Thrift Store Stereo: Panasonic RE-7700 AM/FM Receiver

I recently brought another vintage stereo component home from the Thrift Store.  This one is a Panasonic RE-7700 AM/FM Receiver.  You can manually tune the receiver or press and auto-tune button that will let the receiver go lock in on a station.  The unit can be hooked to external antennas, but I'm finding that the internal FM antenna works really well.

Panasonic RE-7700 AM/FM Receiver

Here is a vintage advertisement for this circa 1969 Panasonic stereo.  It's an entry level unit that is for sure.  But, it pulls in my local classic rock station really well and it sounds pretty good using headphones.

Panasonic RE-7700 Advertisement

 The only hitch is that this stereo requires 16-ohm speakers and is probably good for about 9 watts per channel.  That should be just fine for a bedroom unit.  But, I'll have to scrounge up some suitable speakers from a thrift store or online auction.  Of course, when you only pay $7.87 for a stereo receiver, there is no reason to overpay for suitable speakers.

Panasonic RE-7700 Stereo Receiver

Here is some readable ad copy for this Panasonic RE-7700 Receiver.  I love the way that this receiver lights up the room at night.

I'll post a night time picture of this stereo soon!  For now, it's just a great find for less than $10!  To learn more I've started a thread on the AudioKarma discussion board.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=564839

Finishing Up My Super Cheap Thrift Store Stereo

Today, I put the finishing touches on my super-cheap stereo.  First, I moved my stereo to a dedicated shelving unit.  We originally bought a really nice stereo cabinet for $599 and had it delivered from one of the major furniture chains.  Unfortunately, it arrived with some significant scratches and dings.  With steam coming from our ears, we had them take the expensive unit away.  It didn't look much better than assemble-it-yourself furniture from Target.  We weren't impressed by the value for the money and we certainly don't need any more bills.

Instead, we opted to use an unfinished utility shelving unit ("Gorm") that we bought a couple of years ago from Ikea.  Friday night, I went out and bought a couple extra shelves for it to space the components a little better.   The "Gorm" was originally $39.99 and the two shelves were $15 total.   Since the shelving unit is made of fairlly soft pine, I was able to tack the antennas into the back beams of the unit where they can't be seen.  Overall, we feel that the unfinished wood helps give the room a lighter, airier, feel.

Gorm Shelving Unit as a Stereo Cabinet

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00058519/

I'm also done agonizing over speakers.  We initially didn't want to have more than 2 speakers so I opted to stick with the big Cerwin-Vega VS-100 floor standing speakers.  They were thrift store specials, but they sound good and they have presence in spades!

Cerwin-Vega VS-100

We also agreed to get Pyle Home PCB3BK 3-Inch 100-Watt Mini Cube Bookshelf Speakers - Pair (Black).  These 3-inch cube speakers are inexpensive and very small.  They wouldn't be audiophiles speakers at all.  But, we figured we could listen to music at low volumes in the evenings without worrying about disturbing the neighbors.


However, on Saturday night, I came across a pair of small KLH rear surround speakers for $5.95 at Goodwill.  They are very small and I can put them on the shelving unit and use them to help hide stray wires.  They are apparently 60 watt speakers with the typical lack of bass found in most bookshelf units.  We're going to give them a try before ordering anything new.


I also added an headphone extension and an RCA Y-cable so that I can use my tablet (Barnes & Noble Nook) to stream music.  The amplifier, tuner, and tape deck are all from Goodwill.  The Insignia - 5-Disc CD Changer   was on sale from Best Buy.  Overall, the system looks good, sounds good, and didn't cost much.

AccuRadio Internet Radio Review

It's pretty easy to teach an old stereo new tricks.  We've hooked up plenty of stereos to modern gadgets like my Nook Color tablet and e-reader.  It's a great device for streaming music from web radio.  Many people like Pandora for internet radio, but I really like a service called Accuradio.  For a complete review, check out this article:

Internet Radio Service Review:  AccuRadio

Portable Radio - Memorex AM/FM Pocket Radio

You can't talk about dirt cheap audio without seeing how cheap you can go for a radio receiver.  You can pay $75-$100 for a stereo receiver and think you got a deal.  But, portable AM/FM radios are even cheaper. I got lucky and bought this Memorex AM/FM Pocket Radio from my local drug store when they were discounted 75% on clearance.


It's an attractive little radio.  It's sleek and easy to use.  You can read my complete review of this radio here:

 Portable Electronics Review: Memorex AM/FM Pocket Radio.

Antennas for Your Old Stereo System

If you buy an old stereo receiver from a thrift store, online auction, or private seller, you may find that you lack an original radio antenna.  Fortunately, you can pick up an FM antenna for a dirt cheap price.


If all you need is an AM antenna, you could try this inexpensive loop antenna from Sharp:

If you want to save a little space and avoid stringing an ugly dipole radio antenna up to your ceiling, you might check out this Terk Technology AM/FM radio antenna:


 If you only care about FM reception, this FM only antenna for stereos might meet your needs:


When it comes to old stereo systems, when there is a will, there is a way!

Stop Drooling Over Stereo Speakers

I've been looking at Amazon.com every day drooling over speakers that I've never heard.  Surely, they'll sound better than my current combination of thrift store and old Bose Acoustimass 5 speakers.  The perfect stereo is only $59 to $399 away.  If I just pull together a little cash, I can buy some speakers that are perfect.  I have a one way ticket to utopia in my wallet.


Of course, there is an easier way.  I could simply set up all of my current speakers correctly.  The Bose Acoustimass 5 manual is out there on the internet for all to see.  It clearly states that I need to attach my Bose speakers to the subwoofer and then to the little speakers.  Otherwise, I could damage my speakers.  (I had been connecting the small speakers directly to the stereo and leaving the subwoofer disconnected.  But, I suspect that only low music volumes have spared them thus far.)  Before I buy anything, I need to give my current speakers a fair shot at greatness.

Next, I could arrange my speakers properly.  The Bose speakers should be positioned so that the top speaker in each pair aims at me where I sit and the bottom aims away to bounce sound off of the walls.  The sub can be positioned elsewhere--anywhere--in the living room as long as I don't cover up the output hole.  Then I need to switch my attentions to my big old school speakers.

Then, I need to refoam one of my Cerwin-Vega VS100 speakers.  Once they are in the best condition that they can be in.  I need to disconnect the Bose and crank those big floorstanders up and give them a fair test.  Then I have to decide whether I want to go old school or new technology when it comes to speakers.


Instead of buying anything new, I just have to sit down and really listen to my system.  If I already have a combination that sounds good, then I don't need to buy anything.  Not buying anything keeps money in the bank.

The Ergonomics of a Thrift Store Stereo

When you shop for a stereo receiver in a thrift store with a good electronics section, you need to look beyond the brand name and performance specs.  You need to look at the practicality of operating the system.  It's not enough the vintage stereo works properly.  After you've determined that a thrift store receiver works, you need to  determine whether you can work the receiver.  It is rare to find a dirt cheap thrift store receiver that actually has manuals and a remote control.  You've got to be able to operate your new old stereo receiver with the buttons and knobs on the front panel alone.

That is why I like my Technics SU-V76 amplifier and Technics ST-S76 AM/FM radio tuner.  They have intuitive controls and are easy to operate using only the buttons and knobs on the front panels.   Some receivers have no buttons and some receivers have lots of teeny-tiny buttons for obscure functions with cryptic labeling.  In contrast, my Technics units are pretty straight forward.  There are no manuals and I doubt that these units ever had a remote control.  But, at only $20 for the pair, this Technics combo has proven to be a winning combination.

If you do pick up an old stereo that needs a remote control.  Don't lose hope.  You may still be able to control it with a universal remote.  All you need is the manufacturer's code for each device and then you can program it into a remote control.  This Sony universal remote was highly rated on Amazon.com and can control stereo equipment.

Can You Get A Complete Stereo System for $150?

Can you get a complete stereo system for $150?  You can get pretty close with a complete package from Pyle.  For $154, you get the following components:

• PT560AU 300 Watts Digital AM/FM/USB Stereo Receiver

• PIDOCK1 Universal iPod/iPhone Docking Station For Audio Output Charging - Sync W/iTunes And Remote control

• PCB4BK 4'' 200 Watt Black Mini Cube Bookshelf Speaker In Black(Pair)

Sometimes the prospect of buying a stereo and speakers is quite simply daunting. However, if you want to dip your toes into stereo waters and get everything you need to get started, you should check out this package from Pyle.   Once you have a receiver, speakers, and a way to connect your tunes, you can relax and listen to the music.  

This is an entry level stereo system, but it will get you started.  As your musical tastes evolve, you can upgrade one component at a time.  For more information, check it out through one of this link to Amazon. 


 

Science, Human Hearing, and Stereo Speakers

When it comes to speakers, you can read all the reviews and study all the performance metrics you want.  But, at the end of the day, what matters is whether the speakers are pleasing to your ears when playing the kinds of music you like to hear.

The science of human biology and speaker specifications don't always mesh.According to wikipedia, the average human range of hearing begins as low as 12 hz and goes to 20khz.  Dogs can hear from around 40 hz to 60 khz.  Cats can hear from 55hz to 79khz.  Now, I don't know if Best Buy will allow dogs and cats into their listening room. It's too bad because I'm pretty sure that our dog wants me to buy better speakers.  He'd probably like me to buy JBL ES20 bookshelf speakers since they have a dynamic range of 60 hz to 40 khz.



There is no real evidence that audiophile ears are any better than the ears of the general public.  Claims to special hearing by audiophiles are likely to be due to what researchers call "The Hawthorne Effect."  Some writers claim that sounds we can not hear may still play a role in your brains processing of sounds from a stereo.  Words like presence, soundstage, and "boominess" all play a role in speaker selection.  Unfortunately, all of these speaker describing words are subjective.  I know I've missed having deep bass with my bookshelf speakers.  If you are looking for bass in a bookshelf speaker, these Polk Audio TSi100 go down to 53 hz which is pretty deep for bookshelf speakers.



I won't dispute anyone's anecdotal evidence that premium speakers are worth the extra money.  It isn't my role to diminish anyone's enjoyment of this hobby.  However, the science is compelling enough to help us protect our wallets.  Don't let anyone compel you to buy any stereo equipment on the basis of any claim that you cannot directly and distinctly hear and experience for yourself without prompting.  In the world of speakers, science can defend our wallets from preposterous claims, but our speakers still have to be bought from the heart.

