Post by oldgeezer on Dec 17, 2020 3:33:50 GMT -5
Many like tube type CBs. Tube type usually have the best clear sounding audio on both receive and transmit. And, most have a 4" or 3" x 5" speaker that is far superior to 2-1/2" speakers in later solid-state CBs. Of course external speakers improves the sound.
Lafayette sold a lot of tube type CBs and has a following. But, what is the best Lafayette CB? There is not a low performing Lafayette tube type base CB. But, some models do perform better than others. The most famous and seems to sell for the highest prices on ebay is the Comstat 25 series. The Comstat 23 is the most basic 23 channel CB with less IFs vs the Comstat 25 series receiver and the Comstat 25 adds a fine tune on receive. A few Comstat 23s did include fine tuning and named Mk 4 & Mk 5 series but most do not. The Comstat 23 receiver design is basic, but works well. The Comstat 25 has a better receiver and the Comstat 35 has a slightly better receiver than the Comstat 25. Neither have a noise limiter and that can be an issue as many locations have a lot of man made noise that can mask all but the strongest signals, thus you really want a model with a noise limiter. Lafayette CBs with a noise limiter is the HB-400 and HB-444. These Lafayette CBs are higher end and include a more sensitive and selective receiver. The HB-400 is much more common vs the HB-444.
The other common tube type are the Robyn T-123 and T-240. The same Robyn radio chassis was sold by Gemtronics GTX-2300, GTX-5000, Colt Midnight Special 40 and Teaberry Model T (23 channel) and Model T (40 channel). All these radios are made by the same manufacture in Japan. None of these CB radios has a noise limiter and only an average, but not poor receiver.
Courier models with noise limiters are the Ranger, Royale and model 23 with the built-in meter and Courier 23+. Couriers 23 series have good receivers about equal to the Lafayette Comsttat 25. The Royale, 23+ (with noise limiter) & Ranger has the high performance nuvistor low noise mixer tube and 6BS8 quiet RF tube that are better than the Lafayette Comstat 25 and Coutier 23. The Lafayette HB-400 and HB-444 are superior to the Lafayette Comstat 25 CBs and have both RF and mixer nuvistor tubes. I suspect the Courier Royal, 23+ and Ranger are close or equal to the Lafayette HB-400 and HB-444 which are very serious receivers and likely better than most tube CBs.
One radio worth mentioning is the Knight KN-2565B. But, the Knight Safari is a better bet with the noise limiter. Anyways, the Knight KN-2565B not having a noise limiter has an unusual narrow band RF receive amplifier that performs well in the most noisy environments. Use a 1950s Tung Sol 6EA8 in the KN-2565B RF receive amplifier for best receive.
Other premium tube type CB radios with noise limiters that excellent and are expensive are Browning, Demco, Sonar and Tram. The Sonar noise limiter was an option. If you have the dollars these are the 'cream of the crop'.
The average tube CBs sell for about $50 to $100 for 23 channel and 40 channel are usually well over $100. Most buyers do not want to pay over $100 for a 23 channel tube type CB and if around $100 it better look close to new condition. I noticed on ebay the tube CBs definitely have a following and sell better than average solid-state CBs in same price range.
Lafayette sold a lot of tube type CBs and has a following. But, what is the best Lafayette CB? There is not a low performing Lafayette tube type base CB. But, some models do perform better than others. The most famous and seems to sell for the highest prices on ebay is the Comstat 25 series. The Comstat 23 is the most basic 23 channel CB with less IFs vs the Comstat 25 series receiver and the Comstat 25 adds a fine tune on receive. A few Comstat 23s did include fine tuning and named Mk 4 & Mk 5 series but most do not. The Comstat 23 receiver design is basic, but works well. The Comstat 25 has a better receiver and the Comstat 35 has a slightly better receiver than the Comstat 25. Neither have a noise limiter and that can be an issue as many locations have a lot of man made noise that can mask all but the strongest signals, thus you really want a model with a noise limiter. Lafayette CBs with a noise limiter is the HB-400 and HB-444. These Lafayette CBs are higher end and include a more sensitive and selective receiver. The HB-400 is much more common vs the HB-444.
The other common tube type are the Robyn T-123 and T-240. The same Robyn radio chassis was sold by Gemtronics GTX-2300, GTX-5000, Colt Midnight Special 40 and Teaberry Model T (23 channel) and Model T (40 channel). All these radios are made by the same manufacture in Japan. None of these CB radios has a noise limiter and only an average, but not poor receiver.
Courier models with noise limiters are the Ranger, Royale and model 23 with the built-in meter and Courier 23+. Couriers 23 series have good receivers about equal to the Lafayette Comsttat 25. The Royale, 23+ (with noise limiter) & Ranger has the high performance nuvistor low noise mixer tube and 6BS8 quiet RF tube that are better than the Lafayette Comstat 25 and Coutier 23. The Lafayette HB-400 and HB-444 are superior to the Lafayette Comstat 25 CBs and have both RF and mixer nuvistor tubes. I suspect the Courier Royal, 23+ and Ranger are close or equal to the Lafayette HB-400 and HB-444 which are very serious receivers and likely better than most tube CBs.
One radio worth mentioning is the Knight KN-2565B. But, the Knight Safari is a better bet with the noise limiter. Anyways, the Knight KN-2565B not having a noise limiter has an unusual narrow band RF receive amplifier that performs well in the most noisy environments. Use a 1950s Tung Sol 6EA8 in the KN-2565B RF receive amplifier for best receive.
Other premium tube type CB radios with noise limiters that excellent and are expensive are Browning, Demco, Sonar and Tram. The Sonar noise limiter was an option. If you have the dollars these are the 'cream of the crop'.
The average tube CBs sell for about $50 to $100 for 23 channel and 40 channel are usually well over $100. Most buyers do not want to pay over $100 for a 23 channel tube type CB and if around $100 it better look close to new condition. I noticed on ebay the tube CBs definitely have a following and sell better than average solid-state CBs in same price range.