Magnavox

The company that brought stereo consoles to every American home

History

Magnavox traces its origins to 1911 in Napa, California, where Edwin Pridham and Peter L. Jensen—co-inventors of the moving-coil loudspeaker—established the Commercial Wireless and Development Company. The "Magnavox" name (Latin for "great voice") was adopted in 1917, reflecting the company's focus on sound reproduction.

The moving-coil loudspeaker invented by Pridham and Jensen became the foundation of all modern dynamic speakers. This invention alone secured Magnavox's place in audio history, even before the company's most famous products.

Magnavox began producing home audio equipment in the 1920s and 1930s, but it was in the 1950s and 1960s that the company became a household name. The Magnavox Stereo Console—furniture-piece stereos housing turntables, tuners, amplifiers, and speakers in beautiful cabinets—became fixtures in American living rooms.

The company's "Golden Voice" speakers, with their distinctive horn-loaded design, delivered clear, efficient sound that defined the Magnavox house sound. These speakers used compression drivers coupled to cast-iron horns for exceptional vocal clarity.

In 1974, Magnavox was purchased by North American Philips, becoming part of the Dutch electronics giant. The brand continued through various ownership changes, with the original American manufacturing eventually ceasing.

Key Facts

Legendary Products

Magnavox Stereo Consoles (1950s-70s)

Magnificent furniture-piece stereos combining turntables, AM/FM tuners, amplifiers, and speakers in beautifully crafted wood cabinets. Models ranged from modest units to elaborate systems with automatic record changers and reel-to-reel tape decks.

Magnavox Golden Voice Speakers

The distinctive horn-loaded speakers that gave Magnavox its signature sound. Using compression drivers and cast-iron horns, Golden Voice speakers delivered exceptional efficiency and clarity, particularly for vocals.

Magnavox Astro-Sonic Series (1960s-70s)

Console stereos featuring solid-state amplification and advanced turntable mechanisms. The Astro-Sonic line represented the peak of Magnavox console manufacturing.

Magnavox Console Speakers

Many Magnavox consoles featured high-quality speakers designed specifically for their enclosures. These often included 12-inch or 15-inch woofers with horn midranges and tweeters.

Sound Signature

The Magnavox sound is defined by the "Golden Voice" horn-loaded speakers that gave the company its name (Latin for "great voice"). These compression drivers coupled to cast-iron horns produce a midrange clarity — particularly on vocals — that is startlingly present and lifelike. The high efficiency of the horn design means that even the modest tube amplifiers in Magnavox consoles can fill a living room with sound that has real presence and authority.

The overall presentation is warm and inviting, with a fullness in the lower midrange that makes everything from Frank Sinatra to orchestral music sound rich and enveloping. The console format, with speakers built into large wooden enclosures, adds a warmth and resonance that, while not technically "accurate," contributes to a listening experience that many people find deeply satisfying and nostalgic. These are speakers designed to be lived with, and they accomplish that goal beautifully.

Collecting Magnavox

Magnavox consoles sit at a fascinating intersection of audio collecting and mid-century furniture. The Astro-Sonic series from the 1960s and 1970s represents the peak of Magnavox console manufacturing, with solid-state amplification and high-quality turntable mechanisms housed in beautifully crafted wood cabinets. These consoles are increasingly sought after by mid-century modern enthusiasts as much as by audio collectors.

The standalone Golden Voice speakers are the audiophile collectible — their horn-loaded compression drivers deliver a vocal clarity that horn enthusiasts will recognize immediately, and they pair wonderfully with tube amplifiers of the era. Beyond the consoles, Magnavox holds the distinction of being founded by the co-inventors of the moving-coil loudspeaker, giving even their most modest products a lineage that few brands can match. Prices remain accessible compared to other vintage American audio, making Magnavox an excellent starting point for new collectors.

Competitors & Comparisons

Magnavox vs Zenith: Both American console makers; similar market positioning

Magnavox vs Fisher: Fisher higher-end reputation; Magnavox broader market

Magnavox vs RCA: Both American giants; RCA more diverse, Magnavox audio-focused

Amplifiers

• AMPLIFIER-CHASSIS (1955) — Magnavox AMPLIFIER-CHASSIS (1955–1962) — tube-based console amplifier module with 3–8W output, 6V6GT push-pull stage, and field-coil speaker support

Cd Player

• CDB-473 — Magnavox CDB-473 single-disc CD player, late-'80s front-loader with remote, headphone jack, 20-track programming. Dealer prices ran $199–$280.
• CDV-305 — Magnavox CDV-305 — a scarce audio component. Period CD guides mention Magnavox players; confirmed specs for this model have yet to surface.

