Fisher 500T

Overview

The Fisher 500-T is an early solid-state stereo receiver introduced in 1964, during the industry's rapid transition away from vacuum tubes. Rated at 26 watts per channel into 8 ohms, it combines an FM stereo tuner, phono stage, and integrated amplification in a handsome chassis that still carries much of the visual character associated with Fisher's celebrated tube receivers.

Why This Model Matters

The model number can cause confusion because Fisher's 500-B and 500-C tube receivers are far better known. The 500-T is a different machine: a transistorized, FM-only receiver from the first half of the 1960s. That distinction is historically important. It represents Fisher adapting its established receiver formula to the emerging solid-state era while retaining the company's emphasis on tuner performance and domestic-friendly styling.

Its power rating is modest by later 1970s standards, but 26 watts per channel was useful output in 1964, particularly with the efficient loudspeakers common at the time. The receiver includes inputs for a moving-magnet cartridge and line-level sources, plus a front-panel arrangement that feels closer to classic Fisher than to the more standardized receivers that followed.

Highlights

• Introduced in 1964
• Early all-solid-state Fisher receiver
• 26 watts per channel into 8 ohms
• FM stereo tuner; no AM section
• Built-in moving-magnet phono input
• Styling that bridges Fisher's tube and transistor generations

Who It’s For

The 500-T is for the listener or collector interested in transitional hi-fi history rather than maximum power. It makes an especially interesting companion to efficient vintage speakers and a period turntable, and it offers a less common route into the Fisher story than the famous tube models.