Frank Sinatra's HiFi Setup

Back in the 1950s and 1960s, America was producing some of the world’s best-sounding hi-fi gear by famous brands like Marantz, McIntosh, Fisher, Eico, Scott, Acoustic Resarch, and Altec-Lansing.

Then in the 1970s, with the advent of transistors, many of the great tube amps, preamps, and speakers disappeared as they were replaced by mid-fi Japanese brands.

Fortunately, since the 1990s, America’s hi-fi cottage industry has been re-emerging.

McIntosh, an iconic American brand founded in 1949, continues to be made in the USA at their longtime facility in Binghamton, New York.

1. Amplification:

Console furniture with built-in components was quite common back in the day, so we can’t say what brand they are.

But we think that the three amplifier units down below might be Scott amps.

2. Preamplifier:

McIntosh C-22 (pictured on top)

3. AM/FM Tuner:

Fisher R-200 tube tuner

4. Loudspeakers:

Either Altec-Lansing or JBL (James B. Lansing), but they look like they could also be other hi-fi classic models of the day by Klipsch, Jensen, or Tannoy.

5. Turntable:

Garrard or Reko-Cut in one photo; the other photo has the turntable inside the cabinet under the Fisher tuner.

6. Reel-to-Reel Tape Deck:

Correction: Not a 350 series Ampex 3-track tube tape machine; rather, it is a Presto 825 3 box/3 channel deck.

There are some other professional-looking components Sinatra had that we weren’t able to identify, but are surely curious about.

Also read: Tintin Creator’s Vinyl Collection and Turntable Set-up at in Brussels