The CD is Cheap!

Lately, I've been amazed at how inexpensive music can be on compact disc.  Downloaded music files may be all the rage now, but music on CD can last a very, very, long time.

Photo By Luis Fernández García (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.1-es (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.1/es/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

 The Big Box stores are all offering good deals.  Walmart, Target, and BestBuy all have extensive libraries of music at $5 to $7 per CD.  You can get classic music from performers like Diana Ross, James Brown, Aerosmith, or Van Halen or you can get newer music from performers like Justin Timberlake or Pink.


Our local Goodwill stores also have lots of CDs for sale at $2.50 per disc.  At that amazingly low price, you can take a chance on lots of groups that you haven't heard about and on genres that are a little off your beaten path.


Amazon.com offers the best of both world's with inexpensive CD prices and downloadable free copies of music you buy on CD.

Shop Amazon Music - Buy a CD or Vinyl Record - Get MP3 Version FREE with AutoRip

Reviewing Sony MDR-XD100 Stereo Headphones

Last week, we covered a $20 pair of Maxell headphones.  This week we're covering a $20 pair of Sony headphones.  In the quest for the best in consumer electronics and stereo sound, I visited an exclusive audio equipment supplier in my neighborhood.  It is called RiteAid.  They sell all kinds of inexpensive audio gear - speakers, headphones, portable radios, CD players and the like.  Surprisingly, much of their audio gear comes from Sony.  Since Sony is a brand most Americans trust, I didn't hesitate to buy a pair of Sony MDR-XD100 Stereo headphones.

Sony MDR-XD100 Stereo Headphones

These headphones are comfortable and sound pretty good.  You can read my full review here--

Personal Electronics Review:  Sony MDR-XD100 Stereo Headphones

If you'd like to buy some of these headphones, they are available at Amazon.com. Here are the Sony MDR-XD100s and some similarly priced Sony alternatives:

Is the Home Stereo Dying?

There was an interesting CNN.com article last week called "The Death of the Home Stereo System" by Todd Leopold.  According to the article, consumers are leaving bulky component stereos behind for portable devices and headphones.  It's a real phenomenon.  Most people are now comfortable downloading their music and storing their music in the cloud.  Listening to music seems to have become a more and more personal and introspective event.

Why would anyone want to maintain a full-sized component stereo system?  I can think of three good reasons:

• To play large collections of music on CD, vinyl, and tape
• To play music through powerful high quality speakers
• To maintain tangible, physical, ownership of a music collection.

 In addition, there are a lot of intangibles that I enjoy about music on CD.  For example, I like reading the little booklets that come with a CD or cassette.  Many people love the album covers that come with vinyl records.

There are also some things I really dislike about the whole MP3, Smartphone, thing.  First of all, I don't like data plans, texting, and high fees.  I also don't like earbuds.  I hate the way people using portable devices lose situational awareness of the world around them.  I also live in a city full of people who will kill you for your iPhone5.  I do like streaming internet radio and connect my Barnes & Noble Nook to my stereo on a regular basis.  I guess the MP3 revolution is simply technology that I am not comfortable with.

But, here is the thing.  Shouldn't the technology you use for recreation be comfortable to you?  Listening to music is supposed to be fun and relaxing.  I don't feel the need to find a website, download MP3, pay 49 cents per song, and build a playlist before playing music.  It sounds like way too much work for me.  I'll stick to selecting my CD, putting it into a player, and pressing play.  It simply works.  It sounds better and it is much less of a pain in the ass than signing your life away to some unknown online entity.

Plus, if the mass market home stereo really is dying, there should be some awesome deals out there!

Reviewing Maxell Digital Studio Series Headphones

Since music has become more personalized and portable, headphones have become an even more important audio purchase.  One of the first things I did upon assembling my vintage stereo was buy some headphones so that we could listen to music with a modicum of privacy.  Of course, this is the Dirt Cheap Audio Blog, so I bought my headphones from the best audiophile suppliers in the community:  RiteAid and Kmart.

The Kmart headphones were Maxell Digital Studio Series headphones.  I found them attractive because they have 40mm drivers.  Plus, they were on sale for less than $30.  To me, they sounded pretty good.  But, they were rather uncomfortable due to the padded center piece in the middle (see picture) that presses down on the top of your head. 

Ultimately, I decided to cut that center piece off in the interest of comfort.  The headphones still sound good, but they feel much flimsier.  It'll be interesting to see how they hold up.  If you'd like to buy some, they are dirt cheap on Amazon.com.

Looking on Amazon.com, I see that they Maxell AMP-B Heavy Bass headphones get much better reviews and are in that magical dirt cheap $20 price range.

A Dirt Cheap Stereo Deal - Sherwood Stereo Receiver for $84!

This is just a quick post to let you in on a dirt cheap two channel stereo receiver deal.  This week Amazon.com has a Sherwood RX-4109 105 Watt Stereo Receiver (Black) on sale for only $84.  According to the product description, the receiver actually delivers 105 watts per channel.  It also has a 30 station pre-sets and a sleep timer.  It looks like a nice deal on a basic two channel stereo.


If you are in the market for a dirt cheap stereo receiver, you might want to jump on this deal.  According to Amazon, this is about $56 off of the regular price.  I think this one has been discounted to about $104 for a couple of months.  But, this Sherwood Stereo price is the lowest that I've seen.  I'm not sure how long this price will last.

Building Your Dream Stereo - One Piece at a Time

The one great joy of having a component stereo system is that you can improve it over time. You can buy one piece at a time until you have build something truly wonderful. You could buy one speaker now and buy another when your budget permits. If you are looking for "the best" speakers, you may want to look at truly great speakers from names like Definitive Technologies or Martin Logan.

Stereo System Lessons from Audiophiles

Stereo Nuts Can Teach the Rest of Us About Sound Systems

I've been hanging out for awhile on audiophile forums and blogs. I've been thinking about stereos.  I think I've picked up some important lessons about stereos and stereo equipment along the way.

While I still can't make sense of terms like "fresh" and "full bodied" when it comes to stereo sound, here are a few things that I have learned:

If you hang out in enough audiophile Internet forums and read enough audiophile blogs, you'll eventually learn a few things that can help you set up your normal person stereo and enjoy your normal person music. Here are seven lessons we can all learn from those stereo nuts called audiophiles:

1. Lesson 1- Don't Be An Audiophile. Audiophiles are tortured souls. They tweak their systems endlessly and constantly re-arrange their lives, their finances, and their living spaces in pursuit of perfect sound reproduction. When they finally get their perfect system created, they find that sometimes imperfect commercial music recordings sound terrible.

2.. Lesson 2 - Music Genre Matters. Audiophiles enjoy music that will allow the full range of sound to come to their ears. Classical music and jazz are often the preferred genres of audiophiles because of the wide variety of instruments brought to bear in a composition. Those of us who relish other genres like pop, rock, and rap get more enjoyment from beat and rhythm. If my wife is dancing around the house, then our stereo is working properly.

3. Lesson 3 - Speaker Placement Is Important. Ideally, speakers should be placed at ear level. This generally means speaker stands. You don't want to block speakers with furniture and other obstructions. If you place speakers close to walls, you will deepen bass. If you move them away from walls, you'll diminish the bass. In most cases, you'll want to aim speakers so that the sound converges on the spot where you'll most likely be listening.


4. Lesson 4 - Room Furnishings Affect Sound. Hard furniture, hard floors, and hard walls will cause sound to be reflected. While soft furnishings, carpets, and tapestries, absorb sound. When placing speakers you want to strike a balance between sound reflecting and sound absorbing materials.

5. Lesson 5. Buy Quality. Audiophiles like to buy the highest quality stereo components they can in hopes of accurately reproducing music. If they can't get the highest quality new stereo system, they will seek out vintage stereo equipment with an excellent reputation for good sound or they will incrementally build a system by buying one high quality piece at a time.

6. Lesson 6. It's Not About Power. Audiophiles are not swayed by the power ratings of stereo receivers or amplifiers. For them, it is all about accurate sound reproduction. " Essentially," according to audiocognoscenti.com, "high-end audio tries to achieve the goal of reproducing the recorded music perfectly as it was meant to be heard." You don't necessarily need a powerful stereo and speaker system to accomplish the goal of accurate sound reproduction. On his Cheap Audiophile blog, Kent Smith shows that with efficient speakers, you don't need a lot of power to produce a borderline uncomfortable 100 decibals of sound.

7. Lesson 7. You Can Fix and Improve Stereo Speakers. Audiophiles aren't all impractical sissies. Many can roll up their sleeves and work on stereo equipment. For example, when the foam surrounding a speaker deteriorates, a serious audiophile might get a kit from a supplier like Parts Express and "re-foam" it. You can also add sound absorbing material to speaker cabinets or even build stereo speakers from a kit or from your own design. The internet is awash with instructions and how to videos about stereo speakers.


If you avoid becoming totally obsessed with stereo equipment, you can learn a lot of useful information from audiophiles and you'll end up with better sound from your own stereo and AV equipment.  Fortunately, you don't have to give into the dark side and become a full-fledged "spend a hundred thousand on a listing room" audiophile to learn a few things about how to choose new stereo equipment and how to set up your home stereo.

Sources:
Steven Stone, "Is Sound Quality Genre-Related?" Audiophilereview.com. July 31, 2013.
"Tips for Audiophile Beginners," www.audiocognoscenti.com
Kent Smith, "More Power Scotty!" www.cheapaudiophile.com, August 10, 2013.
"How to Optimize Speaker Performance." www.howstuffworks.com


Photo:   By Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Bookshelf Speakers Under $100

I've been looking at bookshelf speakers on Amazon.com for several months.  I'm not sure why.  I think it is a compulsion.  I read the Amazon and other reviews and I wonder if I should replace my old Sony speakers.  

I'd like my internet addiction to be of some benefit to humanity so I've decided to put together a round up bookshelf speakers that you can buy for less than $100.  Here is the run-down on the leading sub-$100 bookshelf speakers:

Micca Motion Series MB42 Bookshelf Speakers - Retailing for approximately $60, these traditional two-way speakers get rave reviews with very few negatives.  There is a very nice review on the Micca MB42 speakers at Budgetphile.com.

