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.

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.