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The crown jewel of the Magnavox high fidelity product lines in 1970. Built by the best engineers with the best components that America had to offer. With a sticker price of $1695 (over $14,000, inflation-adjusted to 2026!), only a single full page magazine ad was published by Magnavox, with the tag line "If you have to ask how much, it's not for you." If you are not familiar with the Imperial line you can find detailed information and videos on the web.This is a solid wood, 2-piece unit and is very heavy. The top part with the electronics is probably 300 pounds. The bottom section with the 15" woofers and 4 horn tweeters is about 200 pounds.Dimensions are about 81" T x 52" W x 21" D. There are 4 glass shelves with shelf pins (not shown in photos). The original purchase receipt, instructions, brochure, and some service history included, as is the ultrasonic remote, a pair of original, never used microphones, and some tape and record accessories.The cabinet is in very good condition with a few minor scuffs, dings and scratches. The last service record we found for the stereo is from 1986. The buyer should be prepared to have this completely serviced. We did basic testing and the receiver portion seems to be fully functional, with scratchy controls that would benefit from professional cleaning. The speakers sound amazing! The reel to reel played only in one direction but we heard no output, though the tape may have been blank. The turntable spun and the automatic tonearm moved properly but we did not play a record to test further.
At USD2,650, this ambitious ask for a 1971 Magnavox Custom Imperial Armoire console with reel-to-reel stretches the typical used market, where working vintage Magnavox consoles from that era—solid-state or tube, furniture-grade—usually trade in the USD800-1,800 range depending on restoration and functionality. Without a precise model number like the PD6708 series, it's hard to benchmark tighter, but armoire-style units with integrated tape rarely command over USD2,000 unless fully recapped and sounding pristine; this feels like a collector's premium on nostalgia alone.
Buyers, verify the reel-to-reel deck first—check tape head alignment, motor torque, and wow/flutter, as 50-year-old lubricants gum up and capstans fail without service. Probe those electrolytic capacitors in the amp and preamp too; they're likely original and prone to leakage, causing hum or channel dropout—insist on a full recap history or bias it yourself post-purchase.
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.
