Classic Commercial Receivers / "Boatanchors"

In contrast to completely solid state radios equipped with semiconductors only, which hardly ever need servicing after the factory alignment and work for many years without complaints, the "real radios" are equipped with valves. After replacing the tubes after many years of service, the receiver may need realignment. These heavy weight hollow state receivers are referred to as boatanchors by their enthousiasts.

Contrary to transistorized receivers, the tube-equipped receivers need some time to warm up until they are frequency stable, most often the audio is full and pleasant sounding. Listening to such a set connected to a good speaker is often more relaxing, since You won't find the high frequency hiss of some contemporary computer controlled modern sets.

The time line will give You an overwiew over professionally graded sets from the "Hollow state - era", the real boat anchors to some later professional transistorized commercial receivers.

Whether You feel rather drawn towards highly stable contemporary commercial receivers with their small and nevertheless extremely precise frequency synthesizer or towards the tube-equipped black or grey veterans, is matter of taste.

A real radio glows in the dark!

Classic Commercial Receivers, from "Boatanchors" to Solid State Communications Receivers

Classic Commercial Receivers,
from "Boatanchors" to Solid State Communications Receivers