What HiFi is this please?
Discussion
Hi all,
I've long been on the lookout for a proper, old skool late 80s/early 90s "digital age" HiFi - something which still retains the big chunky switchgear of 70s stuff, but with cheesy 80s features like a digital graphics equaliser, and of course the addition of a CD player.
I was idly browsing the other day and found this pic, it looks perfect (apart from being black not silver, but oh well) but I cannot find out what it is:
I've long been on the lookout for a proper, old skool late 80s/early 90s "digital age" HiFi - something which still retains the big chunky switchgear of 70s stuff, but with cheesy 80s features like a digital graphics equaliser, and of course the addition of a CD player.
I was idly browsing the other day and found this pic, it looks perfect (apart from being black not silver, but oh well) but I cannot find out what it is:
I used to repair Aiwa stuff back in the 80's - as others have said, the sound of that range of kit was poor.
If you want silver in particular, there's plenty to be had on Ebay.
Occasionaly, an entire system does come up, but with a bit of browsing you can usually assemble a complete system from the same brand.
For silver kit, you cannot go wrong with JVC, practically everything they did during the 70's / 80's looks and sounds good.
And it's reliable too.
If you're lucky, you may also find some silver Pioneer kit, but be prepared to pay well for it.
Another good brand (believe it or not) is the Realistic stuff that Tandy sold back in the late 70's / early 80's (but not so much late 80's).
If you want silver in particular, there's plenty to be had on Ebay.
Occasionaly, an entire system does come up, but with a bit of browsing you can usually assemble a complete system from the same brand.
For silver kit, you cannot go wrong with JVC, practically everything they did during the 70's / 80's looks and sounds good.
And it's reliable too.
If you're lucky, you may also find some silver Pioneer kit, but be prepared to pay well for it.
Another good brand (believe it or not) is the Realistic stuff that Tandy sold back in the late 70's / early 80's (but not so much late 80's).
Most (if not all) of the Technics stuff from the 80's, although good, uses parts that are no longer available.
Much of the older Pioneer stuff used discrete transistors (as did much of the JVC stuff) - and most transistors can be substitued with other types.
The Technics used IC's in the output stages, and these IC's have been unobtainable fo rmany, many years now.
And the so called 'high end' Technics stuff with the big meters on the front use these very IC's, so if it blows, you bin it.
This includes the SU-A800 / SU-A909 / SU-A1000 models (amongst many others).
Buyer beware.
Much of the older Pioneer stuff used discrete transistors (as did much of the JVC stuff) - and most transistors can be substitued with other types.
The Technics used IC's in the output stages, and these IC's have been unobtainable fo rmany, many years now.
And the so called 'high end' Technics stuff with the big meters on the front use these very IC's, so if it blows, you bin it.
This includes the SU-A800 / SU-A909 / SU-A1000 models (amongst many others).
Buyer beware.
My advice would be to look for Marantz kit - generally high quality for the price, and pair with a paid of Mission or Tannoy speakers from the same era.
I purchased a budget system for £240 that had one of these:
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/editorial/review-maran...
And this
http://hometheaterreview.com/marantz-cd-63ii-ki-si...
And a pair of castle speakers with stands (£40)
It was an wonderful system to listen to even compared to ones costing magnitudes more (I had a £3k amp at home), and very retro...
I purchased a budget system for £240 that had one of these:
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/editorial/review-maran...
And this
http://hometheaterreview.com/marantz-cd-63ii-ki-si...
And a pair of castle speakers with stands (£40)
It was an wonderful system to listen to even compared to ones costing magnitudes more (I had a £3k amp at home), and very retro...
Interesting thread - I'd particularly like to hear more from TonyRPH about the workings and internals. Were they built cheaply? Did they look better than they sounded?
I always dreamed of these sorts of hifis when I was younger. Coming from a background that didn't do frivolous, it was the dream to attain one. Needless flashing lights? Graphic Equalizers? You got it. As a youth these are the things you want!
I never did get one though, apart from an old Sanyo from the local charity shop for £10. It was actually pretty good that Sanyo - well, better than I expected anyway. It had Dolby B AND C. And a "metal" button. I dreamed of getting a Type IV tape for recording to.
I always dreamed of these sorts of hifis when I was younger. Coming from a background that didn't do frivolous, it was the dream to attain one. Needless flashing lights? Graphic Equalizers? You got it. As a youth these are the things you want!
I never did get one though, apart from an old Sanyo from the local charity shop for £10. It was actually pretty good that Sanyo - well, better than I expected anyway. It had Dolby B AND C. And a "metal" button. I dreamed of getting a Type IV tape for recording to.
Pentoman said:
Interesting thread - I'd particularly like to hear more from TonyRPH about the workings and internals. Were they built cheaply? Did they look better than they sounded?
I always dreamed of these sorts of hifis when I was younger. Coming from a background that didn't do frivolous, it was the dream to attain one. Needless flashing lights? Graphic Equalizers? You got it. As a youth these are the things you want!
I never did get one though, apart from an old Sanyo from the local charity shop for £10. It was actually pretty good that Sanyo - well, better than I expected anyway. It had Dolby B AND C. And a "metal" button. I dreamed of getting a Type IV tape for recording to.
It looked better than it sounded.I always dreamed of these sorts of hifis when I was younger. Coming from a background that didn't do frivolous, it was the dream to attain one. Needless flashing lights? Graphic Equalizers? You got it. As a youth these are the things you want!
I never did get one though, apart from an old Sanyo from the local charity shop for £10. It was actually pretty good that Sanyo - well, better than I expected anyway. It had Dolby B AND C. And a "metal" button. I dreamed of getting a Type IV tape for recording to.
The build quality was very poor. The PCBs were super thin and fragile, and any attempts at replacing components often resulted in lifted tracks, no matter how careful or experienced you were.
The cassette player mechanisms were made of butter, and usually units borrowed from cheap portable players. The turntable (if present) was equally poor, and repeated use could actually damage your records...
The CD players were a cheap generic transport, and again, were often unrepairable.
Even when new, replacement parts were scarce, apart from generic IC's and transistors etc. One company I worked for would but 1000's at a time, and then keep 50 back to use for warranty repairs.
Even Sony went through a phase of building stuff like this, although it's fair to say that their stuff was slightly better quality.
Sorry if I have shattered your illusions lol.
fluffnik said:
TonyRPH said:
SU-A1000
Amazingly there's an ex-display one of those with a full warranty on eBay.Only £2,299.95!
The prices being asked for the "new*" Technics stuff on Ebay is simply outrageous, and unless they have secured a spare parts supply of obsolete components, they have no way of honouring any warranty repairs.
- where has it all come from, given that the last units were on sale over 10 years ago...?
V8covin said:
Not all Aiwa stuff was crap.
In the early 80's I had a cassette deck that was a What Hi-Fi best buy or whatever the term was back then.
I agree.In the early 80's I had a cassette deck that was a What Hi-Fi best buy or whatever the term was back then.
I was referring primarily to the unit mentioned in the OP - and other similar kit that they made like that.
To be fair, most manufacturers went through a phase of making junk like that during the 80's.
There seemed to be a real market for it - I think they replaced the 70's 'Music Center'.
Aiwa did build a couple of good amps and CD players - and of course in the 70's they did some very good tape decks too.
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