Scott

Hermon Hosmer Scott pioneered FM stereo and never looked back

History

H.H. Scott, Inc. was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1947 by Hermon Hosmer Scott, a brilliant engineer who made fundamental contributions to FM radio technology. Scott held over 100 patents and was instrumental in developing FM stereo broadcasting.

Scott's early products were FM tuners that set new standards for sensitivity and selectivity. The 310B (1950s) became a reference standard for FM reception, used by radio stations and serious audiophiles.

The company pioneered several technologies:

• Dynural (1950s) - Dynamic noise reduction
• Scott Stereomaster - Early stereo systems
• F.M. Stereo - Scott helped develop the standard

The 1960s brought the iconic black and gold styling that defined Scott's aesthetic. The 350B, 360B, and 399 tube receivers combined excellent performance with stunning appearance. The Liberator series offered modular components.

In 1971, Scott was acquired by Emerson Radio, and the brand lost its high-end positioning. The later solid-state products lacked the prestige of the tube-era classics.

Key Facts

Legendary Products

H.H. Scott 310B (1950s)

A legendary FM tuner that set the standard for analog FM reception. The 310B was used by radio stations and serious audiophiles for its exceptional sensitivity and selectivity.

H.H. Scott 350B/360B (1960s)

Tube receivers that combined excellent performance with iconic black and gold styling. These models are highly prized by collectors for both sound and appearance.

H.H. Scott 399 (1960s)

A flagship tube receiver representing the pinnacle of Scott's design. The 399 offered comprehensive features and exceptional FM performance.

H.H. Scott Liberator (1960s)

A modular system allowing components to be upgraded independently. The Liberator was ahead of its time in offering flexibility and upgradeability.

Sound Signature

H.H. Scott equipment delivers the warm, sophisticated sound of American tube engineering paired with FM tuner performance that was genuinely reference-grade. The 310B tuner pulled in stations with a sensitivity and selectivity that set the standard for an entire era, and the audio output had a richness and presence that made FM broadcasts sound like live performances. Hermon Hosmer Scott's 100+ patents were not academic exercises — they resulted in equipment that demonstrably outperformed the competition.

The tube receivers from the 1960s combine this FM excellence with amplification that is characteristically warm, musical, and inviting. The midrange has a presence and body that makes vocals and horns sound particularly compelling, while the bass is full without being loose. These are components that reward long listening sessions — the sound is engaging without being fatiguing, and the iconic black and gold styling makes them as beautiful to look at as they are to listen to.

Collecting Scott

The black and gold era tube equipment is the heart of Scott collecting. The 399 flagship receiver is the ultimate prize — a comprehensive tube receiver with exceptional FM performance and the full visual drama of Scott's most striking design period. The 360B and 350B offer similar aesthetics at more accessible price points and remain popular starting points for Scott collections.

The 310B tuner is essential for FM enthusiasts — this is the tuner that serious listeners used to evaluate FM broadcasts, and its performance remains impressive by any standard. Pre-Emerson units (manufactured before 1971) represent true H.H. Scott quality and engineering, while later production under Emerson ownership lacks the same commitment to excellence. When buying vintage Scott equipment, the condition of the black and gold finish is important to both aesthetics and value — these pieces are too beautiful to hide behind a cabinet door, so cosmetic condition matters more than with most vintage gear.

Competitors & Comparisons

Scott vs Fisher: Both American tube classics; different styling

Scott vs McIntosh: McIntosh more prestigious; Scott more innovative

Scott vs Marantz: Marantz more musical; Scott more technical

Adapters

• H.H. Scott) 335 — H.H. Scott 335 Wide-Band Multiplex Adaptor — a retrofit stereo decoder for Scott mono FM tuners like the 310C, 311D, 320, 330 and 331.

Amplifiers

• 200B (1960) — A classic vacuum tube stereo amplifier from the early 1960s, known for its warm sound and high build quality. This page has production dates.
• 210E (1956) — A classic vacuum tube stereo amplifier from the 1950s, known for its warm sound and high-fidelity engineering. Includes production years.
• 233 (1972) — The Scott 233 is a high-fidelity solid-state preamplifier from the early 1970s, known for its clean design, precision controls, and warm analog sound.
• 290 (1972) — A high-fidelity solid-state stereo amplifier from the early 1970s, known for its precision engineering and warm analog sound.
• 299D — Little-documented Scott 299D stereo control amplifier from Scott's 1964 season. What period reviews and ads show, and an honest note on missing specs.
• 310E (1969) — High-fidelity solid-state stereo amplifier from the late 1960s, known for musicality and build quality. With when it was made.
• 320E (1965) — A high-fidelity vacuum tube stereo preamplifier from the golden era of American audio engineering. Covers detailed specs and production dates.
• 330D (1965) — A high-fidelity passive preamplifier from the golden era of tube audio, known for its precision engineering and warm sonic character.
• 333B (1968) — A high-fidelity solid-state stereo amplifier from the late 1960s, known for its clean design and accurate sound reproduction.
• 350D (1964) — A high-fidelity passive preamplifier from the golden era of tube audio, known for its exceptional build quality and transparent sound.
• 370 (1973) — Scott 370-B FM Stereo Multiplex Tuner — a 1970s vacuum tube tuner with wideband design, valued for its quiet reception and classic Scott engineering.
• 380 (1966) — A high-fidelity solid-state stereo amplifier from the mid-1960s, known for its precision engineering and warm analog sound.
• 399 (1969) — A high-fidelity solid-state stereo amplifier from the late 1960s, known for its precision engineering and clean audio performance.
• 99D (1964) — The Scott 99D is a legendary vacuum tube preamplifier from the mid-1960s, prized for its musicality, robust build, and classic American hi-fi design.
• LK-72 — Scott LK-72: H.H. Scott's 72-watt stereo complete amplifier kit, advertised 1960–61 at $149.95. Thin surviving record; no measured specs found.
• S-15 (1957) — Scott's large three-way speaker of the late 1960s, documented mainly through period ads for the Scott 2513 compact system. Little else is on record.
• S-20 (1958) — The Scott S-20 is a legendary vacuum tube preamplifier from the golden era of high-fidelity audio, renowned for its exceptional build quality and transparent sound.
• S-3 (1963) — The Scott S-3 is a legendary passive preamplifier from the golden era of high-fidelity audio, renowned for its minimalist design and exceptional transparency.
• S-5 (1958) — The Scott S-5 is a legendary passive preamplifier from the golden era of high-fidelity audio, renowned for its exceptional transparency and minimalist design.
• S-8 (1957) — The Scott S-8 is a high-fidelity vacuum tube preamplifier renowned for its exceptional clarity, low distortion, and pioneering design in early hi-fi audio systems.

Integrated Amplifier

• LK-48 — Scott LK-48 stereo amplifier kit — 24 W/ch, integrated preamp and control center, reviewed by Audio in 1962.

Power Amplifiers

• LK-150 — Scott LK-150 — Scott's high-powered stereo basic amplifier kit of the early 1960s, delivering about 60 clean watts per channel in period bench tests.

Preamplifiers

• 310-B — Scott 310-B late-1950s FM tuner, advertised at $159.95 with wide-band silver-sensitive front end. Record is thin — mostly period ads.
• 342C — Scott 342C stereo FM receiver from H. H. Scott, reviewed by High Fidelity in 1970 at $269.95. Little else is documented.
• 451C — Scott 451C: a pocket-sized professional sound level meter from the early 1970s (45–130 dBc, ANSI S3C). Little else is documented.
• LC-21 — Scott LC-21 stereo preamp kit — d.c.-heated tubes, 16 controls, $99.95 kit. A quiet, lab-grade control center for LK-150 owners.
• LT-110B (1968) — Scott LT-110B FM stereo tuner kit — a thin record. Period ads put it at $139.95 in late 1964 with 1.88 µV sensitivity claimed; the archive dates it to 1968.

Receiver

• 350B — Scott 350B stereo FM tuner — time-division multiplex, Sonic Monitor tone indicator, ~2 µV sensitivity, front-panel tape out. A mid-price tuner with near-top performance.

Receivers

• 342B — Scott 342B solid-state stereo receiver, 1968, 65 watts, very little documented. Includes when it was made. Includes when it was made.
• 359RS — Scott 359RS (1984) stereo receiver — documented only through a fragmentary High Fidelity test report from September 1984.
• 87R — Scott 87R (CD-87R) stereo cassette deck, 1978. Factory specs from Audio and bench measurements from HI-Fi-Stereo-Buyers. Little else documented.
• H.H. Scott) 340B — H.H. Scott 340B tube stereo receiver — 35 W/ch IHF, 2.2 µV FM sensitivity, 70 mA bias spec, and a service manual written for owners who actually work on their gear.

Tuners

• 110-FM — Scott 110-FM is a c. 1963–1965 FM stereo tuner kit, documented in period ads as the LT-110 at $139.95. Little else survives.
• 311-FM — Scott 311-FM (c. 1955–1956): budget FM tuner from H.H. Scott at $99.95, with claimed 3µV sensitivity and wideband detector. Record is mostly ads.
• 330-AM — Scott 330-AM AM/FM stereo tuner from the mid-1950s, documented mainly through 1956 Scott advertising and a 1960 High Fidelity receiver review.
• LT-110 (c. 1962–1965) — Scott LT-110 | early-1960s FM stereo tuner kit; 1.88 µV home-alignment claim, 4 3/8 x 14 x 11 in chassis, $139.95 by late 1964.
• LT-112B — Scott LT-112B FM stereo tuner kit — pre-wired, pre-aligned boards, 6–7 hour build, +2/−4 dB 30–15k Hz response. Gold/charcoal panel per Audio (Nov 1968).
• T-33S — Scott T-33S digital stereo FM tuner (1975, $999.95). Reviewed in High Fidelity alongside top-tier tuners; quad output, no Dolby. Scarce documentation.
• T-516 — Scott T-516 — a little-documented model from the Scott audio lineup; no confirmed product type, specs, or dates have surfaced.

Turntables

• PS-97-XV — Scott PS-97-XV turntable, known only from a March 1981 High Fidelity dealer ad. No specs or production dates survive.

Unknown

• 120 — Scott 120: nothing is verified. Period ads for the 120-watt Scott 388 are often misattributed to this model under search.
• 166 — Scott 166 speaker, known only from an October 1980 HiFI-Stereo review: 55–20,000 Hz response, 6–22 ohm impedance. Little else documented.
• 2300 — Little is documented about the Scott 2300. The Archive's research file for the model holds two kinds of period material — a 1965 Scott advertising
• 2506 — Scott 2506 AM/FM stereo/phono compact system, circa 1969. Little documented; known from a single period ad featuring Perfectune tuning, FET front end.
• 2990 — Little is documented about the Scott 2990 stereo amplifier. 1963 Scott ads rated it at 80 watts, the powerhouse of the new amplifier line.
• 311 — H. H. Scott 311 FM tuner, introduced circa 1955 with wide-band circuitry, 3µV sensitivity, and a $99.95 price. Succeeded by the 314 in 1961.
• 312C — Scott 312C solid-state FM stereo tuner (1966). FET front end, silver-plated, $294.95. Little-documented broadcast-monitor model from H.H. Scott.
• 31Z — Scott 31Z: a little-documented solid-state FM stereo tuner from 1964, advertised at $259.95 with a quote from Audio magazine's praise.
• 341 — Scott 341 55-watt FM stereo receiver (1968–c.1970). FET front end, IC preamp and IF. Little documented beyond period ads.
• 382-C — Scott 382-C (c. 1969–1971): 110-watt AM/FM stereo receiver. Hirsch-Houck measured 1.8 µV FM sensitivity; little beyond period ads and reviews documented.
• 384 — Scott 384 AM/FM stereo receiver from the late 1960s, documented primarily through period advertising. Known for 90W rated power, 1.9 µV FM sensitivity.
• 438A — Scott 438A integrated amplifier, reviewed in Audio August 1983. Rated 45 W/ch, 0.04% THD, with high-cut filter and loudness contour. Little else documented.
• 480A — Scott 480A integrated amplifier, late 1970s. Twin phono preamps, 85W/ch, superb measured performance per period Hi-Fi-Stereo-Buyers review.
• 830 — Scott 830 audio analyzer, a ten-octave real-time analyzer with 110-LED display from 1979–1980. This page has production dates.
• 939DA — Scott 939DA, H.H. Scott's first CD player, reviewed in 1984: three-beam laser, digital filtering, 23-selection programming, $600. Little-documented model.
• 980 — The Scott 980 is an almost completely undocumented audio model. No confirmed specs survive; a 1974 HiFI-Stereo fragment may relate to it.
• R-336 — Scott R-336 stereo receiver, c. 1976–77. Known from period ads: 42W RMS/ch into 8 ohms, 0.3% THD. Little else documented.
• S-14 — Scott S-14 (c. 1968) — compact two-way air-suspension bookshelf speaker from H.H. Scott, 6-inch woofer/3-inch tweeter, $49.95 in 1968.
• S-71 — Scott S-71 three-way acoustic suspension speaker, known only from a 1974 HiFI-Stereo ad. 12-inch woofer, $189.95 price. This page has production years.

Other Models

• LR-88 — Scott LR-88 (1968-69) AM/FM stereo receiver kit — 30W/ch RMS, silver-plated FET front end, $334.95, Kit-Pak assembly.
• LT-112 — Scott LT-112 FM stereo tuner kit (1965-66): $179.95, 2.2 µV IHF sensitivity, all-silicon IF, Tri-modulation alignment meter.
• MODEL-1000 — Scott Model 1000 London-Scott stereo pickup and arm — integrated tonearm/cartridge with 0.7 mil diamond stylus and tool-free replacement, documented in early-1960s Scott systems.
• MODEL-387 — Scott 387 AM/FM receiver (1971): 85 W/ch @ 4 ohms, a tuner Audio called the best it ever measured, and a $449.95 price tag.