Expired
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Rare, made in USA, 4 piece tube preamp, same specs as the Canary audio 903:SPECIFICATIONSModel: CA-903Input Impedance: 50,000 Ohms min100,000 Ohms maxOutput Impedance: 1,200 OhmsMaximum Gain: 12.3 dBFrequency Response: +/- 1 dB from 5 Hz to 118,000 HzHum and Noise: -90 dBMaximum Output Voltage before clipping: 43.9 VoltsTotal Harmonic Distortion: < 0.01%Power Consumption (both channels): 78 Watts (true RMS)Tube Complement (per channel) - CA-903-L: 1-12AX7/ECC83,1-12AU7/ECC82Tube Complement (per channel) - CA-903-P: 1-EF861-12BH71-5Y3Dimensions (per channel) - CA-903-L: 11” W x 15” D x 4.75” HDimensions (per channel) - CA-903-P: 11” W x 15” D x 4.75” HDimensionsWeight (per channel) - CA-903 -L: 12 lbs.Weight (per channel) - CA-903 -P: 22 lbs
The asking price is ambitious for the used market at USD 4,295, since it sits well above the USD 698 median and even above the USD 5,027 75th percentile only if you treat this listing as a very rare outlier—otherwise it’s still firmly in the upper end of recent comps. For a buyer, that means you should expect something notably special in provenance, originality, or condition to justify it.
That said, this is the kind of Western Electric/Canary piece that can make sense if it’s genuinely clean and complete: these are sought after for their build quality, distinctive voicing, and collector appeal. If the unit is original, well cared for, and comes with the right accessories or documentation, the premium can be defensible; if not, you’re paying for scarcity more than value, so details matter a lot at this level.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Western Electric traces its origins to 1869 in Cleveland, Ohio, where Enos Barton and Elisha Gray founded a modest workshop for telegraph and electrical equipment. Relocating to Chicago as the Western Electric Manufacturing Company, it quickly gained prominence through ties to Western Union and, by 1882, became the exclusive manufacturer for the Bell Telephone Company under AT&T's umbrella. This heritage positioned it as a cornerstone of American telecommunications, pioneering audio innovations like the world's first audio limiter and laying groundwork for broadcast technology that influenced modern sound reproduction.
While historically dominant in telephone hardware and infrastructure, Western Electric's enduring legacy in hi-fi centers on vacuum tubes and electron tubes, revered for their tonal purity and dynamic range. Revived in recent decades, the brand now focuses on high-end audio components, including 300B power triodes, single-ended triode amplifiers, and select drivers prized by tube enthusiasts for authentic, uncompressed sound.
Today, Western Electric occupies a niche boutique position in the high-end market, appealing to audiophiles and vintage collectors who value its authentic recreations of legendary parts. Its products command premium prices, embodying unparalleled heritage and engineering precision that outshine mass-market alternatives, cementing its status among discerning hi-fi buyers seeking timeless excellence.
See all Western Electric listings on RADAR.
