Quote:
Originally Posted by Reece
Hi, I don't have the schematic and can't find it on Nostalgia Air, but this sounds like a typical four or five-tube AC/DC radio? Reece
|
This radio is just a bit too new to be listed on NA, as that site only has schematics for radios made up to 1954 (the C845 was made between 1958 and 1960). I'd look for a Sams Photofact.
The C845 is an eight-tube radio with a two-way speaker system. It also has an RF amplifier that works on both bands and two IF stages on both AM and FM as well (actually, the set also has a limiter stage which counts as a third IF amp). This all makes for a radio that is extremely sensitive on both bands, simply using its built-in Wavemagnet AM antenna and line-cord FM antenna; the latter is connected to the external FM antenna terminal by means of a short wire with a spade lug at one end, but the actual coupling to the line cord is done with a clip around the cord, which cannot be seen unless the back is removed. This works the same way as the usual line-cord antenna arrangement on other Zeniths, including the K731; these also use a clip around the cord that connects to the FM antenna terminal, but the clip is plainly visible on the back of the set.
The sound quality of the C845 is excellent. I have one and was (still am) very pleased with the sound, especially the deep bass from the 8" main speaker. The 5" tweeter in the C845 is a true loudspeaker, not an electrostatic tweeter as is used in the K731 and others in the 800 series as well (some versions use two of the latter, one on either side of the main speaker; my 731 only has one), but it still delivers very good response for the higher frequencies. It can be difficult to tell if the tweeter is actually working in either the 800-series Zeniths or the K731s unless the main driver is temporarily disconnected. I did just that with my K731 when I had it apart for maintenance recently; the tweeter works, and well, but I had to increase the volume quite a bit to hear any output from it.
All in all, the C845 and probably every other radio in Zenith's 800 series are great sets, delivering very good sound and having excellent RF sensitivity. There is ordinarily no need to use external antennas with these radios in most areas; the RF stage ahead of the built-in antennas, combined with what amounts to three IF stages on both bands (thanks to the limiter stage), means you will have excellent reception wherever you are. As others have mentioned, these sets will receive stations most modern radios don't know are there, and of course the sound quality is fantastic, comparable to a Bose Wave radio/CD system, again as has been noted at least once in this forum. These radios were made when Zenith's longtime slogan "the quality goes in before the name goes on" actually meant something.