Yes. I wish I had bought more of them.
Do people still use home stereo systems?
- Thread starter The motor guy
- Start date
YES!
I think home stereo receivers are even better now than before. With eARC it's a QoL improvement that makes our 5.1 system transparent. You just use the TV remote and don't think about it.
I kind of lost interest after a while. The other thing was the "wife acceptance factor".
I still have some of my old stuff collecting dust somehwere. A Nakamichi Cassette Deck 2 from their decorator series. A Marantz CD-63SE. Someone sold me on a Luxman receiver, although it was pretty low output. I never really got into "home theater" other than buying a used integrated amp with Dolby Surround before there was a center channel and just one rear channel. I figure my old speakers are still good, but I just hope they haven't fallen apart. I still have a pair of KEF C55 bookshelf speakers and another pair of Paradigm Reference Studio/20 (V1). The KEFs are really odd with this bizarre grill mount that has to be pinched in order to remove it. It has a single 8" driver with a coaxial tweeter mounted at the center of the driver. Then it has an 8" passive radiator that looks like another driver. I think the biggest issue would be the liquid dome tweeter and whether or not it still works. The photo isn't mine, but of a pair on sale on eBay.
I actually turned those into surround speakers when I got a pair of these (again, not my photo):
I still have some of my old stuff collecting dust somehwere. A Nakamichi Cassette Deck 2 from their decorator series. A Marantz CD-63SE. Someone sold me on a Luxman receiver, although it was pretty low output. I never really got into "home theater" other than buying a used integrated amp with Dolby Surround before there was a center channel and just one rear channel. I figure my old speakers are still good, but I just hope they haven't fallen apart. I still have a pair of KEF C55 bookshelf speakers and another pair of Paradigm Reference Studio/20 (V1). The KEFs are really odd with this bizarre grill mount that has to be pinched in order to remove it. It has a single 8" driver with a coaxial tweeter mounted at the center of the driver. Then it has an 8" passive radiator that looks like another driver. I think the biggest issue would be the liquid dome tweeter and whether or not it still works. The photo isn't mine, but of a pair on sale on eBay.
I actually turned those into surround speakers when I got a pair of these (again, not my photo):
Another Mach One user here. They are a great speaker. As stated earlier, woofers disintegrated and had to replace about 12 years ago. I still have the first model Realistic CD player which the Shack made.
In terms of market penetration and adoption, certainly.
But the CE industry still tried to follow CD-DA with higher quality formats (HDCD, SACD, DVD-Audio, and other formats based on video discs, including Blu-ray).
The attempted successors to cassettes didn't weren't aimed as high, but did try to bring digital quality audio to erasable formats, in the form of DCC, DAT, MiniDisc, with quality comparable to CDs.
For most people, especially those less than a certain age, music has become a commodity, and something that's rented by the month and delivered by digital pipes. All you can eat, at one low price.
Not collected, preserved and consumed in high quality formats that can't be yanked if you fail to pay the subscription fee, or switch to a different service.
I doubt they're still made but when I was in high school circa 1998 or so the local Radio Shack had a 100 disc cd player and changer. I think it was a Pioneer and was $500 back then.
Been an audiophile for 50yrs+. Everything is about "synergy" between the various components which includes all cabling and getting clean ac. (Dedicated circuit/the right outlets and power conditioners except on amps.) It's amazing how good a relatively inexpensive system can sound. The hardest part is crossing the threshold into the "musical" and letting the music draw you. Without getting into a VERY long post on the knowledge of all those years, I'd say for extremely little $, look into a mini-amp. Nobsound/Douk. If, your able to upgrade/modify older equipment is even better. If needing a bookshelf speaker, look into KEF Q100 and PSB B4/5/6. Even the small B4 is one heck of a speaker and so affordable used. (I have the B4 as my computer system speakers matched up to a vintage/modified NAD 3225PE int. amp. Extremely musical.) I could not be without music and Spotify and all the on line music platforms opens up a world of music which I never had into the first half of my journey. (Albums, radio and Cd's.)
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Yeah, I think they started getting crazy like that right about the time cds went out of style.
Of course we do. Those of us who want powerful sound still use big components. I have a small stack....
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I am running a 7.2 setup from a Sony AVR with in-wall wiring. I like the flexibility of a true stereo system. It also allows for easy adding and removing of devices without messing with cables going straight to a mounted TV.
