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Eico HF81 sold on e-bay for $1025.
Is it a world record or not yet?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eico-Integrated-Stereo-Tube-Amplifier-Model-HF-81-Looks-Works-Great-NR-/121361862410?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item1c41bb0f0a#ht_744wt_672
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I got a nice, original unit recently for $200. It is under Dr. Samra's care at this time.
Lucky you are!
Amazing price! Cosmetically the outside case and knobs are expectantly clean. Most faceplates can be polished with those same results. It looks to be stock and I agree with the others it would be unsafe to operate it even though the seller claims it works well.
I own four HF-81’s have rebuilt five or six over the years and have heard at least a dozen others in friend’s homes. They are great little amps.
The power supply transformer is a weak link but a new OEM upgraded one can be had reasonably. A Eico HF-81 rebuilt well with quality tubes is an outstanding unit.
I plan to sell two of my units shortly the prices have gone up a little lately.
I guess the value of anything is what a person is willing to pay.
I don't use e-bay but I was prepared to pay $850 through a friend. I was not prepared to pay a higher price for an unrestored unit.
Nothing restored. Either the buyer is a money bags or a sap.
There is a whole segment of this hobby that are collectors and really don't play the gear at all. They appreciate it as art and nothing more. Collectors value originality and the market is a reflection of this. You see this with cars, watches and other very old machinery.
My wife collects egg beaters, and if she actually used them to beat eggs I would need an angioplasty immediately.
I do have an HF-81 in my collection. Factory built, all original. I don't think that I have played it for two hours in the last ten years. Interestingly, I would agree with those that say that it is a fine sounding amp, and unlike many, my phono stage does not hum, even with 100db sensitive speakers.
On the other hand, it is a shoddily made amp with very poor ergonomics and an underspecced power transformer and I could never see using it daily even if it had been "modernized". But that's what's so great about the hobby, we can all pursue what makes us happy.
If somebody is just buying it to put on a shelf and look at, fine. But if you're going to use it with dried up old caps, then yes, it's a time bomb waiting to go off. How it sounds is irrelevant, although most know stuff that's 40/50+ years old is going to drift out of spec, and not sound as it was intended by it's builders. But if you like that fine. However, these things can't just run forever. At some point if it's going to be put into regular use then yes it needs some basic work done on it.
Paying restored prices for unrestored pieces makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Crazy stuff!
Sort of sucks really, as it will help to drive up the prices of these units.
I'd like to try one out and compare it to what I have here, but I'll be damned if I pay that kind of loot for a test ride!
nt
all the best,
mrh
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