  
According to Budgetphile, these speakers outperform competing Sony SSB-1000 bookshelf speakers.
 

Dayton B652 Bookshelf Speakers - At $51.99, the Dayton B652 Bookshelf Speakers have been the darling of critics for the past year or so.  However, reviews have been declining since this summer.  Apparently Dayton changed their winning formula for cheaper components and people have been less happy with these speakers in recent months.  Dayton needs to change back to their original formula and let people know that deficiencies have been corrected.

Sony SS-B1000 Bookshelf Speakers - If you need some speakers, Sony has them for about $68.00 on Amazon and for similar prices at your local Walmart.  These are some of the best selling speakers on Amazon and people are generally happy with them.  If you read the reviews closely, you'll quickly realize that these aren't audiophile speakers.  But, they offer solid performance at their price point.  Plus, if you like immediate gratification, you can just drive over to Walmart and get them today.

Technical Pro SPH5 Bookshelf Speakers - These speakers are 120 Watt speakers with 8 ohms resistance.  They have a five inch woofer and 3 inch tweeter.  At $39.99, these speakers have an unbeatable price point.  However, there are only two reviews on Amazon.com.  Since those reviews are both five star, these speakers might be worth taking a risk on.  If you are looking for dirt cheap speakers, they are a good deal.

Pioneer SP-BS21-LR Bookshelf Speakers - These two-way Pioneer speakers offer attractive looks at a good price.  For less than $70, these speakers are a great deal. However, these are 6 ohm speakers.  Some reviewers have also complained about a lack of treble.  You might be better servered looking at the audiophile quality Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones designed Bookshelf Speakers.  I think I would watch for the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers to go on sale or buy them used.

As much as I like my thrift store speakers, it's also exciting to have so many nice speaker choices in the sub-$100 price range.   Just be careful.  Speakers are the most important part of your system.

Beware of the Fake Tweeter

When it comes to low end audio gear, I don't have unrealistic expectations.  The product you buy has to be a good value in its price range.  When you are paying less than $50 for a mini stereo, you aren't getting audiophile gear.  However, I've noticed a trend among low end audio gear makes that I don't really don't like - fake tweeters and fake bass ports. 

Magnavox Mini Stereo with 3 CD Changer

My Magnavox MAS85 Compact Stereo with 3-disc CD changer appears to have fake tweeters and fake base ports.  Another system with fake tweeters molded into the speaker design is my GPX HM3817DTBK Micro System with Remote and AM/FM Radio.  For less than $40, it's not a bad value.  But, these fake non-functional styling cues are rather deceptive.

My next logical question is obvious - Can I upgrade a system like this with better speakers?  The answer is yes.  If I can find some bookshelf speakers with 8 ohm impedance and less than 50 Watts of power, I should be able to use them instead of these speakers with non-functional styling cues.  This would probably be a good use of some vintage Realistic Minimus 7 speakers.

These popular Dayton speakers have 6 ohms of impedance:

These Sony speakers have 8 ohms of impedance, but might not get enough power from my mini-system:

I'll probably test my mini system with 50 watt Sony bookshelf speakers that I have on hand before making any purchase.

The Purpose of Your Stereo Receiver

What is the purpose of your stereo receiver?  It's generally to receive radio signals from the airwaves and from your stereo components and to drive your speakers so that you can hear the music.  If the music sounds good to you, do you know what to do next?

NOTHING!

If you are happy with the way your system sounds and your stereo handles all of your sound sources successfully, you don't have to buy anything at all.  You can kick back, relax, and expand your music collection.

The secret to dirt cheap audio is simply build one system that meets your needs and then stop.  Be happy.  You don't have to buy anything new until a component fails or your needs change.

If you follow this maxim, you may initially pay a little more for a receiver that meets all your needs, but then you'll keep it for years and years.  If you buy a receiver that makes you happy and you keep it for decades, then it truly was a bargain.

Entry level stereo receivers start at about $100.  There is no limit to the cost of a high end unit, but many highly respected brands offer stereo receivers for less than $500.  For example, this Harmon Kardon 3490 120-Watt Stereo receiver sells for less than $400 on Amazon.com. 

Three Ways to Get A $50 Stereo

A Guide to Buying a Stereo for Less Than $50 

There is no reason for the music to stop just because you are broke.  When it comes to stereo equipment, if there is a will there is a way.  For example, you could build a stereo around a mini amplifier like this one:




I've had great luck finding stereo equipment for less than $50.  I have two compact stereos and a full-sized component stereo and all cost less than $50.

Here are three ways to buy a stereo for less than $50:

At some point, everyone wants a nice stereo. But, there are limits to every family budget. Sometimes a luxury like a stereo can seem like an impossible dream. In a chronically under-employed America, a stereo can seem like a far away dream. Fortunately, with a little perseverance and good, old-fashioned, ingenuity, you can put together a pretty decent little stereo for $50 or less. The $50 price point is so low that many people can afford it by a few simple changes in their budget, a few sales on ebay, mowing a lawn or two, or cashing in that change jar.

