First off, I'd like to thank you in advance for any help. I posted a few days ago, asking about a Golden Tube setup. A few different people suggested that I seriously look into a vintage Fisher 500b or 500c. I've found a gentleman through the internet who totally refurbishes these. He currently has a 500c for what I feel is a good price. Although he offers a listening period to review the amp, I'd like to know your opinions before hand. Perhaps to avoid the hassels of reshipping, crediting and restocking fee. I'm currently using an NAD 7175PE solid state reciever/amp. I know (or assume the tube sound will be quite pleasing as I've used a tube amp in my system for a weekend about a year ago). My concern is the sonic qualities of something that was designed over 30 years ago. I'm a beginner into tubes, so perhaps this concern needless. Once again, thanks.....Doug

First off, I'd like to thank you in advance for any help. I posted a few days ago, asking about a Golden Tube setup. A few different people suggested that I seriously look into a vintage Fisher 500b or 500c. I've found a gentleman through the internet who totally refurbishes these. He currently has a 500c for what I feel is a good price. Although he offers a listening period to review the amp, I'd like to know your opinions before hand. Perhaps to avoid the hassels of reshipping, crediting and restocking fee. I'm currently using an NAD 7175PE solid state reciever/amp. I know (or assume the tube sound will be quite pleasing as I've used a tube amp in my system for a weekend about a year ago). My concern is the sonic qualities of something that was designed over 30 years ago. I'm a beginner into tubes, so perhaps this concern needless. Once again, thanks.....Doug I can tell you catagorically that the Fisher will be an improvement over the NAD in every respect, with one possible exception:  If you are a bass freak you will probably find that the Fisher has a lighter balance in the bass.  On second thought, the NAD is no star in the bass area, IIRC, so you may actually hear an improvement! .  I don't know who you may be buying the amp from, but if it has been properly reconditioned it should surpise you. Another option is to contact Bruce Wenger in VA.  His web site is www.bws-tube.com and you can look at some of his work, which is fairly unique.  He sells reconditioned stock units, but also a modified 500c for around $900.  Before you freak at the price, I'll tell you that, along with other upgrades, he replaces the output tubes with the Bendix 6384, an absolutely phenomenal 6L6 variant that lasts forever and sounds fantastic.  This unit has the liquidity and magic of tubes with more of the control and neutrality you'd expect from a SS unit.  It's the only top-flight tube receiver I know of at the moment.  Just a thought, to add further confusion to your quest .  If you have a deal already in the works, just ignore this. Anyway, I think you will find even the stock Fisher very gratifying.  I have (let me see...) six friends, not audiophiles but music-lovers, who have purchased either 400s or 500cs on my recommendation, and they are all delighted with them.  It's fun to go over and listen to great music on their modest, low-cost systems.  One of them uses the Wenger modified unit with ProAc Response 2s, and the sound is phenomenal. Only one friend, who has very large, bass-heavy speakers and listens to mostly techno-pop, was not impressed with the Fisher and opted to keep his SS gear, though he loved what he heard in terms of musicality and mid-range magic. If I had to pitch all the homebrew stuff I've slaved over and start from scratch, I'd start with a Fisher.  Sometimes I'm very tempted to do just that! Hope this helps.