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The Pilot ‘Pilotrol’ Hi Fi Preamp of the early 1950s

Pilot was one of the classic NYC Golden-Age Hi-Fi makers (see here for earlier coverage on PS dot com). Although the Pilotuner mono FM tuner series was their most iconic product, the Pilotrol was their flagship offering.

(image source)

The Pilotrol seems like an attempt to satisfy the most compulsive hi-fi fans; it really seems like they tried to cram as many lights, buttons, features, and knobs in there as possible. What with the excess of buttons, slant-front cabinet, and VU meter, Pilot seems to have been trying to turn the simple act of using your audio system into an experience; I see shades of ‘Mission Control,’ ‘The Cockpit,’ and maybe police radio as well in the design. Anyhow, it’s too bad this is a mono unit; otherwise I’d be looking for one…

Here’s the schematic. Nice pentode phono input. Anyhow, we can see echos of the Pilotrol and its feature-laden ilk in much hi-fi gear of the 70s – consider a typical high-end receiver of that era. Modern equivalents offer even more features, but nowadays the buttons and lights have been replaced with menus and screens. In opposition to this thread, we have the minimalist streak best exemplified by Apple and its associates. Which operating principle do you prefer? Do you want the equipment to be in the background or the foreground of your audio-listening experience? Exactly what is ‘the experience’ for you? Hearing the sounds? Or is the operation of the apparatus essential to your enjoyment? At what point will technology become so advanced and so pervasive that ‘controls’ themselves can only been seen as quaint and nostalgic? Are we there yet?

See this link for some more thoughts on the function of ‘control’ in consumer audio equipment.

chris

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View Comments

Craig says:

02/05/2012 at 12:15 pm

mono shmono. Get two! :)
Bafflegab says:

02/06/2012 at 10:16 pm

I think the Marantz 7 got it right all in all, other than having each channel have its own bass and treble tone control, and I would add a stepped stereo attenuator to replace the volume pots today. Of course, we wouldn't NEED preamps if CD players had volume controls! And a full parametric EQ would be nice on occasion if we could switch it in and out.
Tony says:

03/29/2013 at 4:55 am

Thanks for the well written post Chris, I found it informative at the Pilotrol level, and interesting at the philosophical one. Regarding the Pilot, I would say that the little listening I have done has led me to start my own search for a pair. I plan to hook them up to a recently purchased pair of Leak TL 25A power amps. Driven by a Garrard 301 and played through a pair of Tannoy GRF Memorys (Memories?). So far even using a Scott 355 preamp, the system really creates that "vintage resonance". I see modern gear as amplifying sound, and vintage gear as amplifying emotion. I have a feeling that those bad-boy 'Trols are going to be the proverbial dogs bollocks! And as for the UI, personally i like to fiddle.. but more importantly (other than the sound itself), I really love that Fitz Lang Metropolis, steam punk design thing they have going there..
Alan says:

11/15/2013 at 10:03 am

Pilotrol is the preamplifier product line of Pilot. Actually, the mono period of Pilot Hi-Fi gears were licensed by RCA since 1952. Pilotrol PA-913 was the last mono preamplifier model. This preamplifier has very rich body and warm tone, tasteful mid to mid-low range, extremely flexible on tone control as well. It was the very first US commercial Hi-Fi preamplifier (consumer model) with UV record meter. FYI, UV record meter also became the icon of Pilotrol in late 50-60, as flagship stereo preamplifier model of Pilot such as Pilot SP-215, Pilot SP-216 and Pilot SP-216A were also equipped with double UV meter at the front panel.