Vintage Console Stereo - An Idea that could rise again!

I recently came across this old console stereo system in a thrift store.  I didn't have room for it in our new place and I didn't have the inclination to start a new project.

However, I wish I would have.  I think a console stereo would solve a lot of problems.

Don't like to see unsightly stereo cables?  The console stereo solves the problem.

Don't want a living room dominated by electronics?  Problem solved.  A console stereo looks like the rest of your furniture.

Of course, you would either have to invest heavily to restore the old components or gut the console and replace everything with new stereo components.  It's a tough call.  No one really wants to throw out history.  However, you also want to be cool about fire safety!

This particular example has solid state electronics with an AM/FM stereo and a record player.  With vinyl being in, if this thing worked, that would be really cool.

The price of this model was only $10.91.  That's a good deal for the cabinet alone.  But, without a garage, a major restoration might not be easy!  I don't know much about the history of this stereo.  Garrard was once a famous British maker of turntables.  The Symphonic brand is currently owned by Funai electronics.

Believe it or not, there are companies out there that specialize in the restoration and resale of old console stereos.   You can visit this one here:  Audio Archeology.

Tiny Stereo for Tiny Houses

If I was going to build a tiny house, I would want it to be a sanctuary that I could fill with just a few fine things that were comfortable and soothing. In the audio arena, I would want to equip my tiny house with a tiny sound system.

Tiny House in Oregon - Photo By Tammy (Weekend with Dee) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

If I were operating on a budget that allowed room for a few fine things, I would strongly consider this Orb speaker system and mini Amp. It comes with a small mini subwoofer that would be unobtrusive in even the smallest of homes and I would place the spherical Orb speakers where they could cover the house well.


If the tiny home had a sleeping loft, I'd place an additional QuickPack of two Orb speakers for the upstairs sleeping space. They would look good and sound great!


Now, if I had to equip my tiny house on an even tinier budget, I'd have to get creative.  But, that would be the subject of another post!

Alternatives to the Bose Wave Radio System

Every year, someone in America thinks that getting an aging parent a nice radio is a great gift idea.  If that someone has plenty of money, they simply buy a Bose Wave radio system off of a television shopping network and call it a day.



However, the Bose Wave Music System IV is a rather expensive system. While it sounds great, it isn't affordable for most of us. That's where the Dirt Cheap Audio blog comes in. There has to be an alternative.


One premium alternative is this Yamaha system. The Yamaha MCR-BO43BL is much more than a boombox and offers the premium sound that you are looking for --

If that is still out of your price range, no worries.  It's out of my price range too! For the budget minded, I think the Crosley Solo is a great choice!  I've spent lots  of time listening to these radios on display.  They are simple and great sounding.  It can also take sound from an auxiliary source like a cell phone, tablet or computer via an auxiliary input cable.

Vintage Receiver Review: Technics SA-160

For the last few months, I have used a Technics SA-160 receiver as a bedroom unit.  I found it for less than $20 at Goodwill.  I snatched it up because the balance was slightly off and a couple of LEDs were burnt out on my Sony unit.

The Technics SA-160  is less powerful than the Sony.  But, certainly does well as a secondary unit. 

 

Serious audiophiles will probably scoff at this receiver.  For example, this poster on Head-Fi pronounced it black plastic crap. 

However, in the dirt cheap audio space, working trumps all specifications.  Since space is at a premium in our new space, I'll probably re-donate this unit and use a micro system or radio instead.  I have a couple that work really well.

Thrift Store Stereo - Panasonic SA-PM18 Mini Stereo with 5-disc Changer

Check out this Panasonic Mini Stereo SA-PM18 with built in 5-disc changer.  It's a neat little stereo system and a reminder that all of this stereo equipment is just stuff.  Of course, some of this stereo equipment is really cool stuff.  But, it's still just stuff.

Panasonic SA-PM Stereo

For example, once upon a time, a teen or "tween" might have clamored for this Panasonic SA-PM18 stereo for their room.  But, now, that same stereo has found its way to Goodwill.  What was once a $150-$200 stereo is now a $20 stereo.  Since it was engineered to last, chances are this little stereo still has a lot of life left in it.



The Panasonic SA-PM18 mini stereo has a 5-disc changer, a cassette player, AM/FM receiver, and the all important Auxiliary input.  That auxiliary allows you to plug in modern gadgets like cell phones, tablets, or laptops and play music.  It has 6-ohm, 60 watt, speakers and the amplifier puts out about 30 watts per channel.  If you need a manual for a Panasonic SA-PM18 Mini Stereo you can find it here on the Panasonic support site.

When you go "thrifting" enough, you realize that all material goods eventually end up at Goodwill for a fraction of their original price.  Once that is realized, it becomes difficult to pay full price.  Of course, if you are dealing with mechanically complex and fragile CD changers, it might be worth it to buy a new micro stereo system.

Amazon Prime Review: Why I Like Amazon Prime

For the past few months, I've been using Amazon Prime.  I'm not yet using all the free features.  For example, I don't yet have a Kindle so I haven't ordered any of the free e-books.  I also don't have a fancy flat screen so I haven't streamed any video.  However, I have enjoyed the heck out of the Amazon Prime music service.

With Amazon Prime, you can search for artists or songs and stream many of them for free. It's awesome.   You can add free songs from Amazon Prime directly to your library or to playlists that you design.  You can also find Amazon Prime streaming "radio" stations and stream music from the same genre.

Amazon Prime has let me explore music genres that I don't usually listen to and see if I like them.  For example, I've been listening to rock and pop.  But, I've discovered a select few country acts that I really like.  For example, I love the old country super group, The Highwaymen, now.  Johnny Cash, Willy Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristoferson once made a hell of a team.

Overall, I've found that the free shipping options and discounts that Amazon Prime provides go along way towards offsetting the cost of the service.  Since we're in the Holiday Season, there has never been a better time to sign up for a free trial. You Amazon prime purchase will help this blog and save you a ton of money on shipping.

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