Once you have $50, here are three ways to spend it on stereo equipment:

1. Bookshelf Mini System. If you are a plug and play, cash and carry, buy it and be done kind of person, a mini stereo is a perfect solution. Look for economical systems by Coby, GPX, Supersonic, and Jensen. If you have $50, you can just go to Kmart and pick up a nice little mini stereo like the GPX Home Music System with CD player. It has an AM/FM tuner, a vertical CD player, and accepts external inputs from a device earphone jack or an RCA stereo cable. That allows you to play music from an MP3 player or attach a stereo device like a turntable. The little system isn't overly loud, but puts out nice, clear, sound that is adequate for a bedroom, dorm room, or office. It also has a plug for headphones or ear buds. I found it an easy way to stream music from my Barnes & Noble Nook.

2. Lepai Tripath Class-T Hi Fi Amplifier & Bookshelf Speakers Combination. If you are a bit more adventurish and you already have a sound source like a computer, tablet, or MP3 player, you might get a stereo with a little more power by ordering a Lepai Tripath Class-T Hi Fi Audio Mini Amplifier and computer speakers. I was intrigued by this system when I first saw it on the RetroThing Blog. For less than $25 on Amazon.com, you can get a small mini amplifier that is great for bookshelf speakers. The mini amp is a jump in power over most of the mini systems and gets you 20 watts of power for powering some decent speakers. Of course, finding speakers for less than $27.50 is a challenge. Right now, you can get a pair of Pyle Home PCB3BK 3-Inch 100-Watt Mini Cube Bookshelf Speakers - Pair (Black) for less than $30 at Amazon.com. These 4-star rated speakers should be perfect for a small system and would be right at home on a full-sized stereo.



3. Thrift Store Stereo. If you like the thrill of the hunt, nothing beats rummaging through thrift stores for old bookshelf or component stereo systems. There is definitely an art to buying stereos at thrift shops, but with a little luck you can probably find a receiver and a couple of speakers for less than $50. Alternatively, complete mini systems can be found for between $20 and $50. I've bought and enjoyed very solid bookshelf systems from Aiwa and Magnavox at thrift stores for less than $50 each. Both had AM/FM tuners, multi-disc CD changers, and dual cassette decks. I was able to build a full-sized stereo with amplifier, tuner, and speakers for less than $40.

If you want a stereo, there are bargains to be found. Cost shouldn't stop the music!

Sources:
Amazon.com
www.retrothing.com

My Boom Box - It's a Memorex

From Goodwill it came and to Goodwill it went.  I decided to retire my little work stereo.  It was a JVC mini system with an AM/FM receiver, CD player, and cassette deck.  The CD player was flaky and the reception inside an office building was just o.k.  I didn't have any speakers hooked up to it.  It all went back to Goodwill.  All except the AM loop antenna.  I kept that for my stereo at home.

JVC Mini Stereo

Instead, I am using a Memorex Boom Box at work.  It is one compact package and it has an AM/FM receiver, CD player, and cassette deck.  As a boom box, this Memorex is a little tame.  However, it works well and, through ear buds, it sounds just as good as the mini system it replaced.  We've had it for many years and seldom used it.  At the office, I'm hoping the bright color and awkward shape will make it difficult for anyone to walk away with it.  I'm glad that this Memorex finally has a nitch after many years!

Memorex Boom Box

 Of course, boom boxes evolve over time and the one we have is no longer sold. But, several current boom boxes look similar and the latest Memorex even includes a jack for external inputs (like MP3 players).

Thrift Store Music - My Cheesiest Music Finds

Buying music at the thrift store can be an interesting experience. There are bins of music CD's mixed up with old computer software. There may be a shelf of vinyl and a small number of cassette tapes. Every once in awhile a batch of 8 tracks will come in.

You have to dig through quite a bit of unwanted material to find the real gems. For example, everyone donates their grandparents Lawrence Welk albums. If you are looking for The Best of Lawrence Welk, it's probably there!

 You'll also find plenty of orchestral renditions of movie and television themes. They are always a bit cheesy, but I always fall for them. For example, I recently picked up a CD of James Bond movie themes and a CD of science fiction movie themes.  The Bond CD was cool to listen to for about ten minutes on my morning commute. Then my mind was overwhelmed by two thoughts:

1. These aren't the real movie soundtrack themes. 
2. My Toyota Highlander is nothing like an Aston Martin.

I wish I would have found a CD like this one with many of the real James Bond themes:



Of course, the cheesiness of the Bond movie themes paled in comparison to the Science Fiction movie theme CD. That CD had the theme to Raiders of the Lost Ark by an orchestra and all the rest of the Sci Fi movie themes were interpreted on a music synthesizer. If you can imagine the "Friends" episode where Ross finds his keyboard, you are on the right track. They even added a disco beat to some of the music.  If you'd like to check it out, you can get it for only 1 penny (plus shipping) from an Amazon seller.


There is a reason some music gets donated to the thrift store. But, with tapes being only 55 cents, it's hard to resist picking up affordable music from major artists. I recently picked Sting's album,Ten Summoner's Tales on cassette. It was a good listen and well worth two quarters and a nickel. It is quite a bit better than a orchestral rendition of various James Bond themes and you don't have to wear a Darth Vader mask to listen to it.

New Stereo for Less Than $200?

Can you buy a stereo for less than $200?  Would you like a totally new stereo for less than $200?  Amazingly, you can build a component stereo system for less than $200.  First, check out the Insignia brand at Best Buy.  It's the Best Buy House Brand.  This week their Insignia 5-disc CD Changer is on sale for an amazing $49.99.  It may be a tad slow in responding to remote commands, but for less than $50 it can take its time.  It's a nice basic CD changer and it sounds good.  I've reviewed it here - Stereo Component Review:  Insignia 5-Disc CD Changer

The Insignia 200W 2.0 Channel Stereo Receiver is only $129.99 at Best Buy.  It is a basic 2-channel receiver with few frills.  However, there are sellers on Amazon.com that have these basic Stereo Receivers used ("Like New") for as low as $85 including shipping.  If you are patient, it will also probably go on sale at Best Buy.

Alternatively, you could pair the Insignia CD changer with an inexpensive Pyle PT260A stereo receiver and you would be in the stereo business.  The Pyle stereo receiver costs well less than $100 and it can provide up to 50 watts per speaker at 8 ohms impedance.


So, yes, you can get a basic stereo together for less than $200.  Of course, you may have to hit Goodwill for some speakers! However, Amazon could come to the rescue again with some basic 50 Watt Monoprice Bookshelf Speakers like these for $30! They would be a perfect match for that Pyle receiver.

Our grand total for this system without shipping or wires would be about $160. $160 for a complete entry level stereo would work. Now, it won't make you an audiophile or convey any bragging right. But, it would get you started. Then, you could slowly evolve your system into something awesome as funding permits! Good luck!

My Newest Component - The Insignia 5-Disc CD and MP3 Disc Changer

One of the first additions I made to my low budget stereo was a brand new CD changer. The twenty year old Sony unit that I originally bought at a thrift store was making horrible noises. It was going to damage some of our CD collection eventually. It had to be replaced.  I had to place something new in our tower of power.

 
I surfed the internet and found all kinds of low cost CD players on Amazon. They had great deals on Sony disc changers and TEAC single CD players. But, I'm a retro guy.  I had to do things backwards.  While I shopped on Amazon, I actually bought from a brick-and-mortar Best Buy store!

At $80, the 5-disc changer was too good of a deal to pass up.  Tonight, I saw this CD Changer advertised at BestBuy online for just under $50.  At that price, run don't walk to your nearest Best Buy.  FIrst, you can read my review of this dirt cheap CD and MP3 disc changer here:

 Stereo Component Review:  Insignia 5-Disc CD Changer

When I was surfing Amazon, I thought this CD player would also have been great option:

Walking Away from Dirt Cheap Speaker Deals

When you frequent thrift stores, you'll often run into lots of good deals on old speakers.  When speakers cost you less than $50 for a pair, it can be easy to buy more than you need.  You can also end up buying stereo speakers that are wildly inappropriate for your space.

For example, a few weeks ago, I encountered a pair of pristine Sony ss-U421AV floor standing speakers.  These were beautiful floor standing speakers that could accept up to 250 watts of peak power.  They would have been thunderous.  I was really tempted to snatch them up.  But, my wife and I live in an apartment.  They would have been a completely preposterous addition to our space.  If we ever cranked the volume above 3, we would have probably generated a noise complaint.

Sony ss-U421AV Floor Stander Speakers

When we got home, I still thought about them and wondered if I had made a mistake.  I thought about showing back up at the thrift store and snatching them up as soon as they opened.  I visited the forum at audiokarma.org and enquired about those speakers.  Someone replied that they would pass because they didn't think much of Sony speakers they had previously owned.  The words of caution were just enough to restrain me from rushing out to make an ill-considered impulse buy.  I was able to walk away.

In our small space, we really don't need thunderous speakers.  We should probably stick to something small and space appropriate --


If I ended this post here, it would be a story of prudence, self-restraint, and thoughtful analysis.  Of course, that would be the safe and prudent course.  But, if you are into stereos, sometimes, you've just got to rock!  Two weeks later, we encountered a pair of Cerwin-Vega VS-100 floor standing speakers on another Goodwill run and I snatched them up for $40.  They sound great . . . even at with the volume cranked up to 1.5 in our small apartment!

My vintage Cerwin-Vega speakers have 10-inch drivers and can handle up to 125 watts.  They can also generate powerful base frequencies down to 37 hertz.  The second speaker in this pair will eventually need to have the driver refoamed, but they still sound great.  However, out of consideration for our neighbors, that prudent part of me still runs vintage 50 watt Sony SS-D201 3-way bookshelf speakers most of the time.  These speakers are about 18-inches tall and cost me only $10.91 at another Goodwill thrift store.

 

I guess you can walk away from cheap speaker deals.  But, if this story has a moral, that moral would be that sometimes you can't walk far!

Is the GPX Home Music System the Ultimate Low Cost Dorm Room Stereo?

