My first used piece of audio equipment was a Carver PM-175 amplifier block. I had it connected to some Klipsch towers and it was impressive. So much so that we got evicted due to noise complaints.
Two thoughts, that vertical board may also be there to shorten wires (reduce hum). My first tuner was a Realistic shelf unit. Only has a band selector, and the tuning knob. On the up side, it's extremely sensitive, which at the time, expensive receivers were not. It still works, unfortunately, there's now too much noise from all the other devices.
That makes sense. I only say it was initially there because the other model using the same chassis is jam packed with stuff... it looks like Walmart on Black Friday. lol Truly, I like old Realistic stuff. They haven't done me dirty yet! :)
Good question. Had to go onto internet to refresh my memory, Marantz SR-4000 , 1980, when they went to white lighting, I believe it came with some decent 3 way speakers as well, and if I remember correctly was $100 in 1986. Like the weird stuff as well, should see my NAIM NBL Speakers, were 10k in 1990, went to extremes to isolate mid and tweeter from drivers, commercial quick pull contacts, crossover is 10" x 24" in size.
This is still a fully analog tuner. The 1978/79 Sony ST-515 is way more advanced. It has an analog dial behind and behind is an digital encoder. The FM frequency is locked using a PLL circuit driven by the encoder. A true masterpiece for its time. Only the AM receiver part is fully analog. Using the encoder I was enable to convert my ST-515 into a DAB+ receiver. Made a video of this conversion.
My first used piece was a JVC LA100 turntable- I got it when I got back into record collecting. It’s a secondary unit now replaced by a Pioneer PL-55X.
Nice. In fact, I think we found a similar JVC turntable that will eventually get a video if it doesn't sell first. But I don't remember the model number, unfortunately.
Cool find! There was a handheld game called "Blip" I had as a kid, for some reason seeing those preset LEDs move made me think of it (it was like a wind-up pong game with a moving LED).
I think my first used piece was a Fisher all in one smashed and left in a dumpster. One Chanel was blown. Back in the 80’s I really did not know too much about electronics. I had a 100 watt Fisher that I bought and it also blew one channel. But I also later found out that Fisher = Sanyo. But the all in one was used in the garage. I have some many components that I find.
Wow, I think this defines the word "nifty"! Of all the ways I'd have imagined those presets working, an entirely mechanical system wasn't one of them! Never knew it existed, but it occurs to me my current main system doesn't have a tuner and could use one.....
Going to get a little static from that joke. One could say it is, polarising. Just be careful to not, get your hair raised. Now off to Morder with you! Though on the way, I hope you run into some Kenwood tuners, those things are magnificent.
But is that the manufacture date or release date? I'm sure you're right but this line wasn't shown in any of the 1980 catalogues I could find; only the 1981 ones. However, I should note that the only 1980 catalogues I could find were European.
@@AudioThrift That is the manufacturing date . It may have been sold in Japan first before being released globally, Or may have been made ,packaged, stored until official release date. Im not certain of SONY's marketing strategies at that time. Just guessing. These days they (and many others)will tease a product years before a prototype is even available.
Good question, as a then-poor high school student I sure wouldn't have been able to buy it, but while stores like Audio Tech and Sound Advice generally sold stuff at list price, other stores like Circuit City would've sold this for substantially less, and probably an even bigger discount as part of a "rack system" package deal. I don't even want to talk about my first dabbling in used equipment--it did not go well with a Marantz 1122DC amplifier that literally blew up LOL! But my first new receiver was a lowly Technics SA-110 bought around 1983-84 while in college, cost me just $69 on a clearance sale at a local hi-fi dealer that was closing up shop! Was happy to get it, still have it and it still works!
I 100% agree with your sentiment and share your love of unique or unusual audio equipment. Keep it up!
My first used piece of audio equipment was a Carver PM-175 amplifier block. I had it connected to some Klipsch towers and it was impressive. So much so that we got evicted due to noise complaints.
Hahaha... Sounds like you were doing it right!
Nice video! Other analogue tuners with a twist are Sansui T-7 (auto search function ) and Yamaha T-7 (auto tune plus preset memories).
