Fisher Regent R-592 (1967)
A console-bound stereo receiver from Fisher’s late golden era, and wired with the promise of high fidelity—at a price that once demanded sacrifice.
Overview
The Fisher Regent R-592 wasn’t sold as a standalone receiver. It was the beating heart of the Fisher Regent Console, a floor-standing furniture-grade system introduced in 1967 that blended audio performance with domestic aesthetics. Fisher, still trading on its pre-1969 reputation for luxurious tube sound, positioned this console as a premium living room centerpiece. The R-592 receiver section housed the tuner, preamplifier, and power amplifier, driving speakers integrated into the same cabinet. It came paired with a Dual 1014 turntable—widely regarded as a fine deck in its own right—mounted directly into the console’s chassis, making the entire system a self-contained entertainment hub.
Power output is a point of contention. Fisher’s contemporary marketing materials list the system as delivering 120 watts, a figure that raises eyebrows among those familiar with tube amplifier design of the era. Owners working with the 31R chassis—the internal designation for the R-592’s electronics—report a more modest reality: approximately 18 to 20 watts per channel. One AudioKarma forum user summed it up plainly: “It’s not a bad unit, but it comes in about 18-20 watts.” That aligns with the typical output range of tube amplifiers using the 6L6GC or similar output tubes in class AB push-pull configuration, suggesting the 120-watt claim may have been peak or musical power under ideal conditions, rather than continuous RMS output.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Fisher |
| Model | Regent R-592 |
| Year | 1967 |
| Product Type | stereo receiver |
| Chassis | 31R |
| Included Turntable | Dual 1014 |
| Power Output | reportedly 120 Watts; owners report approximately 18–20 watts per channel |
| Original Price | $899.50 (Contemporary), $949.50 (Provincial/Italian Provincial) |
Historical Context
The Regent R-592 arrived in 1967, a year that straddled two eras for Fisher. The company’s golden age of handcrafted, high-end tube components—epitomized by the FM-1000 and SA-1000—was winding down. Avery Fisher had sold the company to Emerson Radio in 1969, but even before that, the brand was expanding into console systems aimed at a broader, style-conscious market. The Regent Console, with the R-592 at its core, reflected that shift: it offered genuine Fisher electronics wrapped in furniture-grade cabinetry, designed to appeal as much to interior decorators as to audiophiles. It was high fidelity made domestic, a compromise between performance and presentation that defined much of the late 1960s console market.
Collectibility & Value
No current market prices or auction data are available in the fact sheet for the Fisher Regent R-592 or its console variant. Original pricing from 1967 shows it was a costly proposition: $899.50 for the Contemporary finish and $949.50 for the Provincial or Italian Provincial versions. However, no information is available about common failures, maintenance issues, or restoration challenges specific to the 31R chassis. Its collectibility appears tied more to the completeness of the console—cabinet, speakers, turntable, and electronics—than to the receiver as a standalone component.
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.