Eico Cortina Model 3570 Solid State FM MPX Stereo Receiver (1967)
The receiver weighs 14 pounds and is wired by hand. EICO was betting on solid-state sound.
Overview
The Eico Cortina Model 3570 Solid State FM MPX Stereo Receiver came out in 1967. EICO was moving away from its tube lineage into transistorized hi-fi, just as FM stereo broadcasts were spreading across the U.S. It was priced at $159.96 as a kit and $239.96 fully assembled in 1968, and it was marketed as a low-cost component that could look and sound like something far more expensive. It also reflected EICO's broader shift to solid-state gear during the industry-wide change from vacuum tubes to transistors. The 3570 uses 31 transistors in a superheterodyne design with an RF stage. It combines the circuitry of the Eico 3070 stereo amplifier and the Eico 3200 stereo tuner in a single chassis, for the do-it-yourself audiophile.
Owners report it was intended for serious listening, not just technical novelty. It has inputs for magnetic phono, tuner, tape, and auxiliary sources, so it gives you a full signal chain for a stereo setup of the era. The solid-state design promised reliability and cooler operation than tube equivalents. Decades later, that promise often falls apart. Few units power on without intervention. Even when they do, hand-soldered joints and aging electrolytics mean performance is rarely stable. Power one up cautiously, because the first puff of smoke could mean a dead transformer.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | EICO (Electronic Instrument Company) |
| Product type | Stereo Receiver |
| Amplification type | Solid State |
| Tuner type | FM MPX Stereo |
| Form | Kit built |
| Power output | reportedly 70 Watt |
| Speaker load impedance | 4Ω to 16Ω |
| Tuning range | FM |
| Wave bands | FM Broadcast Band Only |
| Frequency response | reportedly 5Hz to 100kHz |
| Total harmonic distortion | 0.75% |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 72dB (line) |
| Channel separation | 50dB (line) |
| AM SUPPRESSION | 40db |
| Number of Transistors | 31 |
| Main principle | Superhet with RF-stage |
| INPUTS | magnetic phono, turner, tape, auxiliary |
| Dimensions | 4-1/8 x 16 x 9 inches |
| Weight | reportedly 14lbs |
Key Features
All Solid State Construction
The 3570 is built entirely with transistors and has no tubes. That was a bold choice at a time when many audiophiles still doubted solid-state fidelity. It fit the philosophy of EICO's Cortina line: total solid-state stereo performance at the lowest possible cost. The 31 transistors allowed compact circuitry and reduced heat output. Long-term reliability suffered, though, because of the era's early semiconductor limitations and hand-soldered assembly methods.
Integrated 3070 Amplifier and 3200 Tuner Circuits
EICO did not design a new platform from scratch. It merged the proven circuits of two existing kits, the 3070 stereo amplifier and the 3200 stereo tuner, into a single receiver. This lowered development costs and reused existing documentation, which made troubleshooting slightly more familiar for anyone who had built the earlier models. Users got both high-fidelity amplification and FM stereo decoding in one unit, which was a real convenience for the DIY market.
FM Broadcast Band Only with MPX Decoding
The 3570 is tuned only to the FM broadcast band. It was engineered to decode the MPX (multiplex) stereo signals that were becoming standard across U.S. radio stations in the late 1960s. Its 40dB AM suppression helped reject interference, and the superheterodyne design with RF stage improved selectivity and sensitivity. For its time, this was a serious tuner section.
Historical Context
The Eico 3570 arrived in 1967 as part of a company-wide shift into solid-state audio, alongside the broader industry transition from tubes to transistors. It belonged to the Cortina line, a series of solid-state electronics introduced in the late 1960s to target the expanding hi-fi market. For EICO, it was a focused attempt to win a slice of the stereo receiver market before the company gradually retreated from audio production by the late 1970s. EICO ultimately ceased operations during that decade, and the 3570 was one of its final consumer audio products.
Collectibility & Value
The Eico Cortina Model 3570 is not a collectible for casual listeners or display-only collectors. It's a project. Units are often listed 'AS-IS' with the blunt warning that it 'will need a general going over by a technician or hobbyist.' Common problems include failed electrolytic capacitors, cold solder joints, and transformer issues. Specific failure reports cite burned-up resistors just beyond the power transformer and suspected internally shorted transformers, with large electrolytics frequently needing re-soldering. A restoration kit for filter capacitor repair is available, priced at $147 as of August 16, 2022. The receiver is rare today and often non-functional. There is no verified market pricing data for a fully restored, working 3570.
Similar items on eBay
No exact Eico 3570MS listings are live right now — these searches show current Eico and similar vintage audio gear on eBay:
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.