Two thoughts, that vertical board may also be there to shorten wires (reduce hum). My first tuner was a Realistic shelf unit. Only has a band selector, and the tuning knob. On the up side, it's extremely sensitive, which at the time, expensive receivers were not. It still works, unfortunately, there's now too much noise from all the other devices.
That makes sense. I only say it was initially there because the other model using the same chassis is jam packed with stuff... it looks like Walmart on Black Friday. lol
Truly, I like old Realistic stuff. They haven't done me dirty yet! :)
Good question. Had to go onto internet to refresh my memory, Marantz SR-4000 , 1980, when they went to white lighting, I believe it came with some decent 3 way speakers as well, and if I remember correctly was $100 in 1986. Like the weird stuff as well, should see my NAIM NBL Speakers, were 10k in 1990, went to extremes to isolate mid and tweeter from drivers, commercial quick pull contacts, crossover is 10" x 24" in size.
Sang. Those are big. And that Marantz is really classy looking! Sounded great I bet.
This is still a fully analog tuner. The 1978/79 Sony ST-515 is way more advanced. It has an analog dial behind and behind is an digital encoder. The FM frequency is locked using a PLL circuit driven by the encoder. A true masterpiece for its time. Only the AM receiver part is fully analog. Using the encoder I was enable to convert my ST-515 into a DAB+ receiver. Made a video of this conversion.
Correct. That's what made it interesting to me. lol
Fisher had this feature called "Tune-o-Matic". I had the Fisher 250-T Receiver (1968) that had 5 small FM tuners on the right side of the unit.
My first used piece was a JVC LA100 turntable- I got it when I got back into record collecting. It’s a secondary unit now replaced by a Pioneer PL-55X.
Nice. In fact, I think we found a similar JVC turntable that will eventually get a video if it doesn't sell first. But I don't remember the model number, unfortunately.
Cool find! There was a handheld game called "Blip" I had as a kid, for some reason seeing those preset LEDs move made me think of it (it was like a wind-up pong game with a moving LED).
Oh, that's fun.
I think my first used piece was a Fisher all in one smashed and left in a dumpster. One Chanel was blown. Back in the 80’s I really did not know too much about electronics. I had a 100 watt Fisher that I bought and it also blew one channel. But I also later found out that Fisher = Sanyo. But the all in one was used in the garage. I have some many components that I find.
Wow, I think this defines the word "nifty"! Of all the ways I'd have imagined those presets working, an entirely mechanical system wasn't one of them! Never knew it existed, but it occurs to me my current main system doesn't have a tuner and could use one.....
Yeah, I wouldn't have expected that at all. Especially from a basic product like that.
Going to get a little static from that joke. One could say it is, polarising. Just be careful to not, get your hair raised. Now off to Morder with you! Though on the way, I hope you run into some Kenwood tuners, those things are magnificent.
Haha. I'll look out for those.
Great video i had a kt413 tuner that had sliders presets cool
Rad! Just Googled that. That's pretty neat looking!
The little sticker that says "OC" means 1980 March
But is that the manufacture date or release date? I'm sure you're right but this line wasn't shown in any of the 1980 catalogues I could find; only the 1981 ones.
However, I should note that the only 1980 catalogues I could find were European.
@@AudioThrift That is the manufacturing date . It may have been sold in Japan first before being released globally, Or may have been made ,packaged, stored until official release date. Im not certain of SONY's marketing strategies at that time. Just guessing. These days they (and many others)will tease a product years before a prototype is even available.
Who would this device have been targeted at? I can't imagine very many people paying the equivalent of 650$ for a non-professional radio receiver.
Honestly, I have the same thought... I showed a couple of radio receivers from around the same time that were twice that. It's kinda baffling.
Good question, as a then-poor high school student I sure wouldn't have been able to buy it, but while stores like Audio Tech and Sound Advice generally sold stuff at list price, other stores like Circuit City would've sold this for substantially less, and probably an even bigger discount as part of a "rack system" package deal. I don't even want to talk about my first dabbling in used equipment--it did not go well with a Marantz 1122DC amplifier that literally blew up LOL! But my first new receiver was a lowly Technics SA-110 bought around 1983-84 while in college, cost me just $69 on a clearance sale at a local hi-fi dealer that was closing up shop! Was happy to get it, still have it and it still works!
This wasn't sold alone it came in a system. That's why