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Post by macca on Aug 15, 2018 20:11:09 GMT
Christmas 1985. Went round to the neighbours in the evening, the youth takes me up to his room and shows me his new Akai stack system, He was a few years older than me and was working at some electrical wholesalers so he got it at trade. I can't find a picture of the exact same one but this is quite close except he had the fully auto linear tracking TT that slid out, you put the record on, and it slid back in. He said that was rubbish though and only came as part of the package so next to the stack he had a brand new Technics SL1200 as well. Anyway pic is pretty much it except that as I said the Akai TT was different and was on the bottom of the stack.  He had the speakers set up properly in the room on open frame stands, not like in the pic. First time I ever heard CD. Money off of Dark Side Of The Moon. I'm not talking about the midi systems here that pretended to be a stack of separates but were just one chunk of sculpted plastic. You know who was responsible for that? Alan Sugar. Admits it in his book, He's actually proud of that Sh#t. I'm talking about proper separates, but all one make, and you have to have everything: The graphic, the spectrum analyser, tuner, tape deck (can be single or double, single is classier) and the TT. And then stack it all up. Anyway I always wanted one but you were talking £1500 for that back in 1985. That's getting on for Four Large in today's money. Then later I got sidetracked and forgot about it. But I do think they look pretty cool even now. Especially with the spectrum analyser. I've already got a few Sony bits and pieces that match: an amp, CD player, and a DAT deck. Just need the graphic, the SA, tuner and tape deck and am toying with the idea of trying to get them to complete the set. Anyone else been tempted to do this? I know there is a bloke with a full stack of the Pioneer Reference Kit out there and it just looks mint. |
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Post by dsjr on Aug 15, 2018 20:30:54 GMT
We never sold stack systems as shown in macca's post above.
Denon did some great little systems, both midi and micro and the larger ones were proper Hi Fi grade I feel (DM70 and DM250 were early favourites but they didn't have graphic or anything). In the mid 90's, TEAC did the 300 and 500 systems but these were more matching 'proper' separates in narrower boxes. I think the Sony La Scala system was good and there was a lovely finished Technics stack around 2000 with chamfered corners.. Sorry, not quite what macca was showing.
Would the B&O 5000, 5500, 6500 and 7000 stack systems qualify? The 6500 and 7000 ones were actually better than you'd think...
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Post by macca on Aug 15, 2018 20:44:06 GMT
Yes I'd count that B&O kit in there, it's the same idea. No spectrum analyser, though.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 16, 2018 3:11:27 GMT
By coincidence, my fondest memory is of the same stack! Working at Richer Sounds, I used to search the warehouse for the more exotic kit and order it in. There were two reasons for this: One, I got to play with it, and two, I could set whatever price and commission I wanted because it wasn’t listed in the company magazine.
I ordered the full Akai system (and cabinet IIRC) and got it set up. I remember hearing it for the first time and being surprised just how good it was. The amp was gorgeous too (AM93? AM95?). I also recall it coming on song throughout the day.
My joy was short lived though. A guy walked in just hours later with a Sweet Freedom CD and asked to hear the Akai stack. It sounded magnificent and it cemented my love for that album to this day. He paid the asking price and I was soon re-boxing the lot and waving goodbye to it.
Sadly it was the last complete stack in the warehouse, so it was never replaced. I’m sure if that guy hadn’t come in, I would’ve bought the lot and my whole hifi journey would’ve been different.
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Post by macca on Aug 16, 2018 6:19:55 GMT
Do you recall how much it was?
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 16, 2018 6:51:59 GMT
I recall I hung a price tag of £799 on the separates but I’m nit sure what I charged for the speakers.
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Post by macca on Aug 18, 2018 10:36:27 GMT
Fisher Stack system:  My first hi fi amp and speakers were Fisher so always had a soft spot for them. I've got the tuner, amp and tape deck out of this lot already - another set I'd like to complete for no real reason. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2018 10:40:53 GMT
some of them were fekin brilliant..my mates technics kit sounded better than almost anything i have heard since
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Post by macca on Aug 18, 2018 10:50:19 GMT
Aye, Denon, Technics and Akai were the ones to go for. And cost a fair bit more than the others, too.
