Marantz, broadly, has appreciated ahead of its MSRP. Lastly, I feel the current values of higher-spec Fisher and all McIntosh has largely kept pace, inflation-adjusted, with their historic suggested pricing. None of this comes as a surprise I guess to anyone who watches the market. Oh, as an aside, I noticed the nicer turntables (though that is not the focus of this thread, nor this section of AK) have appreciated a lot.

I've also added inflation-adjustments. While it's tough to be totally accurate, we'll assume the following multiples for each year:
1952 → ×12.9
1954 → ×12.1
1955 → ×11.7
1956 → ×11.4
1957 → ×11.1
1958 → ×10.9
1959 → ×10.7
1960 → ×10.4
1961 → ×10.0
1962 → ×9.7
1963 → ×9.5
1964 → ×9.3

The approximate cost in 2026 dollars will follow the ≈.

Marantz​

Mono Preamplifier​
  • Consolette: $171 (1960) ≈ $1,178
Stereo Preamplifiers​
  • Model 7C: $269 (1962) ≈ $2,609
Mono Amplifiers​
  • Model 2: $219 (1960) ≈ $2,278, pair $4,556
  • Model 5: $154 (1960) ≈ $1,602, pair $3,204
  • Model 9: $334 (1962) ≈ $3,240, pair $6,480
Stereo Amplifiers​
  • Model 8B: $274 (1962) ≈ $2,658

H. H. Scott​

Mono Preamplifiers​
  • 120-CP: $166.25 (1955) ≈ $1,944
  • 121-A: $149 (1954) ≈ $1,752
  • 121-B: $159 (1954) ≈ $1,875
  • 121-C: $159 (1956) ≈ $1,715
Stereo Preamplifiers​
  • 122: $285 (1960) ≈ $3,290
  • 130: $180 (1958) ≈ $1,875
Mono Amplifiers​
  • 220-A: $120 (1948) ≈ $1,613, pair $3,226
  • 223: $75 (1953) ≈ $935, pair $1,870
  • 232-A: $100 (1952) ≈ $1,250, pair $2,500
  • 240: $140 (1957) ≈ $1,485, pair $2,970
  • 250: $160 (1958) ≈ $1,665, pair $3,330
  • 265-A: $200 (1953) ≈ $2,494, pair $4,988
  • 280: $230 (1957) ≈ $2,439, pair $4,878
Stereo Amplifiers​
  • LK-150: $270 (1961) ≈ $2,880
  • 208: $130 (1961) ≈ $1,408
  • 290: $239.95 (1961) ≈ $2,400

Harman-Kardon​

Stereo Preamplifiers​
  • Citation I: 254.95 (1960) ≈ $2,652
  • Citation IV: $192.95 (1960) ≈ $2,006
Mono Amplifier​
  • HK20: $60 (1959) ≈ 672$, pair $1,348
Stereo Amplifiers​
  • Citation II: 239.95 (1960) ≈ $2,495
  • Citation V: $184.95 (1960) ≈ $1,923
  • HK250: $100 (1959) ≈ $1,120

Dynaco​

Mono Preamplifier​
  • PAM-1: $59.95 (1961) ≈ $600
Stereo Preamplifier​
  • PAS-2: $99.95 (1961) ≈ $1,000
Stereo Amplifiers​
  • Mark III: $99.95 (1961) ≈ $1,000, pair $2,000
  • Mark IV: $79.95 (1961) ≈ $800, pair $1,600
Stereo Amplifier​
  • Stereo-70: $129.95 (1961) ≈ $1,300

Acrosound​

Stereo Preamplifier​
  • S-1001: $114.50 (1963) ≈ $1,088
Mono Amplifier​
  • Ultra-Linear II: $113.50 (1957) ≈ $1,260, pair $2,520
Stereo Amplifiers​
  • Stereo 20-20: $99.50 (1963) ≈ $945
  • Stereo 120: $160 (1960) ≈ $1,664

Fairchild​

Mono Preamplifier​
  • 240: $99.50 (1956) ≈ $1,134
Stereo Preamplifier​
  • 248: $125 (1959) ≈ $1,145
Mono Amplifiers​
  • 255: $109.00 (1956) ≈ $1,243, pair $2,486
  • 260: $149.50 (1956) ≈ $1,705, pair $3,410
  • 275: $215.00 (1955) ≈ $2,516, pair $5,032

