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CURRENT CONDITION:General cosmetic wear throughout (knicks and scratches) but functions exactly as intended. Got questions? Message us directly! Currently housed in the Guitar Shop of Wisconsin (in business for 30+ years). All items are serviced by our Professional Guitar / Service Techs and tested before listing. We pack well and ship fast. Items may be returned within 3 days upon delivery. Full refunds are processed once delivered by the carrier and inspected by our technicians. We do not deliver to P.O. boxes. Thank you for looking!
At USD180 for a vintage Magnavox solid-state receiver, the price is hard to benchmark without chassis numbers or a specific model like the 79-XX series transition pieces from the early '60s. Similar tube-era Magnavox units in working order typically trade for USD100-300 on enthusiast markets, but solid-state models from the mid-'60s onward often dip under USD150 if unmolested—making this ambitious unless it's a rare variant with multiplex FM and low hours.
Buyers should verify output transistors for heat stress, a common failure in these budget solid-state amps pushing 10-20W/channel, and probe for scratchy pots or oxidized switches that plague dusty survivors. Insist on pics of the under-chassis and a bias check; no original manual or schematic means extra risk on recap jobs.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Magnavox traces its origins to 1911 in Napa, California, where inventors Peter L. Jensen and Edwin Pridham, operating initially as the Commercial Wireless and Development Company, pioneered the world's first moving-coil loudspeaker in 1915. Named Magnavox—Latin for "Great Voice"—this breakthrough allowed a single human voice to reach an entire town, marking a pivotal moment in audio history. The company formalized in 1917 after merging with Sonora Phonograph Distributing, evolving through innovations like the first all-electric tone arm in 1916 and single-dial radio in 1923, under leaders such as Frank Freimann during its mid-century "glory years."
Historically focused on loudspeakers and pioneering consumer electronics, Magnavox expanded into phonographs, radios, televisions, and phono/filmstrip projectors like the Illustravox. Its legacy includes the 1972 Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game console, alongside early plasma displays and Navy-grade speakers. Today, under Curtis International Ltd. since 2025, it emphasizes budget-friendly home appliances and electronics, though specific modern hi-fi categories like amplifiers, turntables, or DACs remain less prominently detailed.
Magnavox holds a revered position as a vintage pioneer in American audio, celebrated by collectors for its foundational loudspeaker patents and mid-20th-century dominance in TVs and radios from Fort Wayne, Indiana plants. No longer a high-end or boutique contender, it occupies mid-tier, accessible territory in today's market, its innovative heritage preserved by dedicated associations while evoking nostalgia for hi-fi enthusiasts.
See all Magnavox listings on RADAR.
