They Found A Broken Stereo Console On Trash Day...Let's Fix It!!

Need tools? Here's a video showing what I use (with links!): • Must-Have Tools For Wo...
This console is in remarkably good condition! It even came with the original owner's manual which I show you in this video. However, when I plugged it in an took a listen, it was obvious that things weren't right. In this video I diagnose and repair this iconic piece of...furniture? And bring it back to its former glory!

[@Earcandy73]

I have worked on so many Magnavox consoles. This one looks like a 1967 model. Magnavox did indeed place resistors on their aux inputs. Another trick up their sleeve sometimes was to place a blend resistor to reduce stereo separation of the phono input. This masked the noise on some records. I always removed that blend resistor to open up the soundstage.

[@66skate]

I had one that I think was a 1966 model before Astrosonic was introduced. I later bought an Astrosonic model around 1972. These things were really awesome IMO. I wish they still made them.

[@kennethwallace4338]

I used to tap into the phono on stereos and get ear screeching noise til I figured out not to turn the device volume to high. Think my other receiver has a resistor it doesn't have that screaming issue, unless I run bass boost.

[@kanito107]

Would you have a suggestion on one of these not spinning?

[@semperfi-1918]

I think i just scored a 61 magnavox. So need to test it but its what i was hoping to find.

[@kevindutzy9484]

@@kanito107look at the idler wheel, the rubber turns hard and doesnt grip the platter sometimes it can be as simple as that

[@JohnnyJTav]

Same exact one my Mother had bought back early 60's. The Good Old Days.

[@reinkansman1081]

I am glad you got to this unit, it looked like an interesting project. You assistant Sadie was a bonus.

[@kmath50]

I remember when these were very popular. The fact that the cabinet is still in good shape is a plus, along with having the AUX inputs. When I was a teen, component systems started to take over, and console units lost their popularity. Thank you for saving this nice piece of history from the landfill.

[@agentofficerthomasa.porter107]

Just found you KZbin Channel. It is very wonderful to see a young man today with Electronic Discoveries & Repairs Restoring. When I was 11 going on 12 I got my Dream Job after school. From 3 to 5 p.m. I worked at Lyle's Zenith TV📺&📻Sales & Repair Shop. I had been taking apart Radio's & TV's since I was 6 going on 7 years old & put'n them back together again. I was 6' tall & Lyle needed to have a young man help him in Deliveries & Pick-Up repairs if not able to repair at the home, TV's & Radio's. Always carried in the Tube Box Case & Tube Tester Case & Scope that was a Circle Tube Light Up Screen used for Testing TV Sets. House Calls were $2.50 for B/W TV's & $2.00 for Radio's. Color TV's were $3.50 & Stereo Record Players & Radio Combo's were $3,00 dollars. When the TV/RADIO/Record Players came out omg Heavy As Ever, Lyle tried to do everything he could so we would not have to bring into the Shop. Many times was a Tube needing replaced. Selling the newest Zenith B/W & Color TV's & Radio's was always great. He kept models on Display but someone wanted to buy one it was sold. He had a Color Catalog a customer could look through. Lyle & his Wife were from Ohio & he worked for GM & turned his Garage into a TV & Radio Repair Shop he did on Weekends & Nights. Lyle retired from GM & they moved to Tavares, Florida & set up Store & Shop. The back room was every TV📺& Radio📻Lyle ever took in on Trade-In's on New Sales. It was like going through a Museum of every kind of Radio📻& TV📺ever made. I was in Toy Land for a kid would loved electronics. I worked there from 3 to 5p.m. weekdays & on Saturdays 1/2 Days. Lyle taught me everything about TV's & Radio's. He would take in any TV📺or Radio📻that needed repair. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. I would walk around the corner to the Local Drug Store & was a Soda Jerk & helped Doc in the Pharmacy count Pills💊for Prescription Orders. Did that 5 days a week & 1/2 days on Saturdays. Nothing was open on Sunday due to Blue Laws. Did both those jobs until I was 17 years old. Some years later Enlisted into the U.S.A.F. during Viet Nam & went into Missile 🚀Electronic Specialist. My number was low but I wanted to serve my Country. I gave Lyle so much credit for all the years of Mentoring me God Bless him. Lyle passed years later & the Shop was torn down by developers. Like most of Florida what was in no more around. It was a great place to grow up in the 60's & mid 70's but would never want to go back or live there again. Figure the whole state will be under water one day & the storms will take away a good chuck of Homes & Businesses before it becomes once was a state.

