Fisher 250-T

It hums to life with a quiet glow from the dial. No tubes, no drama. Solid-state fidelity from an era when transistors still felt like magic.

Overview

The Fisher 250-T isn't flashy. Introduced around 1968 and offered through roughly 1973, this early solid-state stereo receiver is Fisher's move from tubes to transistors. It was priced at $299.99 at launch, plus $24.95 for the optional 60-UW walnut cabinet. That put it in the upper tier of home audio gear for its time, aimed at buyers who wanted performance without separate components.

The "100 watt" claim on the back panel is an old IHF rating, and it's more marketing than real output. The honest figure is 30 watts per channel into 8Ω, continuous, stereo. That's enough to drive efficient speakers in a living room, but it's not a powerhouse by later 1970s standards. It arrived years before the wattage wars kicked into high gear, so it wasn't competing on brute force. It was built to deliver clean sound with reliability.

Specifications

Model	Fisher 250-T
Year of Production	1968–1973
Type	Early solid-state stereo receiver
Output Power	30 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)
Frequency Response	20Hz to 20kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion	0.5%
Damping Factor	30
Input Sensitivity	1.6mV (MM), 140mV (line)
Output	115mV (line)
Signal to Noise Ratio	60dB (MM), 65dB (line)
Speaker Load Impedance	8Ω (minimum)
Tuning Range	FM, MW
Dimensions	15-1/2 x 4-5/8 x 12-3/4 inches
Weight	19lbs

Key Features

“T” Means Transistor

The "T" in 250-T stands for transistor, which was a badge of honor in 1968. This isn't a hybrid or a tube amp with a solid-state rectifier. It's fully transistorized. Inside, it runs on discrete transistors, including a custom Fisher part number TR01058-5, which has no public datasheet and can be prone to leakage over time. A suggested substitute is the NTE182, but approach replacements with care. This isn't a plug-and-play swap.

Baxandall Tone Controls

One of the 250-T's standout features is its use of Baxandall tone circuits for bass and treble. Unlike the cruder shelving filters found on many receivers of the era, Baxandall designs give smoother control with less interaction between frequency bands. Owners note that the tone controls feel more refined than typical for the time, with less "blare" and more nuance on vintage recordings.

Stereo Beacon

Fisher didn't just slap a "stereo" label on the front. The 250-T includes a feature called the "Stereo Beacon," a lighted meter that automatically switches to stereo mode when a stereo signal is detected. It's a small thing, but it lets you know the signal is locked in, so no more guessing if you're actually hearing stereo.

Tune-O-Matic Memory Tuning

Five push buttons across the front panel preset your favorite FM stations. Fisher called the feature "Tune-O-Matic." For 1968, that was convenience bordering on luxury. Press a button and you're on the station, with no fiddling with the tuning knob. It wasn't digital, but it was smart analog engineering.

AFC: Automatic Frequency Control

Then there's the AFC (Automatic Frequency Control) button. Flip it on and the receiver electronically locks onto the center of the FM channel, eliminating drift. Fisher called this "electric diode tuning" and claimed it was "infinitely superior" to mechanical push-button systems. Hyperbole or not, it worked. Stations stayed put, and tuning felt solid.

Design & Build

The 250-T wears its era well. Muted two-tone metal panels, a large dial glass, and a simulated wood grain vinyl top panel give it that late-60s look, sleek but not flashy. It's compact at just under 16 inches wide and 19 pounds, so it fits easily into a console or on a shelf. The optional walnut cabinet (60-UW) was a popular upgrade and adds real wood to the otherwise industrial look.

Collectibility & Value

These days, Fisher 250-T units are fairly pricey, especially in working condition. Owners report excellent examples selling for $300 to $400, based on completed eBay auctions from 2018. Some Reverb listings in recent years have asked as much as $500, though actual sales hover closer to $300. Parts units, those with blown power supplies or leaking transistors, still fetch $200 or more.

They're not bulletproof. The front-panel switches and buttons can get dirty over time and become "a little touchy," as one collector put it. A quick cleaning with contact cleaner often fixes it. More serious problems usually trace back to the regulated power supply board. Capacitors and diodes there can fail, causing tuning drift or an inability to lock onto stations. A dim bulb tester is recommended before powering up any untested unit.

The TR01058-5 transistor is a known weak point. No public datasheet exists, and when it leaks, it can take down other components. Replacement requires research and caution. When buying one, ask whether the power supply has been checked and whether the transistor has been tested or replaced.