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Post by macca on Sept 8, 2018 22:54:07 GMT
How about this. I mean this is it really, you're not going to see a better effort at what I'm talking about:  |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 8, 2018 23:45:25 GMT
How about this. I mean this is it really, you're not going to see a better effort at what I'm talking about: Just wonderful. The pride of ownership for something like that would be very high for me. ThenPioneer amd Kai’s systems of that era would probably float my boat most. The Technics ones would offer just as much, but they never really looked as outrageous to me. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2018 23:53:35 GMT
I had a complete Sony system in the late 90's. It was my first foray into a hifi system. It cost me £1500ish to put together and every bit was brand new. I absolutely loved it. I put some Wharfdale Valdus on there, 3 Mid-bass drivers and a tweeter. I was massively into Hip-hop and that system was perfect for it. The bass used to rattle the door knocker.
When I decided to grow up a smidge, I put some B&W speakers on It. 601 or something like that. Sh#t. Total Sh#t they were. I hated them. Brittle sounding and no mids or treble. Ok, they may not be Sh#t but on the Sony it just didn't work.
I kept that system until 2009, it was in use for 10 years and never missed a beat. Gave it to my brother when my wife and I bought our house. I didn't want to take it with me as I'd lived with two different girlfriends and took it to both houses. Time to get rid.
I bought a rotel TT and a Nad 314 with Celestion speakers. It cost me £300 all in and blew the Sony away. Hence the enthusiast approach.
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Post by macca on Sept 9, 2018 7:36:33 GMT
Lol I'm still into hip hop and I'm a fair bit older than you! Would have stuck on some Wu Tang for you if I'd known. I remember the big Valdus floorstanders, they were pretty good. Had a demo of them once and was going to buy some but the dealer talked me out of it for some unknown reason ( He went bust a few months later). The Pioneer stacks were always the most blingy. Pioneer were never the same for me after they changed their logo, though. Proper Pioneer logo:  New 'gay' logo:  Whoever thought that was a good idea wants slapping. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2018 9:10:52 GMT
I got the stack system idea out of the way via a Trio ( Kenwood) stack before I had sufficient sense and knowledge that I could get much better value and decent sound by the separates route, never looked back and spent stupid amounts since those days!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 9, 2018 9:19:48 GMT
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Post by macca on Sept 9, 2018 10:08:36 GMT
Some great ones on there. You can always rely on the Yanks to go completely overboard:  |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 9, 2018 10:47:29 GMT
How much equalisation does a guy need!
Imagine the tone control haters dreaming about that lot and waking up in a cold sweat.
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Post by macca on Sept 9, 2018 15:13:43 GMT
I'd like a couple of those racks. And a comparator so I could hook up all my cdps and amplifiers at once.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 9, 2018 15:46:48 GMT
It’s certainly woken me up to SAE. Some beautiful kit there.
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Post by macca on Sept 9, 2018 20:41:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2018 20:50:15 GMT
Lol I'm still into hip hop and I'm a fair bit older than you! Would have stuck on some Wu Tang for you if I'd known. I remember the big Valdus floorstanders, they were pretty good. Had a demo of them once and was going to buy some but the dealer talked me out of it for some unknown reason ( He went bust a few months later). The Pioneer stacks were always the most blingy. Pioneer were never the same for me after they changed their logo, though. Proper Pioneer logo: New 'gay' logo: Whoever thought that was a good idea wants slapping. By grow up, I meant have a family. Can't be listening to mother fucker this and that with kids about 😂😂 Next time mate. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 9, 2018 20:56:53 GMT
I love the note under the pic: “This is my main system!” What else does the dude have? |
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Post by pauld on Sept 10, 2018 11:36:39 GMT
You've gotta love a good stack system.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 14, 2018 20:19:53 GMT
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Post by macca on Sept 14, 2018 20:49:19 GMT
It is sumptuous but he's asking way over top dollar I think. £1500 would be about right. And I might be over-valuing the PD91 there just because I've always wanted one. (Never heard it).
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 10, 2018 21:32:48 GMT
Just saw this Luxman system and wanted to share it  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2018 21:50:21 GMT
Ah. Well if you're sharing, can I please have the amp and CD player?  |
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Post by macca on Jun 9, 2019 21:30:55 GMT
Philips Black Turnip  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2019 5:47:17 GMT
Philips Black Turnip I like that even though they look rack mount PA style. I must admit that meters and tone controls are growing on me. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2019 6:35:00 GMT
Philips Black Turnip Turnip??? Is that autocorrect helping out 🤣🤣 correcting Black Tulip ? |
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