Antique Collector Installment 2: Scott Tuners

Posted by: Steven Stone at 7:07 pm, February 17th, 2009

Considering how inexpensive early 310s are on the used market, there would seem to be little reason to pick up a 311, but a 311 is nothing to be ashamed of, and its performance with a 335 MPX adapter is superior to the 350.

 
The LT-10

This was a kit made by Scott between September 1960 and September 1962. It was available briefly as a factory-assembled kit for about six months in 1961. It was slightly more sophisticated than a 311D, but not as good as a 310. The LT-10s' specs were quite respectable, with 2.2 uv usable sensitivity, 60 db SN ratio, 6 db capture ratio, and 30 to 15KHZ frequency response +-1 db. The LT-10 was available in brown as well as the more standard golden bronze.   

When compared to the 310C, the LT-10s' performance was identical. It logged in the identical number of stations, with an equal number of listenable quality. It has the same warm sound, reasonably extended highs, and midbass bump. It does not have quite the soundstage presentation of the 310C, it is a bit narrower, and the focus is slightly more diffuse.

The stereo version of the LT-10 is the LT-110. It is identical except for the inclusion of an internal multiplex decoder circuit. Its intriguing that later LT-10s had space set aside for an internal MPX decoder, but to my knowledge such an internal add-on unit was never brought to market. The LM-35, a kit version of the 335 external MPX decoder was marketed from September 1962 to April 1963. There was also an LT-110B, made from September 1964 to September 1966, as well as an LT-111, made for nine months in late 1963.
        
Of all the Scott tube tuners, the LT series are the most plentiful. Probably their bargain price of just under $90 for the LT-10, and $162 for the LT-110, excellent specs, and ease in assembly made them justifiably popular. I picked up an LT-10 along with its companion model LK-72 integrated amplifier at a thrift shop for $40 for the pair. This price, rather than being a steal, is a fair price for this equipment. Depending on a particular kit builders' skill, you may find them to have workmanship even superior to factory-assembled models.

 
 
The 4310
 
Touted as "The Best Where Only The Best Will Do", the 4310 lived up to Scotts' marketing hype. Its usable sensitivity exceeded 1.9 uv, selectivity was better than 50db, spurious response rejection over 85db, separation better than 35db, measured frequency response of 19 to 29KHZ, and capture ratio a minimum of 2.2db. The 4310 had 20 tubes, 21 diodes, and weighed 25 pounds. It was the last example of tube tuner technology to emerge from Scott, and was only made from April 1963 to September 1964. At a list price of $480 not many
were sold.

Among the 4310s' unique features were a special series of relays which automatically selected between stereo and mono reception depending upon which could provide a minimum satisfactory signal. The minimum standard was user adjustable on the front panel by a "Stereo Threshold" knob. VU meters were supplied for each channel to monitor output levels and indicate separation levels while a third meter indicated signal strength. Other front panel details included separate level knobs for each channel, a master level knob, AGC switch, A function knob giving the user a choice of normal, sub channel filter or stereo filter, and assorted lights for stereo, and standby. If you get the impression the front panel was rather busy, you're right.

Some radio stations who were part of a national concert broadcast network used several of these tuners in a series, with antennae set up slightly different on each, and rigged up so that which ever tuner was receiving the strongest signal at any one time would be the receiver for his or her own broadcasts. Imagine three of four 4310s lined up side by side.... the mind boggles.

I've never seen a 4310 "in the flesh" so any attempts to describe it sonically would be an exercise in speculative fiction, at best. Even if it is only slightly better than a 310, it would be an impressive tuner indeed. Perhaps for a later installment I'll locate one to compare to a Marantz 10B, or Fisher FM-1000.

The 4310 was replaced in September 1964 by the 4312, a solid-state version. The 4312 was not completely solid state however, the front end used four nuvistors. It was $115 cheaper, was even uglier than the 4310, and was made for only one year.

With the 4312, our survey of Scott tuners comes to an end. While I would never suggest people sell their Magnums, Sequeras, and Macintosh MR 78s, and buy old Scotts in their place, there are some very good reasons for owning an old Scott in addition to a modern tuner. The euphonic and forgiving nature of Scott tuners makes them ideal for listening to some of the nastier signal sources on the FM dial. In their original walnut cases, fully restored, they look marvelous. For half the price of a mint copy of Casino Royal you can
have an infinite source of music.