Copper Magazine · Issue 177 · A free PS Audio publication
Issue 177 Audio Anthropology

A Safe Bet

A Safe Bet

A Dynaco SCA-35 vacuum tube integrated amplifier, a budget audiophile classic. It was introduced in 1963 and was rated at 35 watts per channel. It even had a "Spare" input and a center-channel speaker output!

Rear panel of the SCA-35, in case you were skeptical about that center-channel speaker output. From The Audio Classics Collection, photos by Howard Kneller.

I owned one of these 1950s Heathkit EA-3 integrated amplifiers. I'm sure I paid less than $5 for it in a garage sale. I should never have sold it. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Joe Haupt.

Now that's what we call a holiday gift! 1930s RCA Victor ad.

If you wanted a good radio, this must have been a safe choice in 1956, says this Philips ad.

Howard Kneller’s audiophile adventures are documented on YouTube (The Listening Chair with Howard Kneller) and Instagram (@howardkneller). His art and photography can be found on Instagram (@howardkneller). He also posts a bit of everything on Facebook (@howardkneller).

More from Issue 177

View All Articles in Issue 177

Search Copper Magazine

#236 Magic Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Live and Rediscovered by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Great Rhythmic Divide: Composer David Chesky Asks, Why Doesn't the Symphony Orchestra Groove? by David Chesky Nov 02, 2026 #236 More Record Reviews: Roni Eytan’s Microtonal Harmonica, Jane Ira Bloom, and a Frank Zappa Freak Out by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 An Album of Inviting Beauty: Goodnight Moon from Acoustic Eidolon, And an Interview With the Artists Who Created it by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 Never Ignore Your Inner Voice by B. Jan Montana Nov 02, 2026 #236 Composer Joseph Bertolozzi Uses Bridges, Structures and the World as Musical Instruments, Part One by Joe Caplan Nov 02, 2026 #236 Transmission: A Powerful Horn-Loaded Album from the Huntertones by Ray Chelstowski Nov 02, 2026 #236 Les Quatre Saisons du Québec: a New “Four Seasons” on Tour and on ATMA Classique by Robert Schryer Nov 02, 2026 #236 From The Audiophile's Guide: A Glossary of Terms for Today's Audio Systems, A – M by Paul McGowan Nov 02, 2026 #236 From The Listening Chair: An Introduction to Audiophile Tweaks by Howard Kneller Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Vinyl Beat Grew Two Inches Since October! by Rudy Radelic Nov 02, 2026 #236 How to Play in a Rock Band, Part 29: Figuring Out How to Play the Songs by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Return of the Residents: Eskimo is On the Road by Wayne Robins Nov 02, 2026 #236 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Nov 02, 2026 #236 The People Who Make Audio Happen – Fun In Las Vegas at…CES 2026? by Harris Fogel Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Forms of Things Unknown by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 Prophetic by Peter Xeni Nov 02, 2026 #236 Here's Looking at You, Kid by Rich Isaacs Nov 02, 2026 Favorites From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Cam Martin Oct 05, 2026 #235 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create, Part Two by Joe Caplan Oct 05, 2026 #235 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part Two by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Grammy-Winning Producer, Songwriter, and Guitarist John Leventhal Goes Instrumental With National Drift by Ray Chelstowski Oct 05, 2026 #235 From Swimming Pool to New Listening Room—to Founding an Accidental Audio Company by Gilles Laferrière Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Vinyl Beat’s Size Matters Edition by Rudy Radelic Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Sublime Complexities of Nature by B. Jan Montana Oct 05, 2026 #235 How to Play In a Rock Band, 28: Growing Older and Dealing With It by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Young Rascals: From Bar Band to Stardom by Wayne Robins Oct 05, 2026 #235 Duncan Sheik: In Memoriam by Ray Chelstowski Oct 05, 2026 #235 From The Listening Chair: The Meze Audio 105 Silva Headphones by Howard Kneller Oct 05, 2026 #235 Checking Out Some NOLA Loudspeakers – and Some Thoughts About Audio Writing by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Kanazawa Phonograph Museum: Music from a Time Capsule by Sebastian Polcyn Oct 05, 2026 #235 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Oct 05, 2026 #235 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Making the Most Critical Choice by Paul McGowan Oct 05, 2026 #235 Evolutionary Growth by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Speed Racer by Peter Xeni Oct 05, 2026 #235 Happy Halloween! by James Schrimpf Oct 05, 2026 #234 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part One by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Jason Greenlaw Offers His Personal Perspective on Jazz Guitar in Vantage Point by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Transcendent Phoenix: Lucina Yue Brings the Ancient Konghou Into Modern Times by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 We Must All Follow Our Bliss by B. Jan Montana Sep 07, 2026 #234 How to Play in a Rock Band, 27: Leveling Up by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Ross Valory: Traveling Into New Musical Territory With All of the Above by Ray Chelstowski Sep 07, 2026 #234 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create by Joe Caplan Sep 07, 2026 #234 The People Who Make Audio Happen: More From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Harris Fogel Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Vinyl Beat Digs Into the Gadget Box by Rudy Radelic Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues Spoken Loud by Wayne Robins Sep 07, 2026 #234 Musical Moments by Rich Isaacs Sep 07, 2026

A Safe Bet

A Safe Bet

A Dynaco SCA-35 vacuum tube integrated amplifier, a budget audiophile classic. It was introduced in 1963 and was rated at 35 watts per channel. It even had a "Spare" input and a center-channel speaker output!

Rear panel of the SCA-35, in case you were skeptical about that center-channel speaker output. From The Audio Classics Collection, photos by Howard Kneller.

I owned one of these 1950s Heathkit EA-3 integrated amplifiers. I'm sure I paid less than $5 for it in a garage sale. I should never have sold it. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Joe Haupt.

Now that's what we call a holiday gift! 1930s RCA Victor ad.

If you wanted a good radio, this must have been a safe choice in 1956, says this Philips ad.

Howard Kneller’s audiophile adventures are documented on YouTube (The Listening Chair with Howard Kneller) and Instagram (@howardkneller). His art and photography can be found on Instagram (@howardkneller). He also posts a bit of everything on Facebook (@howardkneller).

0 comments

Leave a comment

0 Comments

Your avatar

Loading comments...

🗑️ Delete Comment

Enter moderator password to delete this comment:

✏️ Edit Comment

Enter your email to verify ownership: