Fix and enjoy on the cheap

[Chad Hauris]

All of the Zenith tube type radios (and the early solid state ones) have hand wired chassis and seem to have the best performance out of any tube type table radio made during this time.
The Zeniths use 3 FM IF stages, using a limiter and discriminator system rather than the 2 IF stages and ratio detector of, say General Electric. The FM sensitivity seems to be a lot better than most others of the time period. The later model Zeniths also use a silicon diode rectifier, good quality electrolytic capacitors, and no paper caps, and are often still working well today.
The Zenith Tone control actually has fairly flat tone in the center, accentuating bass when turned to one end and and treble at the other, rather than just decreasing treble. The radios often have electrostatic tweeters too.
The only tube type FM table radio that I have seen superior in performance to the Zenith is a Grundig.

[Nolan Woodbury]

I have a beautiful, burgundy/bakelite K725 compucat and I love it. Still, side by side sound comparisons with newer tube Zeniths in my collection reveals quite a difference in tone, clarity, reception and especially bass reflex. The clear advantage belonging to the later radios. My wife? She likes the 'purple one' best. *Sigh*.

I'll refer to Chad and the other vets here to internal quality and chassis integrity, but after buying, working on and using all sorts of tube/table sets (GE, Arvin, Emerson, Philco, RCA...even Hallicrafters) the Zeniths are, by and large, more reliable and clearly process better sound quality. Far fewer 'Gorilla Restorations' I would imagine, with usually only filter caps, the odd paper cap or a tube needing replaced. Yeah, lots of folks here rave about the K731 (for good reason) but I still feel the C/G 730 models are even more handsome and sound as good, if not better. The radiused top and bottom cabinet of the G730 is a good as it gets, style wise. Move forward to even newer sets, like the 8-tube C/H845 sets, or the 10-tube MJ1035 extension speaker/stereo and the reviews glow brighter still. To many though, these sets lack style. Even though the internet is full of posts raving about them, they're still dirt cheap.

And anyway compucat, or anyone else wondering what all the fuss is about, eBay has an almost shocking supply of these sets up for auction right now, with many clearing the week with no bids. A few months ago, Zenith table radios were red hot, but that has really cooled. Take advantage!

Good luck on the auction Steve! I can help with the leg if you need it. Chad? I'm way ahead of you on the Grundig...