Cd Players

• CDB-460 — The Magnavox CDB-460 is a little-documented CD player from the late 1980s; Audio (June 1987) noted its remote-less, budget position alongside the CDB-650.
• CDB-650 — Magnavox CDB-650 compact disc player — a mid-1980s CD player praised by Audio as among the best-sounding of its era. Find production dates here.
• DVD-400AT — Obscure late-90s Magnavox DVD player documented mainly by a Nov 1997 HiFi/Stereo Review group test; played DVDs/CDs, no CD-R or Video CD support.

Speakers

• ASTRO-SONIC SERIES (1955) — A mid-century Magnavox audio system blending futuristic Space Age design with AM/FM radio and phonograph functionality. Covers full specifications.
• Component Systems (1972) — Modular high-fidelity audio systems from Magnavox, offering customizable performance for the 1970s home audiophile. Includes full specifications.
• HIGH-END-CONSOLE-SERIES (1968) — A luxurious line of high-fidelity console stereo systems from the late 1960s and 1970s, blending premium audio components with elegant furniture design.
• MICROMATIC Series (1958) — A pioneering line of fully automatic record changers from the late 1950s through the 1970s, blending convenience with mid-century design.
• OTHER-CONSOLE-MODELS (1955) — A collection of mid-century Magnavox console radios, phonographs, and entertainment systems blending furniture craftsmanship with early hi-fi technology.
• SPEAKER-SYSTEMS (1970) — Magnavox SPEAKER-SYSTEMS (1970) — warm, wood-grain speakers for 1970s living rooms. 12-inch woofers, horn or dome tweeters, magnetic shielding.

Stereo Console

• 1KA201 (1968-1974) — Documentation on the Magnavox 1KA201 is thin. What the record shows: it was an Astro-Sonic console stereo, sold as a solid oak cabinet that housed a radio

Systems

• Concert Grand (1958-1959) — A tube-powered console stereo with remote control and automatic signal-seeking AM/FM radio. This page has detailed specs and production dates.

Television

• BG3741AK01 — Obscure mid-1980s Philips Magnavox 12-inch tabletop CRT TV made in Korea. Little documented beyond parts listings and owner videos.

Tuners

• TUNER-CHASSIS (1965) — A modular tuner chassis from Magnavox, designed for integration into console systems and high-fidelity setups of the 1960s.

Unknown

• CDB-471 — Magnavox CDB-471: a late-1980s Magnavox CD player, documented mainly through a 1988 dealer ad listing it at $169 alongside the CDB472, CDB473, and CD8470.
• CDB-472 — Magnavox CDB-472 CD player: introduced in 1987 with the CDB-471/473 line; advertised at $209 in 1988. Little else is documented.
• CDB-582 — The Magnavox CDB-582 CD player is known mainly from a 1990 Audio dealer ad; little else is documented. This page has production dates.
• CDB-624 — Little-documented Magnavox CDB-624 CD player; known from a March 1991 Stereo Review test report citing -92 dB quantization noise and 100 dB dynamic range.
• FD-1000SL — Magnavox FD-1000SL (1983) — the smallest CD player in the world at launch, $800, top-loading, 4x oversampling and digital filtering, 20 Hz–20 kHz ±0.3 dB.
• FD-1051 — Magnavox FD-1051: a 14-bit CD player from the Philips/Magnavox line, cleared out at $159.88 as 16-bit models arrived. Shared its D/A converter with the FD-1041 and FD-2041.
• FD-2041 — Magnavox FD-2041 CD player (1985–1987). Used 4× oversampling, programmable up to 20 tracks, priced at $299. Little else is documented about this mid-range Philips/Magnavox model.

Other Models

• 1500 — A stereo receiver with built-in record changer, noted for its robust build and strong audio performance. Includes when it was made.
• audio — Magnavox Audio consoles blend furniture-grade cabinets with Golden Voice speakers and solid-state tech; some models list for $2,300.
• CD1000 — A single-disc CD player made in Mexico, featuring a Philips swingarm laser and TDA-1543 DAC chip. Find detailed specs and production dates here.
• CDB-480 — Magnavox CDB-480: the $139.95 entry-level single-disc CD player of Magnavox's 1989 lineup. No remote, base of the CDB range, documented in period dealer ads.