Along with the similarly styled 210-C, the 99-A was the product that really
made Scott a major player in the domestic audio market in the early 1950s.
The new, slim-line design was one of the first (if not THE first) low-profile
integrated amplifiers and was extremely affordable at $99 (the reason
for the non-standard model number - until this model, and for models following,
model numbers for Scott integrated amplifiers were in the 200 range).
The chassis was split into horizontal and vertical components in order to keep the height down to an extraordinarily low (for the time) 5" - more in keeping with preamplifiers of the day. Features of the first 99 model included three-position bass turnover and treble roll-off controls and phono level controls.
6V6 beam power tetrode output stages were chosen for
their efficiency (less power lost in heat and more developed in sound
output) - as a result of this efficiency, fewer driving stages were required
which meant even less heat and component bulk. Harmonic distortion was
less than 0.8% and IM distortion less than 0.3%.
The 99-B (1954-1956) had an increased power output of
twice its predecessor (22-watts) with 6L6GB output pentodes and a "staggered"
control layout. The EQ controls were simplified and power rectification
improved.
The 99-C (also 22-watts) was similar to the 99-B but with a wider chassis
(see picture, right)
The final variant, 99-D featured an added front-panel speaker selector and stereo preamplifier which, with the addition of Scott's 135 Stereo-Daptor, would convert the 99-D into a complete stereo system. Front panel controls included two magnetic (low level) and three high level inputs, front panel controls for input selector and record compensator; bass; treble; speaker selector; loudness; pickup selector; rumble and scratch filters; stereo-monaural selector and volume-loudness control.
See the 1954 99-A Test report on the and the 99-D original sales brochure for the for more information.
Value today is in the $75 - $150 range, a 99-D complete with 135 Stereo-Daptor could fetch up to $500
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