Fisher 504 (circa 1973–1974)
The Fisher 504 was the top model in Fisher's new 2/4-channel convertible Studio Standard series. It was a four-channel AM/FM stereo receiver from the early days of quadraphonic sound, on the market by the start of 1973. The record on it is thin but flattering. What survives is a string of Fisher advertisements quoting the enthusiast press, plus the price-and-spec tables those ads carried. No service manual, schematic, or full independent bench test has surfaced in the Archive.
The key design point, repeated in Fisher's own advertising, was its four power amplifiers. They could be strapped for two-speaker stereo operation if the listener wasn't ready to commit to quad. High Fidelity's January 1973 equipment report, based on lab measurements from CBS Laboratories, judged the 504 the best value among quadraphonic receivers then available. It found Fisher's power ratings conservative, and noted the receiver had enough power to drive a second set of speakers - eight loudspeakers in all - in many rooms. Fisher quoted the report extensively in its ads (High Fidelity, March 1973, p.3). A May 1973 ad (High Fidelity, May 1973, p.3) made the same point in its headline, claiming the 504 delivered even more than its four-channel power figures suggested once the amplifiers were strapped for stereo.
By April 1974 Fisher was still recycling the praise. A Fisher ad in High Fidelity (April 1974, p.2) quoted Hi-Fi Stereo Buyers Guide's 4-Channel issue calling the 504 an outstanding all-round performer and a leading heavyweight in the four-channel field. The same ad carried praise from Stereo & Hi-Fi Times for Fisher's position of leadership in the category.
Fisher's 1973 ads for the Studio Standard series listed 1.8 µV FM usable sensitivity, 0.3% FM stereo harmonic distortion at 400 Hz, and a 1.2 dB capture ratio. Prices ran roughly $399.95 to $599.95 across the line, and as the top model, the 504 sat at the top of that range. The exact production span, sales totals, and most of the detailed specifications remain undocumented.
- Four-channel AM/FM stereo receiver; top model in Fisher's 2/4-channel convertible Studio Standard series
- Four power amplifiers, strappable for two-speaker stereo
- Series figures from Fisher's ads: 1.8 µV FM usable sensitivity; 0.3% FM stereo harmonic distortion (400 Hz); 1.2 dB capture ratio
- Series price range: approximately $399.95–$599.95
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