Fisher​

Mono Preamplifiers​
  • CA-40: $119.50 (1958) ≈ $1,302
  • 50-C: $97.50 (1952) ≈ $1,258
  • 80-C: $101.50 (1956) ≈ $1,158
  • 90-C: $99.50 (1958) ≈ $1,085
Stereo Preamplifiers​
  • 400-C: $169.50 (1959) ≈ $1,815
  • 400-CX: $199.50 (1962) ≈ $1,935
Mono Amplifiers​
  • 20-A: $59.50 (1958) ≈ $649, pair $1,298
  • 30-A: $59.50 (1961) ≈ $595, pair $1,190
  • 50-AZ: $159.50 (1952) ≈ $2,058, pair $4,116
  • 55-A: $174.50 (1956) ≈ $1,989, pair $3,978
  • 70-A: $99.50 (1954) ≈ $1,105, pair $2,210
  • 80-AZ: $104.50 (1956) ≈ $1,191, pair $2,382
  • 90-A: $229.50 (1957) ≈ $2,549, pair $5,098
  • 125-AX: $229.50 (1958) ≈ $2,501, pair $5,002
  • 125-A: $219.50 (1958) ≈ $2,395, pair $4,790
  • 100: $119.50 (1959) ≈ $1,355, pair $2,710
  • 200: $179.60 (1959) ≈ $1,922, pair $3,844
Stereo Amplifiers​
  • SA-100: $119.50 (1958) ≈ $1,303
  • SA-300: $169.50 (1959) ≈ $1,814
  • SA-300-B: $199.50 (1960) ≈ $2,075
  • SA-1000: $329.50 (1964) ≈ $3,065

McIntosh​

Mono Preamplifiers​
  • C-4: $64.00 (1956) ≈ $730
  • C-8: $88.00 (1956) ≈ $1,003
Stereo Preamplifiers​
  • C-11: $209.00 (1961) ≈ $2,090
  • C-20: $269.00 (1959) ≈ $2,878
  • C-22: $279.00 (1963) ≈ $2,651
Mono Amplifiers​
  • 50W-2: $249.50 (1955) ≈ $2,920, pair $5,840
  • MC30: $153 (1954) ≈ $1,849, pair $3,698
  • MC40: $159 (1962) ≈ $1,543, pair $3,086
  • MC60: $219 (1955) ≈ $2,562, pair $5,124
  • MC75: $229 (1961) ≈ $2,290, pair $4,580
Stereo Amplifiers​
  • MC225: $198 (1961) ≈ $1,980
  • MC240: $288 (1960) ≈ $2,995
  • MC275: $444 (1961) ≈ $4,440

Pilot​

Stereo Preamplifiers​
  • SP-216A: $189.50 (1960) ≈ $2,075
  • SP-210: $89.50 (1960) ≈ $980
Mono Amplifier​
  • AA-410A: $59.50 (1959) ≈ $662, pair $1324
Stereo Amplifiers​
  • SA-232: $89.50 (1960) ≈ $980
  • SA-260: $129.50 (1960) ≈ $1,419

Eico​

Mono Preamplifiers​
  • HF-65: $49.65 (1958) ≈$
Stereo Preamplifiers​
  • ST-84: $90 (1964) ≈ $940
  • HF-85: $65 (1964) ≈ $680
Mono Amplifiers​
  • HF-50: $88 (1958) ≈ $977, pair $1,954
  • HF-60: $100 (1958) ≈ $1,110, pair $2,220
  • HF-30: $63 (1958) ≈ $699, pair $1,398
  • HF-22: $62 (1958) ≈ $688, pair $1,376
  • HF-14: $42 (1958) ≈ $466, pair $932
Stereo Amplifiers​
  • HF-86: $75 (1964) ≈ $784
  • HF-89: $100 (1964) ≈ $1,045
  • HF-87: $75 (1964) ≈ $784
 
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TriodeLuvr said:
Most of those units were pretty expensive in their day. Not everyone earned only minimum wage of course, but those who did made $1/hr in 1960 (minus taxes).

Jack
Click to expand...
Yup. Amplifiers the Marantz model 9's, (you would need two at that price for one), the McIntosh 275, etc. Would have set you back quite a bit back then.
My first full time job in 1977 only payed $6.50 and hour. Those would have still been out of my price range even in '77.
 
