A Thrift Store Stereo Shoppers Test Kit

Five Things to Carry When Shopping for A Thrift Store Stereo

There is one thing that every price tag at my local Goodwill store carries:  a disclaimer!  It reads:

This is a used appliance.  It is sold "AS-IS" with no Guarantee or Warranty Implied. 

The appliance disclaimer is why you should make every possible attempt to test out any appliance you buy before you buy it and walk out of the store.  Even when the price tag says "Tested," there is no guarantee that the appliance will work properly.  Commonly, I see that tested stereo equipment powers on and plays music.  But, there may be additional issues like Left-Right balance that don't quite work right.  It's enough to drive a guy to buy a brand new stereo receiver!

Still the bargain stereos in thrift stores draw me in like a moth to a flame.  Some of the old stereo equipment is just too cool.  Most of the time, I'm just browsing and--officially--I have sworn off buying any more old stereo receivers.  However, if I were to go to the thrift store for stereo buying purposes, I would like to bring a few useful things along.  This would be a thrift store stereo test kit:

1. Speaker Wire.  Two short 2-foot lengths of stereo speaker wire would allow me to hook up any available stereo speakers to a potential purchase.  Something like AmazonBasics Speaker Wire would suffice.

2. Headphone Jack Adapter.  A 6.35mm (1/4 inch) Male to 3.5mm(1/8 inch) Female Stereo Jack Adapter would allow me to plug a regular pair of earbuds into a stereo.

3. Earbuds.  A pair of earbuds (like these Sharper Image PIXIS earbuds) would allow me to listen to a stereo receiver using the aforementioned adapter.  They would also be small enough to fit in my pocket.

4. AUX Input Cable.  A 3.5 mm Male to RCA Male Stereo Y-plug adapter would allow me to pump music reliably from my smartphone into a stereo receiver.

5. FM Dipole Antenna.  Finally, it might be worth it to carry an FM dipole antenna.  However, that would add quite a bit of unwieldy bulk to the kit.

I would also recommend putting all of your gear into a pouch that is labeled with your name and even marking each piece of your gear with your initials in some manner.  That would minimize the risk that someone might think you were shoplifting.

Vintage Allegro Sound System by Zenith

Here's an interesting vintage sound system that I discovered in a local thrift store, but did not buy.  It's an Zenith Allegro Sound System.  It has everything a smooth operator from the 1970s might need including a record player, an 8-track player, and an AM/FM receiver.

As I've read up on this unit, I've found plenty of folks who actually have had pretty good luck with the Zenith Allegro.  It's not "high end" and it's not "audiophile" equipment, but it was made to sound nice in the living rooms of everyday Americans. If you are interested in the restoring speakers for a Zenith Allegro sound system, you'll find this blog post very informative.

For some reason, the logos and labels on this system remind me of Ricardo Montalban and the Chrysler Cordova with rich Corinthian leather.  But, perhaps, that is just a font thing.

Here are the state of the art controls.  The toggle power switch on this unit (far right above the equalizer) appears to be broken in the on position.

The turntable has an arm to allow for the stacking of multiple vinyl records.  I'm sure that the serious audiophiles never did this, but for kids in the 1970s, this was the multi-disc player.

Why I'm Giving Up On Thrift Store Stereo Receivers

I've had a lot of fun tinkering with cheap stereos from the thrift store.  I enjoy the electronics section of Goodwill Stores in my area.  It's fun to find new to me stereos and see if they work.  It's cool to get a stereo that once costs hundreds of dollars for a song.  However, I'm officially giving up on thrift store stereo receivers.

Why?  About half of the thrift store stereo receivers that I've bought have turned out to have hidden flaws or be short-lived in my custody.  I'll post breathlessly about my latest thrift store stereo receiver find, extol their virtues for all the internet to see, and then a few weeks later, I'll notice that one channel fades out intermittently or that one channel is weaker than the other.  It's very frustrating.  Just two weeks ago, I was really stoked about my Marantz receiver and now the balance is completely kaput with only one speaker working.  It happens and these electronics are old.

But...But...  I kow that right about now, an electronics hobbyist is getting ready to comment that these issues can be fixed.  If you visit audiokarma.org, you'll read of people who open up their stereos, deep clean circuit boards, test and replace resistors, and spray circuit boards with electrical contact spray to get better electrical connections.  I'm not in a position to do any of that stuff.  I don't have a workbench, a garage, a basement, or a convenient balcony to do that kind of work.  I haven't messed around with electronics since I had a Radio Shack 101 project kit in the early 1980s.  I do know that AC Power Supplies and capacitors can shock the crap out of you or even kill you.  Thus, I don't muck around under the hood of my electronics.

Here are a few of the items that have died since I've been doing this blog:

• Marantz PM-70/ST-70 - Left / Right Balance, Intermittent Channel
• Technics SA-222 - Broken Quartz Lock Feature
• Miida Vintage Reciever - Intermittent Channel
•  Panasonic RE-777 - Background Buzz
• Sony Boombox - Faint Buzz 

My New Sony STRDH-130 Stereo Receiver

What did I do to stop this endless processions of flawed stereo gear from getting to my home?  I bought a Sony Stereo Receiver.  It's the STRDH-130 2 channel stereo receiver and it retails for around $150 with smart shoppers paying quite a bit less.  I paid $99 at Best Buy.  Then I paid an extra $20 or so for a four year protection plan just in case I have ANY problems.  The latest receivers offer bluetooth connectivity as well.

