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.

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.

How I Built a Component Stereo for $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.

Thrift Store Speakers

If you've been inspired to look for stereo equipment at your local thrift store, I need to add one more caveat.  The paper and foam in stereo speakers deteriorates over time.  If possible, pull the grill of any prospective speaker purchase from a thrift store.  You might find that the speaker looks like this --

-- or like this:

Unless you just want to by vintage stereo speakers as a restoration project, I wouldn't recommend buying speakers unless you can confirm that they are in good shape and working.  Otherwise, you can buy perfectly good speakers online or at your local stereo store.

Tips on Buying a Retro Stereo from the Thrift Store

I've been poking around in thrift store stereo sections quite a bit lately.  I've had a mix of good luck and bad with my "bargain" stereo finds.  There are some really good deals to be had on stereos.  However, you really have to test thrift store stereos as much as you can before making a purchase.  Here is a how to guide that will help you find some great second-hand stereo buys at your local thrift store:

How to Buy A Thrift Store Stereo

By Norbert Schnitzler (Own work) [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

Retro Sounds: Miida Stereo Receiver

On a recent thrift store run, I dipped my toes into the pool of vintage sound systems.  I bought a Miida Stereo Receiver.  It's a nice looking receiver and it is totally analog.  When you power it up, it has dials and needles and a warm glow.  The sound it delivers is pretty good, too.  But, there is a problem.  One stereo channel cuts out completely--even when listening to headphones.  A little whack can help it come back, but that's not a fun way to listen to music.

I probably jarred the unit a bit when positioning it on the shelf and attaching speakers.  But, now I am in a quandary about whether to have it repaired, learn to repair it myself, or ditch it and buy a more modern receiver when the time is right.  I don't want a $40 dollar receiver to become a $400 receiver.  But, it would be so cool if it worked right!

Miida Stereo Receiver

I could just save up a little money and buy a new receiver like the Onkyo TX-8255 (shown below).  I'm sure it would work well and sound great.  But, I'm a little stubborn about these things.