• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

1977 Buyers Guide Reports best buy systems

Maxell Guy

Maxell Guy

New Member
I got a lot of good info here lately, so I wanted to add something fun and interesting from my summer of 1977 Buyers Guide Reports paperback. They pick their best buy systems. Low to highest priced. Must of been list prices?

System 1 - $350
Reciever - Harmon Kardon 330c / or Integrated Pioneer SA - 6500
Speakers - Advent Model 3
Turntable - BIC 920
Cart - Shure M93-E

System 2 - $450
Reciever - Sherwood S-7110B
Speakers - Small Advent
Turntable - Dual 502
Cart - Shure M95ED

System 3 - $550
Reciever - Marantz 2226
Speakerrs - AR-17
Turntable - Dual 502
Cart - Stanton 600EE

System 4 - $700
Reciever - Sansui 5050
Speakers - Genesis II
Turntable - BIC 960
Cart - Shure M95ED

System 5 - $800
Reciever - Yamaha CR600
Speakers - Large Advent
Turntable - Dual 1225
Cart - Pickering XV-15/625E

System 6 - $900
Amplifier - Kenwood KA7300
Speakers -EFI 200
Turntable - Dual CS704
Cart - Pickering XSV3000

Rich
 
Register to hide this ad
Maxell Guy said:
I got a lot of good info here lately, so I wanted to add something fun and interesting from my summer of 1977 Buyers Guide Reports paperback. They pick their best buy systems. Low to highest priced. Must of been list prices?

System 1 - $1,373.73
Reciever - Harmon Kardon 330c / or Integrated Pioneer SA - 6500
Speakers - Advent Model 3
Turntable - BIC 920
Cart - Shure M93-E

System 2 - $1,766.23
Reciever - Sherwood S-7110B
Speakers - Small Advent
Turntable - Dual 502
Cart - Shure M95ED

System 3 - $2,158.72
Reciever - Marantz 2226
Speakerrs - AR-17
Turntable - Dual 502
Cart - Stanton 600EE

System 4 - $2,747.47
Reciever - Sansui 5050
Speakers - Genesis II
Turntable - BIC 960
Cart - Shure M95ED

System 5 - $3,139.96
Reciever - Yamaha CR600
Speakers - Large Advent
Turntable - Dual 1225
Cart - Pickering XV-15/625E

System 6 - $3,532.46
Amplifier - Kenwood KA7300
Speakers -EFI 200
Turntable - Dual CS704
Cart - Pickering XSV3000

Rich
Click to expand...

Prices adjusted for inflation via http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl
 
Vintagear said:
Different paradigm back then. Unlike today, nobody paid anywhere near retail prices for audio equipment.
Click to expand...

Hmm. I bought my preamp new 30% off. My best headphones were 40% off new.

Shop around.

Retailers like B&H Photo Video undercut msrp all the time. There are also close outs on late models and open box specials for customers to take advantage of in the market today.

Sent from my ZTE Olympia
 
RamblinE said:
Hmm. I bought my preamp new 30% off. My best headphones were 40% off new.

Shop around.

Retailers like B&H Photo Video undercut msrp all the time. There are also close outs on late models and open box specials for customers to take advantage of in the market today.

Sent from my ZTE Olympia
Click to expand...

I meant on every item in every store, day in day out. Not one off deals or close outs.
 
There was some major competition back in the 70's in Michigan.

Fretter, Highland Appliance, Tech-Hi-Fi were all putting out great deals...
 
Tom Brennan said:
Nobody? You paint with too broad a brush. In the 70s you didn't get deals on JBL, Klipsch, Mac, Crown, Quad, Magnepan and Audio Research, to name a few.
Click to expand...

The examples in the OP are all mid-fi. I wouldn't have asked RamblinE where I could buy an ARC amp for 40% off today. I don't think B&H carries those.
 
Vintagear said:
The examples in the OP are all mid-fi. I wouldn't have asked RamblinE where I could buy an ARC amp for 40% off today. I don't think B&H carries those.
Click to expand...

You're waffling. You said "nobody paid anywhere near retail prices for audio equipment". JBL, Klipsch, Mac, Crown and Magnepan qualify as audio equipment, right?
 
Tom Brennan said:
You're waffling. You said "nobody paid anywhere near retail prices for audio equipment". JBL, Klipsch, Mac, Crown and Magnepan qualify as audio equipment, right?
Click to expand...

I'll tell you what, I'll edit my post for clarity so that we can let this thread resume. Let me know if I need to make any further corrections.
 
Back when I was buying and trading equipment every year , I never paid MSRP . This was in the early 80's to mid 90's . And that includes Klipsch .
 
System #2 gives you a lot of bang for the buck. I like everything in that one, right down to the cartridge!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom