RCA 9X571

Although this device was produced in 1949, it is really superb..
The aesthetic impact is very strong, and this comes from someone who has seen a lot of radios.
Initially it is hard to recognize that this "object" is in fact a radio.
The line and color choices that leave space to imaginative fantasies are unusual for a simple radio.

It was also produced with white case, but always with golden acoustic lens.
The most beautiful radio is certainly the brown colored one like the subject of this review.

The performances are really very interesting, in fact, this RCA 9X571 sounds very good compared to other American ones.
Its large speaker, studied very carefully, can reproduce high and low frequencies with remarkable fidelity.
The lens does not also only have an aesthetic function; it acoustically works like multiple whizzers. The effect is to emphasize higher frequencies that would be the weak point of a speaker of this size.
The whizzer are those little cones glued in the middle part of a dualcone speakers that are designed to increase the efficiency of the speaker on the highest frequencies.

Another very interesting point is the polarization point of the power tube 50L6GT.
The voltage difference between the plate and the grid is such that the tube works in the linear area of its characteristic curve.
RCA knew how to produce good radios.

The strong aesthetic quality is the main reason I restore this type of American production equipment.
There are modern appliances that copy or are inspired by these designs, but owning an original is another thing!
Its incredible look makes it suit any modern furnishing.

You can also connect a digital source, and play it with this RCA.
This possibility will be discussed later in detail.
In addition to listening to IPAD, PC etc. the unit is ready to receive the Medium Wave

In addition to listening to your IPad or PC, this unit is able to receive a Medium Waves.
This device is powered by 120 volts supplied by an adapter which can be connected directly to the local power supply.
It also comes with a connection cable with a 3.5 mm jack which is compatible with any modern equipment such as an IPod, PC, etc.

The Radio Corporation of America was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986 when General Electric bought it and divided it.

In 1915 the United States seized all foreign radio stations operating in its territory and distributed among some American manufacturers, General Electric, Westinghouse, AT & T and so on.
These companies set up a new organization in 1919 to run the stations, and called it the Radio Corporation of America (RCA).

In 1926 RCA, Westinghouse, and General Electric created a chain or “network” of radio stations spread across a wide geographic area, all broadcasting content created in central studios in New York.
The name of this network was the National Broadcasting Corporation—
In 1929, RCA purchased phonograph manufacturer Victor Talking Machine Company, and renamed its new division RCA-Victor.
While the Great Depression of the 1930s crippled businesses worldwide, RCA-Victor and NBC thrived.

The leader of RCA, moved the headquarters to a huge new skyscraper in New York and created Radio City Music Hall, a large and technologically innovative performance space.
The TV was demonstrated at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York and briefly sold to the public before the beginning of the World War II.

RCA opened its new RCA Research Laboratories in Princeton, New Jersey and produced many crucial innovations for the war effort.
By the 1960s its research laboratories produced innovative technologies such computers, integrated circuits, lasers, the 45-rpm record and the solid-state television camera or the famous “RCA connector jack”

By the 1970s Asian firms had captured almost all of the consumer electronics market (TVs, radios, etc.).
RCA’s difficulties led to continual changes in its leadership, which negatively impacted business and contributed to RCA’s decline.
By 1986 RCA was so weak that its rival (and former co-owner) GE bought the company and dismantled it, selling off most of its parts.

Today, the RCA name is owned by Thomson, a French company, while the German conglomerate, Bertelsmann, owns the RCA record division.
Courtesy of Engineering and Technology History Wiki
MAIN FEATURES
Year of production: 1949

Superheterodyne IF: 455 KHz

6 AM Circuits

Wavebands:
Medium Waves (OM)

Wideband loudspeaker

Plastic case

Dimensions (LHD): 125 x 96 x 83 in

Net weight: 15 oz

Tubes 5:
12SA7 12SKT 12SQ7 50L6GT 35Z5GT

DIGITAL SOURCES INPUTS

Using the special cable that I constructed you can utilize the device for use with any digital source such mp3 player, IPAD, IPOD, cell phone, PC etc.

Listening is a great joy. 60 years of technology separates the devices but the practicality of modern digital sources and the charm of the old valve radio blend perfectly giving a gratification not easily explained in words.

When the special cable is inserted into the rear jack, the radio section is automatically disconnected.

Using digital source, the sound quality is clean and pleasant.

AERIAL

This device uses a loaded antenna on the rear panel.
It's sufficiently efficient but extremely directive, so the position of the radio impact on the quality of reception.
The back panel is prepared to connect an external antenna.
In this case the reception would be perfect.
CONTROL PANEL

The controls are very simple.
The the rear left knob controls the power switch, the band switch and the tone.
The left front knob controls the volume while the right knob controls the tuning.

The power switch, bandwidth and tones switch have the following positions.
1 - Off
2 - Phono bass boosted
3 - Phono linear
4 - Phono treble emphasized
5 - Radio bass boosted
6 - Radio Linear
7 - Radio treble emphasized

LOUDSPEAKER

It uses an 8-inch loudspeaker which produces great sound quality
The audio spectrum, which can be expected for transmissions in medium wave is well reproduced.

Deep bass and treble bright, voice clear and intelligible without fatigue.

REAR SIDE

 

Phono Input
DOWN SIDE
RESTORATION WORKS

The RCA 9X571 after the cleaning
Beginning of the electronic restoration.

To replace some parts it was necessary to remove several others
The RCA 9X571 after the electronic restoration.
The end of the electronic restoration.
Now I can turn on and make the necessary repairs and subsequent calibrations.
But first the power cords needed to be replaced because they had become dangerous due to deterioration.
First tests
The tuning stage
La scala della sintonia restaurata
The center caps now look like new
The knobs have been rebuilt as the original ones had become extremely fragile.
The knob on the right is the original
The rebuilding
The case is ready to receive the chassis
A view of the RCA 9X571 at night, ready to run.


Home page

CONTATTI

ITALIA & Technical, Info
Email: Giovanni - Cell: +39.331.6016062

INTERNATIONAL
Business public relations Asia - Australia - Email: Giuliana
Business public relations Europe - America - Email: Lisa - Ph +1 937 825 0433 Ohio - USA