[@mpwiedemann]

I was able to get a huge 6 1/2 foot long RCA console free about 7 years ago. It's an absolute beast in the tone department and has the tape-in/aux-in port. I've got a bluetooth receiver hooked up to it. Deep, rich sound and the thing must weigh over 300 pounds. It's the one piece of furniture I'd muscle out the door if my house ever caught fire. I love that thing.

[@rwj777]

My grandparents had one of these in their house. The outside cabinet was slightly fancier , but it was a Magnavox just like the one that you have here. The tuner and record player was exactly the same as this one. I have fond memories of my little cousin and I hooking up my first portable CD player to this system through the aux jack. When we were ever home alone, we would have this system turned up all the way to the max, playing hip hop music through it and must say that it got pretty loud with very punchy bass, literally shaking the pictures on the wall...lol. The neighbors weren't very happy about that tho 🤣🤣🤣 Man those were the good ole days of my childhood. 🤗

[@doorguru168888]

Around 1967, my parents had a Magnavox much like this, but it also had a color TV in the center. One of the first color TV's on the block. If you weren't careful and left a vinyl record on top of the sliding cover, it would land on top of the CRT. I found my sisters missing Lesley Gore album in there. It was melted/warped from the heat. All the neighborhood kids came over to watch Batman in color. 🤗

[@catlady8324]

Batman reall went above and beyond to showcase the mew color technology. Good times!

[@hydrolito]

My parents did not get color TV until a few years later.

[@Facetiously.Esoteric]

We had the 70's version, dark wood and Burgundy cloth over the speakers.

[@jmarlow2153]

It was a big moment in my 9 year old life heading next door to watch Bat Man on a color set, we got one about 5 years after that. Our neighbors,the Jake's, were awfully nice.

[@edwardcox2840]

We had a floor model curtis mathis color tv in the 70s it was great Saturday morning cartoons it was a great memory for me😊

[@maxpower1911]

Wow, my grandma had one exactly like this in her house when I was growing up. The turntable was broken by the time I encountered it, but she still used the radio every day. It was a great old device, just as classy a piece of furniture as it was a functional piece of hifi equipment. She wiped it down in lemon Pledge every other week.

[@terrym1065]

I have two cats and they're more qualified to work on electronics than I am😉 Replacing the capacitors might have been a good idea, you already had the board removed and there were relatively few. A little TLC on the cabinet and this will be a nice nostalgic piece of furniture. Thanks for the video, enjoy!

[@digitalparadigms]

Exactly

[@hydrolito]

I had to teach my dog not to chew power cord, he is definitely not an electrician. Beter to keep cords away from pets.

[@pioneermax1906]

Hard to believe people throw away nice stuff!!you do nice work and pleasent to listen to you on your repairs !!

[@marlobreding7402]

I've seen people gut those things and turn them into a hidden bar. Glad to see this one survived perfectly intact beautiful

[@christopherbedford9897]

No, in this case they gifted it to someone who can make use of it. "Throwing away" would involve tossing it on a tip, but they clearly recognised that someone whould be willing and / or able to give it a bit of TLC.

[@naturalbodybuilder9120]

I had a similar console to this and left it with the new homeowner when I moved. 😂

[@tomwesley7884]

Wow, your knowledge and interest in this revival is admirable. You proved that through a small effort, this unit is still useful and can still be enjoyed.

[@medicgrrl123]

Agreed. :-) I have been really wanting an older console forever. The sound is amazing on them if in working condition. I found one on Marketplace and watched this video to see what I'm in store for. I'm so glad I watched it. :-)

[@loktaiextatus]

I have THIS EXACT unit. my mother (rest in peace) bought it brand new when she was young, one of the first "new" things she bought herself. The AUX is amazingly useful... been enjoying that for many years.

[@CCliffGeiger]

I loved the whole thing! I'm 55 years old, but seeing that took me down memory lane! My Grandparents had something similar to what you got and I would spend hours listening to it! Please show us more, when you have the time to!