Holiday Gift Ideas: The Onkyo TX-8020 A Great Basic Stereo

If giving the gift of a basic stereo this Christmas, I would consider the Onkyo TX-8020.  It's a 2-channel system capable of about 50 watts per channel which provides nice room-filling sound for most spaces.  Unlike some inexpensive systems, this one gets consistently great reviews.  I also know someone who was very happy using his in a backyard gazebo.  While it was sheltered from the elements in the rafters of the gazebo, the Gazebo Stereo survived changes in temperature and humidity.

Onkyo TX-8220 Stereo Receiver with Bluetooth

Compared to similar systems from Sherwood, Insignia, and Sony, this Onkyo model gets higher reviews on Amazon and simply seems much less problematic. While it's not a surround sound model, the Onkyo TX-8020 would be the perfect gift for a teenager or someone who simply wants a nice sounding receiver for music.

[As of November 2025, the Onkyo choice would be an Onkyo TX-8220 is available on Amazon.]

Holiday Gift Ideas: The Sangean WR-11 - A High Quality Radio

The basic AM/FM radio comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes.  Radios are also available at a variety of different price points.  When you have a cheap radio, you can really hear the poor quality.  It's reflected in the speakers, in the reception, in the ease of tuning.  Almost everyone listens to the radio, but radios are so commonplace that no one wants to pay the price for premium radio.  That's one reason premium radios make excellent gifts.  Premium radios are the kind of luxury that many people won't buy for themselves, but can really hear and feel when they receive a premium luxury radio as a gift.

Sangean WR-11 AM/FM Radio - Photo by Precog (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Sangean WR-11:  When it comes to premium radios, one name comes to mind for radio enthusiasts:  Sangean.  The Sangean WR-11 AM/FM table top radio is a deceptively simple mono radio set.  It has three knobs.  The first controls the volume.  The second selects the band or turns the radio off.  A final large knob is used for analog tuning of the radio.  The speaker is a 3-inch 7 watt speaker that provides excellent sound.  You can plug in headphones or a using an output jack or plug in an external source such as an MP3 player or Smartphone via an AUX input.

The Sangean WR-11 is an excellent radio for older adults as well due to the simple controls that are instantly familiar and easy to understand.  If you've ever made the mistake of buying a sophisticated piece of consumer electronics for a grandparent or older relative, you know how disappointing it can be to see it go unused.

While there are other premium radios in the market, I chose to highlight this one because of its quality.  The Sangean WR-11 is a premium radio that gets 5-star reviews from 70% of Amazon buyers.  People seem very satisfied with the sound, the reception, and the simplicity of the Sangean. You can find the 40th Anniversary Sangean WR-11 here on Amazon.

Sangean 40th Anniversary WR-11 (photo from Amazon)

Vintage Sears Solid-State Stereo for Less than $10

I recently ran across a very cool little stereo at my local Goodwill.  It was a vintage solid state stereo from Sears.  It had an all in one AM/FM receiver and turntable and two vintage speakers.  In truth, it isn't much of a stereo.  It's just a little bedroom stereo that kids from the early to mid-1970s probably had for entertainment.  However, in testament to this cheap little stereo, I hooked it up and the radio receiver worked just fine.

Vintage Sears Stereo

Of course, this stereo was pretty old school in its execution.  You have to manually dial in the station and a red light will glow if you are locked in.  But, the sound was okay from both speakers and the balance knob seemed to work just fine.  You had to play with the speaker wires to make sure that you had a good connection when plugging them in.  However, once it was plugged in the speakers put out decent enough sound.  Best of all, this little stereo was priced at just under $7.

Of course, I let this treasure remain on the shelf.  I don't have the room and it's not that great of a stereo.  However, it might be a find for a collector or for someone with a kid or a garage that needs music.  If you like the look of this system, but want something that is more modern in 2024, you might check out this retro system from Victrola.

Victrola 50s Retro Bluetooth Phonograph, CD, AM/FM Media Center

Why You Should Buy an Amazon Echo for Christmas

While everyone is rushing around hither and yon in search of awesome audio deals for Black Friday and Christmas, here is something that might be a truly great buy:  the Amazon Echo.

Amazon Echo Audio Capabilities

It can connect to all of your favorite music streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Tunein, and the Amazon Music Streaming Service.  It has a 2.5-inch subwoofer with a reflex port and a 2-inch tweeter.  It has a dual antenna wi-fi connection for faster and smoother streaming.  It is controlled via voice command and it is managed via Smartphone App.  The Amazon Echo can hear commands and reply via an internal assistant named Alexa.

Amazon Echo - photo Frmorrison at English Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Amazon Echo Advantages

As much as I love my old stereo gear, if I was truly trying to be dirt cheap with audio, the Amazon Echo coupled with a variety of free or low cost music streaming services would be a winner.  Plus, there is only a single power cord to worry about.  If your spouse has ever fussed about stereo cables and speaker sizes and the general look of stereo equipment, the Amazon Echo might be a real peacekeeper in your household.

The advantages of an Amazon Echo include -

• Small footprint
• Access to multiple streaming services
• Lack of messy cords
• Ability to fit into any room decor
• Ability to work with home automation systems
• Ability to answer internet questions

While the Amazon Alexa will never have the sound quality demanded by audiophiles and will never provide the thrill of big ass basement shaking speakers, it has it's own unique features that are a revolutionary approach to the way we use the Internet and listen to music.  It can supplement or replace a wide variety of old school devices.  The internet of things is coming into your home and the Amazon Echo might just lead the way.  I think that the Amazon Echo might make a great Christmas gift. You can find Amazon Echo devices here.