For the longest time, I was using a pair of Altec-Lansing powered speakers as my computer multimedia speakers. They would be used for anything sound-wise I did on my computer: mixdowns, monitoring and even listening to music when I was doing work. After a whle, I decided to get myself a small mini-component system and I fell in love with this Philips one. It was small, cute and fit right into the cavity emptied by the previous speakers. It comes with a CD player, AM/FM radio…the usual stuff. There is even an AUX in so I just hooked that up to the headphone out of my computer’s soundcard and I was ready to rock and roll. Do not be fooled by the size of these babies though. These babies can really crank it and I am talking about it getting seriously loud. I have even used them as monitors for my DJ mixing sessions. They are able to handle it very well and the sound is superb. They only cost me about $99 and even at that price, they were a steal!
Somewhere in 1986, I had a deal to purchase some hi-fi equipment that was too good to resist. Thrown into the fray was this Akai open-reel tape deck. I finally managed to get a picture of it from this website here. All I can say is that this tape-deck came in very handy for recording my DJ mixes and then hooking up a couple of cassette decks, I managed to record my DJ mixes on it. People used to comment on how clean-sounding my mixes were…audio-wise. Thanks in no small part to this Akai tape deck. Technology has now improved the recording techniques by leaps and bounds. Now, all my recording is done on a computer and I can clean it up if I want to. But back then, this was the best option and I am glad I had access to that option. Thanks Akai for making these great tape decks!
I had to do a double-take when i heard that horn speakers were invading hi-fi. Sure, there have been instances in the past like in the JBL 4430 speakers and such but must hi-fi “purists” slam horn-loaded enclosures. But here we have Ferguson Hill making such speakers for their FH009 system
According to this article here on cNET:
“The FH009 is a 2.1-channel audio system. It comes with a pair of horn speakers–that can be wall-mounted or placed on stands–and a dual-driver subwoofer unit that houses the integrated amplifier. This 2.1-channel setup is rated to deliver 128W RMS of power, with 64W split between the two horns and the other 64W dedicated to the sub”
Pretty pricey this thing is but you know hi-fi buffs. Admittedly, they do look pretty cool but you won’t see me buying anything like this for my house
My dad bought a three-piece hi-fi set back in 1978. This was one of the components on that hi-fi set…the Sony TA-11 integrated amplifier. And you wanna know the funny thing about this amplifier? I used this amplifier as the main amplifier in a mobile disco in the mid 80′s. I jest you not…this amplifier was capable of putting out some HEAVY wattage. It could drive huge speakers as well as the problematic ones that came with this set. Imagine…7 years after they were first bought and this set was still kicking! It finally bit the dust in the year 2000 I think…after giving 22 years of reliable and solid duty as the home’s hi-fi amplifier and as my mobile-disco amplifier. They sure do not make them like they used to. Any of you reading this, if you ever come across it, buy it without a second thought. This amplifier is worth its weight in gold!
Way, way back in the day, as far back as I can remember, Grandpa had one of these in his house. Needless to say, dad had the same one. This was the stereo to have back in the 60s and 70s folks…and what a stereo it was! It had some kind of plasma display section. I will try to describe it. Think of it as a black bar about 3cm in width and 0.5 cm in height. It had this green plasma-like effect. When you tuned in to a station, there would be green bars from each end of the black bar, slowly filling up, making a gap. The smaller the gap, the better the reception. So you tuned to your favourite radio station, signal based based on the gap that remained.
The phonograph section had this long spindle that kind of let you stack records on it. This was like what a stacker was so that you could have several records all cued up…truly ahead of its time! And the sound? Well, all I can say is was for something of that time, it was absolutely superb. I spent many a night listening to the thing.
In 1978, Dad got rid of it, replacing it with a shiny, new Sony hi-fi system. But there are times when I still miss that Loewe Opta. I dunno. It just reminds me of childhood, and in a rather ironic way, it helped me to get my first foothold into music.
It was in the year 1978. Dad wanted to get a proper hi-fi system so he bought a Sony hi-fi system, replacing the old Loewe Opta that we had for bloody ages. The new hi-fi system came with a turntable, integrated amplifier, tuner and cassette deck. Dad was mighty happy with his hi-fi and I remember years of listening to it. Somehow, dad did not buy many records, preferring cassette tapes. After a while, the hi-fi system fell into a state of disrepair.
In 1985, I decided to become a DJ and so, I needed a turntable. What did I use? The turntable above of course! I sent it for servicing as the motor was cranky. I also put a Stanton 500AL cartridge and stylus on this thing. I used this turntable for my mobile gigs for years until I got my Technics SL-1200s in 1988. This turntable was thus relegated to a backup turntable but it still functioned flawlessly.
Today, this turntable is used by my sister to play her music. It is still functioning, almost 33 years later! Sony built a workhorse in this PS-11. If you ever come across this model, do not ask questions…buy it! If it can survive years of DJ mixing and the rigours of the road, it can handle anything…guaranteed.
Oh, and there is a little bit of information. If for some reason you are not happy with the pitch control, or would like to make it faster, there is a screw at the bottom of the turntable, under its base. You can use that to make the pitch faster. Its like a master pitch-control. And, if you happen to take off the platter, you will notice some magnetic strip running round the rim of the platter. This, coupled with a reading head, makes sure that the wow and flutter is kept to a minimum.
