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.

How to Connect Your Tablet, Computer, or MP3 Player to An Old Stereo

Over the past few years, many wonderful old stereo systems have been discarded in favor of more personal music players.  The Smart Phone and the MP3 Player have largely supplanted entire stereo systems.  People didn't think that old stereos and new technology could work together.  But, they can and it's not complicated at all!



Here's how you can connect your Tablet, Computer, or MP3 Player to an old stereo system:

How to Stream Music Through an Old Stereo System

But, you don't really have to read my article.  For most old stereos, all you need is a cable with a mini 3.5mm Stereo Male plug to an RCA Male plug.  You plug the mini stereo plug into the headphone jack of your device and the RCA male plugs into your stereo system.  It's super easy.  Click here to order the cable you need:

Retro Technologies Work Just Fine

Who says you have to have the latest and greatest?  Marketers and advertisers that who!  If your old-fangled technologies work well for you, there is no reason to adopt expensive new technologies just to keep up with the neighbors.  In fact, old technologies often work just as well and more economically than some of the latest gadgets.

For example, how retro is the canoe?


Here are some more good examples:

Retro Technologies that Still Work Fine

The Return of Cassettes

Once I got started collecting and using vintage stereo components and boomboxes, I started wondering if I could get new music on cassettes.  I was surprised and somewhat shocked that there is a whole underground music scene that distributes music on cassette.  It's a movement driven by cost and a certain amount of nostalgia for analog music media.  You can find a cassette with great music released by an indie label for about $5.  It's a good chance to support struggling artists and listen to something new and cutting edge!

By Saviour1981 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

If you'd like to learn more, check out my article -

Music Cassette Tapes are Making a Comeback!

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