TriodeLuvr said:
Most of those units were pretty expensive in their day. Not everyone earned only minimum wage of course, but those who did made $1/hr in 1960 (minus taxes).

Jack
Click to expand...
Lavane said:
Yup. Amplifiers the Marantz model 9's, (you would need two at that price for one), the McIntosh 275, etc. Would have set you back quite a bit back then.
My first full time job in 1977 only payed $6.50 and hour. Those would have still been out of my price range even in '77.
Click to expand...
For the heck of it, I added inflation-adjusted pricing. Doesn't quite have the same impact though since the average household income at the time, say, in '60 was $5,600. Median household income today is around $83k, and closer to 50-60% of married households have two incomes versus in '60 when that number was closer to 30%. However, proportion of income devoted to housing and other expenses people just didn't have in 1960 is a lot higher, and people are in much more debt today.

Stands to reason as well that these companies at the higher-end of the market at the time weren't trying to appeal to the median-income but 70th percentile or better, like much of the market today.
 
Personally I can't justify paying such high prices for a vintage piece of equipment that's going to need to be restored and or repaired for it to last any length of time. I would rather spend that same money on something new that's going to sound just as good or better than an old piece of equipment.
There was a time I did collect and restore older SS equipment. I stopped when prices started getting too high for what I was actually getting.
Designs in audio equipment has come a long ways over the years.
Even when it comes to tube based equipment. These days I would rather have new. I only own a couple pieces of SS gear from the 70's that I've restored now.
When I switched to tubes I played with a few console amps and still have one, but everything else I bought new, or built from kits or from scratch builds.
Ive had for less problems to deal with.
 
Nice list. Back in February 2026 Audio Classics was offering their trade-up program. I thought it was an early April Fool's joke...

Trade in your older​

McIntosh equipment for new models​

Program valid only in the US and Canada​

For a limited time, trade in select McIntosh two-channel components – even models from the 1960s – and receive UP TO 75%* of their original MSRP toward new McIntosh products. It’s our way of honoring your commitment to us and keeping you at the forefront of audio excellence."

Are they serious? They'll pay you $333 for your 1960's era MC275? What a great deal! LOL
 
madwing said:
don't forget the venerable fisher model 100 el-37 mono amplifier...
Click to expand...
Whoops. Had that in the original and accidentally deleted it while re-ordering things!
heath2832 said:
Nice list. Back in February 2026 Audio Classics was offering their trade-up program. I thought it was an early April Fool's joke...

Trade in your older​

McIntosh equipment for new models​

Program valid only in the US and Canada​

For a limited time, trade in select McIntosh two-channel components – even models from the 1960s – and receive UP TO 75%* of their original MSRP toward new McIntosh products. It’s our way of honoring your commitment to us and keeping you at the forefront of audio excellence."

Are they serious? They'll pay you $333 for your 1960's era MC275? What a great deal! LOL
Click to expand...
The worst part is the "up to" qualifier. Meaning they'll give even less if they can!
 
The prices are fascinating, and frighteningly current...

There are a few other oddballs. I have a silvertone stack, tuner and integrated. Was about $300 for the combo in 1964. Model 3029 and 3028 iirc.
 
gadget73 said:
Didn't realize the Pilot 216A was priced that high when new.

2 grand in 1960 is almost 23 grand now.
Click to expand...
That's the '26 price, I noted in the OP that inflation-adjusted prices are appended to each line. It was about $190 when new. I may adjust all this into a table that's easier to read. Trouble is you can't easily add or subtract cells.
 
gadget73 said:
Ah, ok. Thats more sensible. Still, same price as a Cit IV or a Mc C11.
Click to expand...
I just checked a few catalogs and seems by '61 it was pretty much gone. I just think they couldn't compete at that price point unless they turned towards integrated units like most were. The VU meters were pretty cool, though.

The prices of the Scott preamplifiers surprised me the most, especially the 122. I knew it was expensive when new but I thought it was around everybody else. Also, the early 121 mono preamplfiers I hadn't ever really seen. I saw in a catalog a mention of its "tooled-leather case" at an upcharge. Quite something! I appreciate the aesthetics of their earlier units.
 
cicada_shell said:
I just checked a few catalogs and seems by '61 it was pretty much gone. I just think they couldn't compete at that price point unless they turned towards integrated units like most were. The VU meters were pretty cool, though.

