Wmacky
Active Member
I'm about to dump my old dream system!
Time Machine........
Back in the late 80's, I was out of High School, and had started plumbing as a helper. Read = POOR. In those days one could stop at a shop in the local Mall (Audio Tech) and dream about the higher end gear on display. It was there that I saw my dream system. A TOTL Yamaha system consisting of a T-80 tuner, C-80 Pre, and a M-80 amp, and to finish things off a Nackamichi Cassete with the robotic tape flipper! I had no chance of owning this stuff, but I always stopped while at the Mall for a quick look. My friends couldn't have cared less. They were more realistic than me.
Fast foward 4 years. Now being married, and still rather poor, I happened by a pawn shop Next to a Navy base. (These used to be a gold mine in you know what I mean). And there it was! My dream system in brand new condition. And my God the price. Just $500 for the lot. Still a lot for me at the time, I happily put down a deposit, and payed it off in a few months. Never been so happy about a purchase in my life. Those giant red meters on that amp would make me shed a tear of joy. I scraped up some more cash that year, and bought a pair of Boston Acoustic speakers,and a cheap Yamaha CD player. It was quite system for a very young man living in a rural community back then.
The years weren't nice though. Several years later a shelf collaspe marred the once pristine gear. Dings, and scratches look bad on black gear! I did the magic marker trick, but it was never the same. Add the fact that the tuner now buzzes, and the display flickers, The pre has switch issues, and a dented top case. If it wasn't for the dings, i'd restore them, but they are headed for the dump! Heartbreaking I tell ya. I'm keeping the M- 80 amp as it still looks fine, but probally needs a recap. I'ts the end of an era for me, and was the best $500 I ever spent. Thats my stereo tale for today!
Time Machine........
Back in the late 80's, I was out of High School, and had started plumbing as a helper. Read = POOR. In those days one could stop at a shop in the local Mall (Audio Tech) and dream about the higher end gear on display. It was there that I saw my dream system. A TOTL Yamaha system consisting of a T-80 tuner, C-80 Pre, and a M-80 amp, and to finish things off a Nackamichi Cassete with the robotic tape flipper! I had no chance of owning this stuff, but I always stopped while at the Mall for a quick look. My friends couldn't have cared less. They were more realistic than me.
Fast foward 4 years. Now being married, and still rather poor, I happened by a pawn shop Next to a Navy base. (These used to be a gold mine in you know what I mean). And there it was! My dream system in brand new condition. And my God the price. Just $500 for the lot. Still a lot for me at the time, I happily put down a deposit, and payed it off in a few months. Never been so happy about a purchase in my life. Those giant red meters on that amp would make me shed a tear of joy. I scraped up some more cash that year, and bought a pair of Boston Acoustic speakers,and a cheap Yamaha CD player. It was quite system for a very young man living in a rural community back then.
The years weren't nice though. Several years later a shelf collaspe marred the once pristine gear. Dings, and scratches look bad on black gear! I did the magic marker trick, but it was never the same. Add the fact that the tuner now buzzes, and the display flickers, The pre has switch issues, and a dented top case. If it wasn't for the dings, i'd restore them, but they are headed for the dump! Heartbreaking I tell ya. I'm keeping the M- 80 amp as it still looks fine, but probally needs a recap. I'ts the end of an era for me, and was the best $500 I ever spent. Thats my stereo tale for today!
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