It's back to school time! If you are looking for a low cost stereo for a dorm room, walk right on by the brand names like Sony, Pioneer, Yamaha, and Onkyo.  If you want a good little system for playing music in a dorm room, check out the humble GPX HM3817DTBLK Vertical Home Music System with CD Player (Black)

The GPX Home Music System has a regular audio input for MP3 players or Tablet computers and it has an RCA stereo input for a conventional stereo sound source like a turntable.  I have one and it is great for music in a small space like a bedroom.  Since it is a very inexpensive unit, you don't have to worry about losing a valuable investment due to theft or clumsy drunken roommates.  



This little stereo can fill a dorm room with sound, but it isn't really capable of disturbing the neighbors. Here is a complete review that I previously published on Yahoo Contributors Network:

Compact Stereo Review: GPX Home Music System with CD Player

An Inexpensive Stereo that May Be Perfect for Dorm Rooms, Offices, Bedrooms, and Other Small Spaces

If you are looking for an inexpensive stereo that can fit in a small space (like a bedroom, dorm room or office) and that can play well with MP3 players, tablets, computers, and other gadgets, the surprisingly inexpensive GPX Home Music System with CD player might be a good choice.

Once upon a time, I owned the perfect stereo. It had waist high speakers that pumped out at least 100 watts of power per channel. It was a Technics system with individual components I chose by hand including a receiver, dual tape deck, and five disc CD player. I watched the sales at and it was beautiful. But, since I lived in an apartment in a densely populated urban area, I could never crank the volume above two or three. While I may one day recreate my stereo of early nineties glory, on a day-to-day basis, my actual music needs are far more modest. I don't need to blast my neighbors into fits of fuious indignation. Instead, I need to play my CD's, plug in my tablet and stream a podcast, or simply watch videos on my laptop with decent sound. I don't need to fill a home with sound. I need to fill a bedroom or a home office. That's where a compact stereo can really be useful. I recently found an inexpensive little stereo that fits my needs. It is the GPX Home Music System with CD Player.

This little stereo only costs about $45, but it can play music from every device we own. It has ports to accept conventional RCA plugs from another stereo component such as a turntable or DVD player. If I don't have a device connected to that port, I can connect something via a line-in from the earphone jack of a modern portable device like an MP3 player or tablet computer. The GPX system also has a built in CD player and AM/FM radio. It can be used as an alarm clock. It can even be mounted on the wall. It has two detachable speakers. The system has a stereo headphone jack. It has preset equalizer settings for rock, pop, jazz, and classical. It even has a remote. From a usability perspective, the GPX Home Music System is easy to set up and use.

In my testing, the GPX Home Music System worked well in a small space. The unit's CD player and AM/FM radio receiver functioned just fine. The sound was adequate, but not booming. This is not a powerful stereo at all. The back of the unit claims a 14 watt power supply. But, not all that power is making it to the speakers. The sound would be about what you'd expect from a set of pretty decent $20 computer speakers or a small boom box. With no dedicated sub-woofer, there was no thumping to disturb our neighbors. However, for a small space, that can be a good thing. The lack of booming bass might make this speaker the perfect choice for parents who want to get their kid a stereo without feeling the effects throughout their entire home. I felt the sound quality of the GPX system was also somewhat limited by the plastic speaker enclosures. The "tweeters" on the speakers are just cheesy non-functional pieces of plastic decor. That being said, the sound was clear and pleasant enough. For a small space, the sound quality was good, but not excellent. You won't find audiophile quality at a $45 price point.

However, there is a chance that you can tweak the cheap little system yourself to improve it a bit. One Amazon reviewer reported good results by swapping the speakers for a better pair from his local thrift store. That sounds like a potentially outstanding idea as speakers from bookshelf stereos can often be found at my local thrift shops. However, the challenge would be to find speakers that have a single male plug for each speaker like the GPX speakers.

Overall, I was very pleased by the GPX Home Music System. It met my basic expectations. I liked being able to hook up my Nook Color and stream music from AccuRadio. While it may not be a powerful stereo, this GPX unit has the priceless ability to accept input from many different devices. In this world that makes this "Home Music System" an incredibly useful little system.

Dirt Cheap Cassette Decks - To Tape or Not To Tape

When I built my thrift store stereo, I added a cassette deck.  I reasoned that the cassette deck only cost me $15 and it would allow us to play the couple dozen music cassettes that we still own.  A couple of mini systems in my inventory have cassette decks as well.  Since I sometimes find music cassettes for only 55 cents at one of my local thrift stores, I figures that a cassette deck would keep an entire music avenue open for me. If I really want to be hip, I can also try cassette-only indie music labels.  There are quite a few reasons to keep the cassette format alive.  You can read more here -

Music Cassette Tapes Are Coming Back

However, there is one significant drawback to cassettes.  I just remembered it recently when I popped a new to me Duran Duran  Seven & The Ragged Tiger tape into the old JVC mini stereo on my desk at work. Tapes are a fragile media for recording music.  When old tapes and old cassette decks meet, you can get distorted sound or a messy jumble of tapes.  In the case of my Duran Duran tape, I just got horribly distorted warbled music.  I was only out a whopping 55 cents, but you've got to consider the psychic trauma!

Ultimately, if you are trying to minimize the cost and size of your system, it's easy to ditch the cassette deck.  But, if you want to plunk down a couple of quarters and take a chance on an old cassette tape, an old tape deck doesn't cost much!  Even this new one is pretty cheap: