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Who Killed Fisher? From Benchmark to a Bad Joke!

Skylabs Audio

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If you’re a vintage audio lover, you’ve definitely heard of The Fisher. Once a crown jewel of American hi-fi in the 1950s and ‘60s, Fisher was a name that stood for quality, prestige, and audiophile perfection. But what happened? How did a company founded by the meticulous Avery Fisher — known for iconic tube receivers like the Fisher 400, 500, and 800 — end up as a forgotten store brand next to bargain blenders?

In this video, we take a deep dive into the history of Fisher Audio:
Its golden era of tube amplification and unmatched build quality
The shift to solid-state and corporate sell-offs
The infamous decline under Emerson and Sanyo
The ultimate fall into obscurity as a Sears house brand

You'll also hear a funny (and slightly tragic) story about a vintage Fisher receiver, some ruined lettering, and a nearly-lost friendship!

Whether you’re new to the world of vintage audio or a long-time collector, this story is a must-watch. We’ll cover key models like the Fisher 800B, X-101, 100B, and even the rare and valuable Fisher 800T solid-state receiver.

Share your Fisher stories in the comments — we know there are tons of you who lived through the golden era and the downfall!

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more vintage audio deep dives!
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20 Comments

@SuperMcgenius 10 months ago

Timeline: 1978 New York City, I was a teenage hi-fi sales person working at Tech hi-fi, I sold a system to a client, a pair of large advent speakers and a mid power Marantz receiver with delivery and set up as most New Yorkers don’t have cars. Set up the speakers with a double run of 16 gauge lamp cord, that was exotic at the day😅. Removed the old Fisher, integrated, amplifier and plugged in the new Marantz. Play the record that the client requested and he said sounds good but somethings missing can you connect the old Fisher I said sure thinking this guy was nuts, but maybe I’ll get a tip and you’d be impressed by how much better the solid-state Marantz with Sound. I was shocked, the old Fisher sounds so much better. He said I’ll keep the speaker but I’m returning the receiver. Nice guy I got a $10 tip which back then was like three hours on minimum wage.

@michaelsadowski9863 10 months ago

Great line, "It's perfect where it is, in my memory".

@derrylballard9281 10 months ago

In 1977 my high school buddy purchased a used Fisher 400 for $52.50. After graduating high school in 1979 he wanted to treat himself to a new sound system, so I purchased his Fisher 400. I still have The Fisher and my buddy's original cancelled check from 1977. The stereo is still working like a champ to this day.

@jcinmcity 10 months ago

As a pre-teen in 1983, I saved up enough lawn-mowing money and bought my first stereo system. It was a Fisher rack system. It had the full-auto turn table, dual cassette, integrated amp, an early CD player and those huge woofer speakers. It was a floor model on sale, and the sale guy accidentally left “Thriller” in the CD tray. I don’t remember the model numbers, but I thought it was a great system because it let me hear things in music I hadn’t heard before. And it was powerful. My parents really learned to hate that thing. Even though it was cheaply made, for a kid, it was everything I needed it to be.

@CaptainRon1913 10 months ago (edited)

My parents bought a Fisher receiver back when I was young. Looked like that 800b. Sony reel to reel, forget the brand turntable, but it was nice, and huge Altec Lansing speakers. We used to blast the early rock & roll records at concert levels when the parents left the house. Blasting the Beatles White album that was just released, Moody Blues days of future past, Zeppelin, Santana, later the early Frampton and Aerosmith records. Parents were into Sinatra and that genre. Back in the days when parents didn't know what pot smelled like, and never knew we watered down their vodka... lol

@mjg263 10 months ago

Grew up with a Fisher 400, AR2a speakers and a Garrard turntable with an Empire cartridge all through the 60’s and 70’s. Dad bought the system a piece at a time in the early 60’s at what was known as “Radio Row” in NYC (it was eventually demolished to build the World Trade Center buildings). Listened to that equipment from when it was still new, that’s the sound that got me hooked on hifi equipment and music.

@klrwhizkid 10 months ago

When I met my best friend in 7th grade in 1967 and went to hair house for the first time, I discovered that his dad had a Fisher Model 800-B and a pair of JBL speakers with a Garrard turntable. The tuning eye for the receiver was just so cool and the sound was great!

@tomj4506 10 months ago

If you never heard the difference you will not desire it. Once my son had 2 friends over.
They were making insults about my dial phone & Fisher HiFi with 7591A's. I whipped out a
DJ copy of Fujyama Mama by Annisteen Allen & played it loud ! I won them over,
they were stunned.
BTW I lived 5 miles from H. H. Scott. Saw damn near everything they made including
rare Quads. Happy times !
LFOD !

@Silverfaces. 10 months ago

Everyone needs to find someone who looks at them, like Avery Fisher looks at his amplifier.

@Manhattanman52 10 months ago

You didn't mention the Fisher FM 1000, said to be the finest tuner of the 1960s. I found one setting in an open suitcase, on the curb, waiting for trash pickup. Its X101-B amp was also in the suitcase. Then, several years later, someone gave me a Fisher 400 receiver. Guess I was meant to have these gems. Not one of the three have been restored. They're in storage.

@1stcontact590 10 months ago

I found a Fisher 201 receiver at the Salvation Army and the only thing that was wrong with it was the fuse was blown. Its been my garage receiver for over 3 years now and I have a WiFi hookup on it that I can run Spotify and My work Headphones. Great sound ,run two sets of DLK speakers thru it.

@55benchguy 10 months ago

Great Video ! I have worked on hundreds maybe thousands of Fisher Stereo components in the many years servicing the audio gear. ( Smiled when a 500c came in then cried when a sears / fisher came into the shop)
I have an old 800c that was brought in recently with extreeeem flood damage.( That may be a challenge .) Thanks Kevin for taking the time & effort to making these videos for us old timers.

@brianmccowan1949 10 months ago

Great video! Although we had a Fisher console when I was in high school, my story is more recent. I was searching through a thrift store that was going out of business about 30 years ago. I spotted a tube caddy full of tubes. It had a $25. price on it. I had recently started rebuilding guitar amps so I said, "I'll take this." The store owner said, "no you won't." Then he paused and smiled and said, not without taking these, and he took me over to a SA-300 (4xEL34) power amp and a T-100 preamp. $25 for all! I was so impressed with the build quality and the sound, that I sought out and bought an SA-100 power amp (4xEL84) and a pair of SA-30 EL-84 mono blocks. They needed very little to get them working and sounding great. That started me on a nasty habit of buying and rebuilding tube stereo power amps. That and a guitar amp problem keeps me busy.

@mr.george7687 10 months ago

I became an audiophile because of my dad when I was a kid. I'll never forget listening to his Fisher 500, AR turntable w/ Shure V15 III, & KLH 17's.Wasn't allowed to touch it but , being a kid...

@paulrward 10 months ago

In 1987, I purchased a Fisher TAD 101, an All-In-One stereo with Turntable,
CD, AM-FM, and dual cassette, for $ 600.00. I still have it, it still sounds
Great!, and with my VERY good speakers, has convinced a lot of my
friends over the years that I have an extremely high end system.

@CurlyHoward928 10 months ago

I began my hifi journey in the 1960's with a Fisher 500 C, Altec Lansing speakers and Dual turntable. Everyone thought I was so cool. We would smoke some weed and listen for hours. Great memories!

@kevinpolito1529 6 months ago

When I was a teenager in the late '60s, my dad had a Fisher 400 FM receiver with a Garrard turntable. I had a pair of Koss PRO 4AA headphones (which cost me $60 in 1969). It was the dream stereo for a kid in the '60s.

@1834RestorationHouse 10 months ago

My neighbor bought a console stereo at a garage sale, pulled out the receiver and speakers and turned it into a coffee bar. He knocked on my door with a speaker panel in hand, asking if I wanted the amp carcass. I wasn't really interested but said I would take it off his hands. He delivered a Fisher "Executive" receiver and all of the speaker parts. I looked it up and discovered that it was actually an 800C!

@kimjameson7979 10 months ago

I bought my Fisher Studio Standard turntable in the mid 80s and aside from a cartridge and stylus refreshment, still performs like new.

@stever9441 10 months ago

Seems a lot more people know about the real tube The Fisher gear than some would think. I'm mid 60's now and I remember listening to jazz and classical on a system my two aunts, who were both highly educated professionals, never married and lived together on Nob Hill in San Francisco. The center of that system was a 1964 Fisher 500C that ended up with my folks since my mother executed both of their wills as their only living direct descendant. I have had that 500C now for at least as long as they had it and will search for someone to restore it soon. It works, is still completely original, none of the old cardboard caps are leaking and sounds glorious but I know it will improve after restoration.🙂