The prices of the Scott preamplifiers surprised me the most, especially the 122. I knew it was expensive when new but I thought it was around everybody else. Also, the early 121 mono preamplfiers I hadn't ever really seen. I saw in a catalog a mention of its "tooled-leather case" at an upcharge. Quite something! I appreciate the aesthetics of their earlier units.
Click to expand...
I'd like to hear a 216 sometime just because. I had a 210 here that I did some work on, thought it was just overly warm on an already warm SA260. Wouldn't want to have to replace that 4 section volume pot tho.
 
Interesting to see, especially relative to current value which I agree in most cases is not so far off. It's also instructive to look at those catalogs and for a given year compare relative pricing.

It would be great to include integrated amps and some of the more common receivers from Fisher and Scott as they are more common today than the separates from them. Like Fisher X-100, X-101C, X-202, 500C, Scott 299B, 222B/C/D, 399, 340B. Sherwood?
 
Selmerdave said:
Interesting to see, especially relative to current value which I agree in most cases is not so far off. It's also instructive to look at those catalogs and for a given year compare relative pricing.

It would be great to include integrated amps and some of the more common receivers from Fisher and Scott as they are more common today than the separates from them. Like Fisher X-100, X-101C, X-202, 500C, Scott 299B, 222B/C/D, 399, 340B. Sherwood?
Click to expand...
Sure, can be done.

What I'd really like to do as well is price out the nice Luxman and Sansui tube options, but none of that was available in the US in the late-50s and early-60s. In fact, neither of their names are even mentioned in a newspaper until like 1970. Some of Sansui's offerings were really quite nice. And the Luxman of that era is still really enjoyed in Japan. It is very complicated converting their pricing to ours, especially their price didn't build in duties.

Could also expand this to include some semi-commercial offerings, like Altec's amplifiers. Some were positioned towards home use but not very popular.
 
dcgillespie said:
Another factor to consider in the realistic cost associated with a vintage piece of gear today is the cost to (at least) electrically restore it -- particularly for those who have someone do it for them. Not a factor when new, but very much so today.......

Thanks for sharing the information!

Dave
Click to expand...
Having someone else handling the restore in most cases involves shipping two ways, and the risk as well. And I am not sure everyone considers the increased cost of everything that is needed to do a really good restore. Multi can caps, and any upgraded caps can really add up, and plenty of other things are needed if you start replacing tube sockets, knobs, switches, wood cases, inrush limiters, pots, bulbs, jewels, speaker terminals, and God forbid if you need to replace some iron from a donor. I have spent hundreds of dollars on some gear just in parts, and many long hours. And if you run into a tough issue it can suck up a lot of time especially for someone like me that isn't as knowledgeable as a more seasoned experience tech. I don't do repairs for others, I simply do them for myself due to the fact I have had issues shipping amps, and not having anyone nearby trustworthy to do a repair or restore.
Lavane said:
Personally I can't justify paying such high prices for a vintage piece of equipment that's going to need to be restored and or repaired for it to last any length of time. I would rather spend that same money on something new that's going to sound just as good or better than an old piece of equipment.
There was a time I did collect and restore older SS equipment. I stopped when prices started getting too high for what I was actually getting.
Designs in audio equipment has come a long ways over the years.
Even when it comes to tube based equipment. These days I would rather have new. I only own a couple pieces of SS gear from the 70's that I've restored now.
When I switched to tubes I played with a few console amps and still have one, but everything else I bought new, or built from kits or from scratch builds.
Ive had for less problems to deal with.
Click to expand...

I agree completely, as much as I like a nice vintage amp with its solid builds, and cool looks, I have found that for the money that people want for an older amp, even one that needs restored, I can buy a really nice used newer amp for a more reasonable price. I see those prices they are asking for used amps with rusted chassis, and unknown condition transformers, with wiring that has gotten to the point that I don't even know if I could get solder to stick and without megging the insulation it might be compromised. Yet I can go buy a nice used CJ, ARC, Cary, or just about anything other than a Mcintosh for some really low prices. And even better if I buy a unit that has issues that the seller will sell cheap due to unknown issues. I do try to stay away from those with PC boards as I have seen some of the ones I purchased where the heat where a resistor blew, or near tubes, or where prior work has been done having issues.
 
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