I also do my best to de-emphasize and hide the stereo components. I really dislike it when the stereo dominates the room. It looks gaudy and unappealing to me.
I also do my best to de-emphasize and hide the stereo components. I really dislike it when the stereo dominates the room. It looks gaudy and unappealing to me.
I put together a hi-end system soon as I could afford it after starting to earn. Have added and refined it since and never looked back. Have invested and sometime wonder if it was worth the expense until I turn it on again. So much better than what I hear in the regular stores. You would be amazed how good they can be if visiting a high-end store....just hang on to your wallet! And yes, I still listen to records, (those round black things, usually 12" in diameter). In an A/B comparison they are often preferable. Just have to be careful handling and looking after them.
As others have mentioned, you can get some amazing deals on used gear. Be sure to take a look. Sometimes I admit I still explore. For me at least, this is one old habit that will NOT die!
As others have mentioned, you can get some amazing deals on used gear. Be sure to take a look. Sometimes I admit I still explore. For me at least, this is one old habit that will NOT die!
Rat Shack didn't really make anything other than maybe the Trash-80. It was mostly private label stuff, and often the actual manufacturer can be easy to spot if side by side with the brand name equivalent. I was gifted a Realistic micro-cassette voice recorder, and that was made in Japan. I'm guessing probably made by Sanyo or Matushita.
I own one it's ok bit muddy they are class D amplifier great little unit for what it was
As a little kid I remember being in awe of the Klipschorn speakers my Uncle had. Which is what set me on the path of interest in audio equipment. In Highschool I wandered into a high-end audio store, and was stunned by what I saw and heard. From then on high quality sound reproduction has been important to me.
About twenty years ago my Uncle who had long been out of the audio equipment lifestyle, heard my good but not extravagant system, and was hooked again. He started researching different components, and eventually settled on what he wanted, and started acquiring components.
About 15 years ago my Uncle had acquired his dream audio system. Then was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, and was gone three months later. His wife asked me what she should do with the system, and I told her she should do whatever she felt was best. I advised selling it, as it represented a substantial investment. The money from which could make her retirement years more comfortable. About a week later she said she had thought about it, and felt that my uncle would want me to have the system. She wouldn't entertain the thought of any compensation.
So my main inherited system is in a room that was custom built and dedicated only to it. The components are on display in a custom built rack with plenty of space around each for ventilation, and there's a place to sit and listen, and that's it.
Every time I turn it on and sit down to listen, I'm reminded of my awesome Uncle who has such a positive influence in almost every aspect of my life.
About twenty years ago my Uncle who had long been out of the audio equipment lifestyle, heard my good but not extravagant system, and was hooked again. He started researching different components, and eventually settled on what he wanted, and started acquiring components.
About 15 years ago my Uncle had acquired his dream audio system. Then was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, and was gone three months later. His wife asked me what she should do with the system, and I told her she should do whatever she felt was best. I advised selling it, as it represented a substantial investment. The money from which could make her retirement years more comfortable. About a week later she said she had thought about it, and felt that my uncle would want me to have the system. She wouldn't entertain the thought of any compensation.
So my main inherited system is in a room that was custom built and dedicated only to it. The components are on display in a custom built rack with plenty of space around each for ventilation, and there's a place to sit and listen, and that's it.
Every time I turn it on and sit down to listen, I'm reminded of my awesome Uncle who has such a positive influence in almost every aspect of my life.
Yamaha MusicCast 7.1 receiver in the basement living room, Yamaha MusicCast Soundbar upstairs living room, MusicCast Speakers in the garage and kitchen. They are all ethernet or WiFi (Airplay and Bluetooth, that I never use). All can stream on their own or be linked together. I like it.
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I have two pretty basic setups:
Denon AVR w/Bryston power amp for the mains (Paradigm Monitor 11's) + Klipsch centre channel and custom sub (Living Room)
Denon AVR bi-amped into B&W 802 S3's (Bedroom)
Living room system also has a PS Audio pre-amp w/phono stage connected to my Aurex direct drive turntable for when it's vinyl time.
Denon AVR w/Bryston power amp for the mains (Paradigm Monitor 11's) + Klipsch centre channel and custom sub (Living Room)
Denon AVR bi-amped into B&W 802 S3's (Bedroom)
Living room system also has a PS Audio pre-amp w/phono stage connected to my Aurex direct drive turntable for when it's vinyl time.