[@insolentstickleback3266]

I love old consoles, I have a Magnavox 151B I bought in the mid 90's to use as a plant stand. I took good care of it, kept it out of the sun and never let water touch it. I think it is from 1946-47, hope to get savy enough to refurbish it myself. Great video, thanks for sharing this one!

[@bones007able]

I picked one up off the curb but it was a bigger console , A magnavox imperial astro sonic ... I call it the aircraft carrier as it is a good 6 foot long , it also had the reel 2 reel built in... I restored it and it sits proudly in the family room , works great and is loud enough to have a block party with it...these are making a comeback due to the resurgence in vinyl...

[@JrGoonior]

I bought a 1966 Sangean Imperial (no rel to reel, I have an Akai GX-4000 D) in 2017 for $100, still works great. It is semi-retired as I have a late 70 vintage setup I do my regular listening with, but it, too sits proudly in the living room ready when I want to use it.

[@RogerDonahue]

Several years ago I found the exact same model from magnavox. The cabinet was in stellar condition, but electronics and turntable not so much. Instead of repairing these I dropped in another turntable and a modern day car stereo unit. So now it it has am/fm, cd, Bluetooth, turntable and remote control. It lives in my dining room and is used almost daily.

[@antoinetteserrano3082]

I’m considering doing something similar with my console. I don’t know what brand it is, my dad had the cabinet custom made to make an existing piece of furniture my mom was given as a wedding present the were both given to me as a wedding present. I get the loud hum & smell of ozone when we fire it up so it’s just used as a sideboard in the dining room right now.

[@bob4analog]

I love these old consoles. Very nice repair and restoration! 👍

[@Pablo-he7gm]

Man, I came across your channel by chance. It's just so nice to see someone young like you be interested on fixing stuff. And it is clear that you really know what you are talking about. Your methodology and logic are great. I foresee you as a master in the years to come. Congrats!

[@shiralleehaggart72]

Glad you got this working again. It is nice that you rescued it in trash day and gave it a new lease of life, your cat seems very impressed as well.

[@kenRBoyle]

Lol...I worked for a Magnavox dealer in the 70's and delivered a boatload of these units. The units with stereo and TV were huge and heavy. Brings back memories.

[@marvin_6669]

I did notice as soon as the back was being shown, one of the external speaker connector terminals is missing, so the wire might be roaming freely and could possibly cause a short if speaker switch selector is turned and that could kill an output transistor.

[@rogermartins9994]

I noticed that too! I wonder if the guy in this video noticed that and 'at least' isolated the tips of the wires with electrical tape that connect to the missing ext. speaker connector not to cause a short as it suffered that problem before on the right channel output transistor, and I bet that was the true cause!

[@johnfoster7602]

I had a similar Magnavox without the AM Fm tuner. The 2nd negative teminal was missing by design for some reason. You had to put both of the speaker negatives on the one terminal.

[@kentsnyder8664]

the fact that it has the manual with it too!?!? Amazing.

[@Rebel9668]

Magnavox console tube radios were awesome powerful things. Big Alnico speakers in them and a truly deep rich sound. I'd love to have one myself, but I'm perfectly happy with my "The Fisher 125" for right now. I bet with a recap to get rid of that hum and some CRC contact cleaner followed by deoxit that old console set would sound decent. I think the problem with the record changer had more to do with how warped that record looked than with the player itself.

[@hydrolito]

Avoid leaving electronic devices, ink pens and even elastic and plastic in clothing in places which get to hot which can be attics and closet which can cause them to melt also a trailer that is not airconditioned can also. If leave closet door partially open it should not get quite as hot. I bought a used VCR and had to clean water out of tape drive to get it to work. So don't leave where will get too much moisture either.

[@Dave01Rhodes]

The record changer’s idler wheel might have a flat spot if it’s been sitting too long. Letting it run for a while should smooth it over if that’s the case.

[@jkitto2008]

I have had many of those, over the years. Every single one recycled from the trash. When I was younger I was obsessed with big speakers and big sound. These large Consoles did just that. Love to see someone taking interest in old tech. ❤

[@dennisdemark8151]

...love the video...Im happy to see that your fixing this beautiful console.

[@dmkays]

Great find. That's a Magnavox AstroSonic stereo console. The Hoosiers craftsmanship was very good. Consoles were big in the 40s through the 70s, although, audiophiles preferred component systems, For family entertainment, Magnavox and RCA consoles were very popular. When I see an old console like that, I think of Elvis, Sinatra, Neil Diamond, and Simon and Garfunkel.

[@annemurphy9339]

So true! I think of Herb Albert & the Tijuana Brass, because my grandmother had a huge collection of their albums through some kind of Reader’s Digest album collection sets. It also makes me think of the Supremes, and Andy Williams crooning the classic “Moon River.”

[@stevelibby6852]

Some of these old consoles sound AMAZING.

[@Wooley689]

Great stereos, I had two different models, one I still have and it really sounds good. People are looking for these the last several years, so prices are going up. The music you have playing and the room-set-up is perfect, takes me back in time.

[@izull892]

This is the same exact one we have at home. Thank you for the video!

[@lapnoloc]

Great find AH-Fix-it and excellent job tracing the minor problems and restoring the Hi Fi Stereo console .

[@davidhanson5871]

My parents had one just like that back in the 70's. I remember my dad playing Charlie Byrd and Burt Bacharach lps on it. Seeing that brings back old memories for sure.

[@bennyfactor]

I have a similar model of 1960s solid state magnavox astromatic console from my grandmother. It is in pretty good shape and doesn't currently haven many problems, but your video has given me some confidence about working on it if anything ever should go wrong. Thanks for showing what the interior looks like and the basic disassembly! Glad you got this one back working.

[@JC84908]

I currently have my grandparents old 1966 Magnavox console stereo and it also gets sound out of only the right speaker and has the static feedback as well. Literally the exact same issues as yours had. I am going to give it another shot for like the 75th time to try correcting the issues. Thank you for posting your video!

[@daveytechca]

Great vid! I have a thing for these old console stereos... I found one that resembles the one that my parents had when I was growing up. I couldn't resist to buy it and take it home to restore it. It now sits in my basement / workshop. Cheers!

[@shadowghst7704]

Dude, I had fixed so many of those things in the past! Some will rock the house right off the foundation! Throw some old 78’s on it.. I love big bands!!

[@audiophileman7047]

I really appreciate this video. I have an Admiral console stereo from the early 1960's, and it has similar problems to this set. It may have tubes in it, so it could be a different repair process, but this was helpful to see. Thanks. 👍👍👍

[@bigd835]

One mans trash is another mans treasure. Super cool and nice job.

[@ytmadpoo]

We had this exact same model in our house growing up. In fact, that puzzle piece looks familiar. :) Now I'm all nostalgic over it. I remember the fun we'd have, playing records back at 16 or 78 RPM.

[@armandogarciajr1478]

I have console like the you just showed, but my has a TV with the radio and turn table. It used to be my parents and left to me when they passed. It all still works all of it the tv, radio and turn table. So I was really interested in your presentation, I just loved it. My cabinet is longer but looks very close, thanks for the informative prevention. ❤

[@truthteller8459]

A beautiful piece of furniture and history.

[@MrMattDat]

Very, very cool. When things were actually made to be repaired (and come with the schematic inside to do it!)

[@martinrobichaud6661]

I find 1 for 20$ and i have the same problems with it so Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@sanolivo6867]

Nice 👍 piece. My family always had a stereo console when I was growing up. Is a piece of history. It's in real good condition.

[@TheFlowNetwork]

Wow! That is the exact console I grew up with. We used it until Christmas 1981, when my Dad got us a new Quasar stereo with record player radio AND cassette.... and external speakers that you could put anywhere you wanted! And it fit neatly on top of a table...instead of being as BIG as a table.

[@HooverLux]

Loved the video, the sound from it was just so deep and gorgeous 😊

[@jasonw6688]

This is so cool! I would LOVE to have a console like this in my home. I love retro electronics like this.

[@markshafer9452]

I was truly amazed on how young you are and knowledgeable plus that your interested in electronics! I was just impressed watching this! Great job!

