I finally decided to install a Fisher X-100C into my main system. Aside from a failed power switch, the unit is in excellent condition. Even comes loaded with a full set of Fisher branded tubes. It's dead quiet, and all controls function perfectly.

So out come the Electra Print amps and pre-amplifier. I run the Audio Magic interconnects and speaker wire into the Fisher. Power it up and gie it a 1/2 hour to warm up. Sit down to listen for a few, everything checks out ok. Comes back in another 1/2 hour for some serious listening. Put on Homage to Duke by Dave Grusin. I was underwhelmed. The bass was exaggerated, slow and ponderous. Apparently the amp was not appreciate of my Audio Nirvana Super 12 speakers. And heck they are a even 8 ohm load, and 99DB efficient. The top end was recessed. I fiddled around with tone controls a bit, and got the system to sound somewhat balanced. The overall sound had a velvet smoothness, but lacked fine detail. I took off for another hour, came back, but the sound had stabilized.

If this is typica sound for vintage tube gear. It doesnt do much for me. I will stick with my 13 wpc Electra-Print 300 DRD amps. I guess I will stick teh Fisher up on EBay or an Audiogon auction at the end of September. Hopefully someone will aprreciate, cause I sure dont.

Regards
Mister Pig

Try some different speakers with it. Amp/speaker synergy is very important. Although maybe the tube sound just is not for you. How much you want for it

Oh I appreciate my 13 WPC Single Ended Triodes quite a bit. Actually i purchased my first tube amp, a Dynaco Stereo 70 when I was 19 years old. Havent owned a solid state amp until last year. Finally heard one I liked, which are the Monarchy Audio SM 70 PROs. I currently have two in the house which are bridged for 70 or 80 wpc in monoblock operation. Of course these are Singl Ended Transistor design. It is the best sounding reasonably priced solid state amps I have heard. But they still can't oust my Electra-Prints when paired up with the 12" Audio Nirvana full range drivers.

Regards
Mister Pig

I never heard a Fisher tube amp, so I can´t comment.

I´ve owned / heard a few modern tube amps, including Audio Research V70, Conrad Johnson PV-55, Myaby VP-120 and Antique Sound Labs AQ 1003, and they do sound different from the more famous vintage tube amps I´ve had the priviledge to run for considerable lenghts of time, namely Quad II´s, Leak 12.1 and Radford STA-25, to name a few.

The above mentioned vintage amps definitely have a nice, though small, emphasis on the mid-range, but in none of them was the bass ponderous. If anything, they were somewhat lacking at the extremes.

Could something be wrong with your Fisher output stage?

Jorge

Do you really think a tired 50 year old amp is getting a fair comparison? With caps failing and resistor values sure to be off how do you know if it's even operating properly? also noted in your post below you couldn't wait to hear it so you went ahead and plugged it in. The electrolytics have sat for over ten years and never were reformed.
Why not try a complete rebuild then listen, you'll be surprised!

IMHO that is not the typical sound of vintage tube gear.
That model from Fisher is just an entry model of the X-100 series; btw the "C" series is the less expensive model.
...and of course, bluelobster is right.
Why not rebuild it? Could be fun...

A fair cmparison? Probably not. Sure this one has seen minimal use, and the caps may be out of spec thats for sure. But honestly, I do not have the skills or electronics knowledge to properly restore one. And I am not willing to invest a $100 or more and a whole bunch of time to restore one. Not that interested in hearing a prisitnce Fisher. Too many committments, and time to spend with family to shoe horn in another project.

But if this is typical sound for a 50 year old unit, it does not seem like an inexpensive way to obtain good sound. Better to buy a kit, rather than work restore an older unit. Just my opinion of course.

Regards
Mister Pig