The Antique Collector Installment 4 - More on H.H. Scott

Posted by: Steven Stone at 1:01 pm, June 21st, 2009

 
SCOTT 200 SERIES AMPLIFIER
 
First introduced 1962 and revised in July 1963 with the 200B, it was available through the end of 1964.  The 200 series were Scotts' least powerful and least expensive factory-assembled amplifiers, priced at $139.95 in the September 1962 pricelist. The 200B boasted a RMS power rating of 12 watts per side at that perennial .8% harmonic distortion (why .8% why not .75%? I love the arbitrary nature of numbers), and -70 db hum level.  The tube complement consisted of 3 12AX7s, 1 5AR4, and 4 6GW8 power tubes. Other touted features included a non-magnetic electrolytic aluminum chassis, a two position input selector (phono or tuner), tape monitor loop, separate bass and treble controls for each channel, and even a stereo headphone front panel jack.
 
This diminutive little beastie was the heart of many "moderately priced" systems sold in thousands of stores to tens or possibly even hundreds of thousands of music lovers wishing to go from console furniture record players to the rarified world of high fidelity component stereo systems.  Many Scott 200s found their way into dorm rooms throughout America, battling the then just-available KLH compact music systems for shelf space in the hearts and pocketbooks of incoming college freshmen.
 
SCOTT 222 SERIES AMPLIFIERS
 
First introduced in 1959, on the heels of the 299, this 18-watt per side RMS amplifier was a mainstay in the Scott line. It lasted with several incarnations up to 1964 when the 222D was discontinued.  The 222Ds tube complement consisted of 4 12AX7s, 2 7199s, 4 7189s, and 1 5AR4.  Special features included a speaker on/off switch, equalization for RIAA as well as NAB tape head, center channel power output jack to directly drive a third mono speaker, and inputs for high and low output magnetic phono, tape loop and two line sources.   The 222 weighs 26 lbs, and has outer dimensions of 15 1/2 by 4 3/8 by 13 3/4.

 
I don't have anything of great insight to write about this unit.  Its' cute looking and all, but personally, I have little use for anything that puts out only 18 watts!  Even the LK-72 at between 25 and 30 watts is less than adequate for my power needs.  I've got to have at least 50 watts RMS for even my Quad firescreens sit up and start to sing, let alone Monitor Audio 852s or Snell A-IIIs!        

 
SCOTT LK-30 and LK-48
 
Just as the LK-72 was the kit version of the 299, so the LK-30 was the kit version of the 200, and the LK-48 the kit version of the 222.  Both are dead ringers for their factory twins except for the different nomenclature and the availability of brown faceplates (brushed gold was available at extra cost, so gold faceplated kit gear is rare).   All the Scott kits were updated as the factory versions were updated, however most kits do not have the A-B-C-D nomenclature of the factory models.
 
While Scott certainly didn't lose money on their kits, they were not as profitable as the factory-assembled models.  Scott spent a great deal of money on the printing of the instruction sheets.  The instructions had six colors, and required elaborate graphic arts techniques to produce.  Scott had their own in-house department just for the production of instruction books.  Between the cost of producing, testing and revising assembly instructions, Scott spent far more money on their kits than good business practices dictate, but such was Scotts' emphasis on doing things right.

        
 
While I would never suggest that a Scott integrated amplifier should be at the heart of the ultimate audiophile system, they are not without sonic charm.  They are cheap (no Scott integrated amplifier is worth more than $200, the majority are worth no more than $75), repairable, visually attractive, and mini-monitor-friendly.  They are ideal for weekend, kitchen, and office situations where very little critical listening is really done, but "listenable" background music is needed. Some units, like the 296 and 272 also make great space heaters.

 
KITS : THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY
 
Rather than wasting space going on about boring little integrated amplifiers, let me share a paradox with you.  With kit-built components, you are, to put it bluntly, at the mercy of the builder.  The range of construction quality I've seen in Scott kits ranges from superior-to-factory precision to Oh-My-God-That-Could-Read butchery.  Naturally the level of performance of these kit components has varied in direct proportion to their level of construction.  Since the price of components on the used market is such a pure form of the capitalist free market system, the realization of this fact of life is that kit component prices have the widest variation on the market.  The price depends on just WHO built a particular unit.  What would you pay for one of the LK-150 power amplifiers assembled in the factory to test their instruction book, personally overseen by Scotts' chief engineer Gaylord Russell?  Is it worth more than an LK-150 built by someone like me, someone who was called termite by their shop teacher due to the quality and finish of their work?  You betcha!