[@DISCODAN1]

My father still has our original Magnavox AM/FM stereo console recorder player from 1963. It still works well but the FM has gotten really dim. The AM still works pretty well and the record player works perfectly. I love these old things. It’s been in our family two years longer than I have lol. And I’m a dinosaur myself lol. Thanks for keeping interest alive in these beautiful old pieces

[@robertknight4672]

Very nice. I always like seeing the more simplistic cabinet designs on these. I have one with the tube amplifier that that is only equipped with a record player.

[@soepil]

Fascinating piece of furniture. Very interesting. Thank you.

[@timschutte6924]

Your so lucky to have found this. Fix it, use it, cherish it.

[@samueljaramillo4221]

We had one like that when I was young. I don’t know what happened to it. Great, you got it fixed.

[@Bronson1886]

Wow great job on fixing it . I have my mother's old sterio system it's been sitting in our basement since the 70,s . I want to get it restored eventually and you are sparking me to look into where I can bring it to get it restored .Thank You

[@patricklynch1962]

Good save on a sweet old mid 60's console stereo. Magnavox was a good brand. I have a 1963 Pilot console stereo that is a tube model, and also has the RCA jacks for adding a tape deck. For a time, I ran my CD player through the tape jacks and it sounded quite nice. It now has an awful hum which cannot be filtered out from the adjustment on the back, but I haven't gotten around to doing anything about it yet, but I'm thinking filter capacitors.

[@mlrue]

This is great. I have a very similar Astro Sonic console, with almost the same exact cabinet. It also has developed the same exact problem, which I am going to tackle here pretty soon. I’m hoping that the problem is the same one you encountered. I would have a very difficult time believing that it isn’t, since these units were built so incredibly well. Thanks for the tip, and the great video!

[@BenjaminGonzalez-wv3cy]

I remember those Magnavox units it was truly a marvel! Thank you for the video...

[@luisreyes1963]

A rare find indeed, that owner's manual of that Magnavox stereo console. Good job with the restoration.

[@doplinger1]

@Ah-fix-it - that’s really awesome, you found a gem there. I have always wanted to find one and retrofit it with new (still vintage) components.

[@scottfirman]

I had one of those back in 1980. It had the Stereo, and 8 track player and Record player. Everything worked and the sound was astounding. You have a rare piece of Americana. I wish I still had one. I do not even watch TV any more but having that would be awesome.

[@danb.9891]

According Hits !!! That's my Favorite!! 😂

[@EarlGray_kd7sjt]

I'm impressed and I enjoyed this a lot. Thank you for sharing this, and I look forward to what's next :)

[@freebassdj]

Great channel. Awesome vid.

[@magnoliatom1300]

Awesome console! Great job

[@nedbates]

Impressive with the manual included!! This looks like the model I know with 6BQ5/EL84 final tubes. Sounded good in the early 60s!!

[@greenman7yyy]

Of your videos, this presentation and background music are my FAVORITES!!

[@chriscraftguy]

Enjoy your videos. Great work. Carefully attended to, and I like that you're saving all this great gear that most want to "toss".

[@jogmas12]

Great gear? In a console? Throw it out because I don’t give a toss.

[@Roscoeverdin5469]

This takes me back to my childhood. I blew out the woofers on my parent's Magnavox console several times. I kept having the service people come and replace the woofers as I innocently stated I didn't play the music loud. Back then, the wood used on these units was of high quality, so even if a console doesn't work, a wood worker would love to have the console.

[@stephenflowers8516]

Probably because the 15 woofers in those things had like 1-1/2 inch voice coils.

[@donaldhoot7741]

That's the exact same unit my parents had when I grew up. I know this isn't THE one because I knocked it apart and burned it about 40 years ago now! Great video!

[@5argetech56]

At least it was not a crappy "Electrophonic" Nice repair! The side mounted woofers and angled horns, spread out the stereo image. Having the original owners manual is a super bonus!

[@redrum2612]

Great find 👍

[@RaGiNgBalSaC420]

The manual is just as cool as the unit itself. I work on vintage stereos myself and I have never found a manual with any. Lucky find.

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

My mother had a similar Magnavox console, a bit more upscale. I ended up inheriting it and wouldn’t trade it for anything. Thanks for sharing this!🙏🏻🎧

[@raidhhi2217]

I enjoyed watching you take a solid approach at troubleshooting and repairing that gear. Your work is great so I've subscribed to your channel.

[@seetheforest]

Whoa! High fidelity! That's a keeper!

[@johnbailey9408]

I love the big speakers in these old stereo cabinets ❤

[@sa8die]

i love your electronics videos !!! top shelf

[@dbaider9467]

We had one like that growing up. You can stack records and they play one after the other, which was always amazing to watch as a child.

[@Noitpure]

Ahhhh. The stereo of my childhood. I played my first KISS records on a Magnavox exactly like this one back in the mid 70’s. Well done!

[@charlespeck886]

I recapped my old RCA Console a few years ago. Exploded inside the power chassis. Worked great after that! Needs to have the turntable mechanism cleaned and relubed now !

[@L8terdays]

This brings me back to childhood. They sound fantastic. Plus I have tons of LP's.

[@kittybeard5379]

Great video! Love the cat!

[@rickbruno947]

I was given this same exact model about 5 years ago and there was nothing wrong with it. Only thing wrong was scratchy volume control and I gave the turntable a good lube job. I enjoy it in my garage now. Enjoyed your video

[@zook909]

This was great thank you. I'm looking for someone to fix my grandmother's cabinet. Go through and just make sure everything is good. I wish I could have found the Manuel.

[@thomashubbard1673]

Wow, even the stereo indicator and dial lamps were still working! Always good to have a kitty supervisor.

[@edwardbianchi192]

That’s clean AF. Most of what I find like this are dirty. I still have my moms Magnovox tuner/amplifier and turntable.

[@rundoetx]

That thing is a gem. My friend in middle school parents bought one. He and I would come home from school and blast that thing before his parents came home from work. Awesome.

[@justiceblackwolf369]

what a find ! subbed 👍

[@DCJNewsMedia]

Fantastic video Brother

[@TC-uy8ng]

My folks had this exact same model when I was growing up ~ late 60's early 70's. I added an external 8 track player and plugged it into the aux input. Never had any issues with it. What a blast from the past.

[@tdalton854]

Well this brings back memories . My neighbors had one and somehow I talked my Mom into getting one too. Had to be. Mid 1960’s. I ended up running wires down the hallway from the living room to my bedroom so i could listen in there. The a bit later got a big outside loudspeaker and ran wires to that in the garage and out back. Neighbors were not impressed. Fun times.

[@ivyseal5161]

Hi from Australia I just subscribed to your youtube channel and I liked what you did to the Magnavox radiogram console they were great furniture units of their time I love the old radiograms they had excellent sound quality in them up this great work on restoring these old retro stereo systems.

[@FunAllDayLong4353]

Suggested by KZbin at random I wasn't expecting to like this, but in all fairness you made a superb video and allowed me to seriously Geek out. 👍

[@mobass48]

Love your background Tunes.!! My parents owned a Sears Silvertone console from the 60's/70's Now I wish i hadn't gotta rid of it!

[@mobass48]

My parents owned a Silvertone console from the 60's/70's Now I wish i hadn't gotta rid of it!

[@regalt1987]

The Rich sound of those full range speakers are amazing, I love that sound

[@billyc6678]

My mom had one very similar to this, up until I was 16. Learned how to sing playing my moms records on the thing. Just seeing it brings bock soooo many memories from childhood. I became a musician because of that piece of furniture. 🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽

[@Blaculo]

Nice find. I’ve got four or five of the tube consoles.

[@Sluggo01]

Magnavox console...Father-in-law was the department manager of the cabinet building design and build..Bueter Road Fort Wayne IN. worked there 30 years

[@maldonhammer]

Great video, well done. I remember my dads unit (we called them radiograms in the uk) I used to hide in it when I was a kid lol 😆

[@kilcar]

I have the same basic chassis in a Magnavox, but it is in a " Colonial" style cabinet. it was free on Craigslist. One channel out also,, but no radio or phone noise. Your tutorial was grear, and I will try what you have done, perhaps I will have similar luck. We used to use everything from dimes or in your case, a puzzle piece on the turntable pickup arm of modest quality phonographs to adjust the weight on the needle. Thanks for posting.