Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Expanding and Improving Your Dirt Cheap Stereo

Completing a dirt cheap retro stereo isn't the end of a project.  It's actually the beginning of a platform that can grow and expand to meet your household's music needs.  Once I put my stereo together, I started thinking more deeply about how the components were working and what additions and improvements I would like to make.

Retro Stereo - Vintage Technics + New Insignia CD Changer

If you are building your own dirt cheap stereo, here are some thoughts about how you can improve it:


One sensible addition, might be a modern CD changer. It can protect your valued CD collection from scratches and breakage in a stubborn old CD player.


Since vinyl has been making a strong comeback and vintage turntables are getting expensive, you may just want to buy a new turntable.


As for me, I ended up buying a sensibly priced new CD changer and playing with different inexpensive thrift store speaker combinations.


Sunday, July 14, 2013

Building the Retro Stereo

When I first graduated from college, got a job, and moved out into the world, one of my first purchases was a component stereo system.  In the early 90s, I built a system with all Technics components and I worked my way up from bookshelf speakers to DCM Timeframe Speakers.  It was a slick stereo system.  However, after a seven or eight years, I donated it to charity prior because we were moving around a bit.  Lately I've been missing that old stereo.


 
Fortunately, I've been able to rebuild much of my old system on the cheap.  But, 20 years later, my stereo is even cooler because it is retro!  Here is a picture of my "new" retro system:

Technics & Sony Thrift Store Stereo
  Over a few thrift store runs, I was able to get these components at these prices:
Technics Stereo Amplifier  SU-V76                                    $12.91
Technics Quartz Synthesizer Stereo Tuner ST-S76         $8.98 
Sharp 40W Stereo Speakers                                                  $6.96 
Sony CDP-C235 5 Disc CD Changer                                     $25.91
Technics RS-T16 Stereo Double Cassette Deck               $15.91
                                                                                                  -------------
Total                                                                                            $70.61

My initial purchases to get going were less than $40.


I'm running it with some old Bose speakers that have been in a closet for about 10 years and they sound great.  Free is also a great price for Bose speakers.


Of course, a thrifty stereo is not without problems.  The Sony CD player is a little clunky and has skipped on a few CDs.  Of course, it was made in 1993 and is twenty years old!  Twenty years old and still running!  However, I may have to get a new one just to protect our CD collection from scratches and other issues. I also need to get some more stereo wires to get everything running at once. 


Right now, I'm just glad to have a sweet sounding base stereo system that I can expand an build on!  It's cool to bring music back to our home with a good receiver and good speakers.