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Help Identifying A Stereo For Mom...

reydelaplaya said:
Did anyone else just get a little 'OMG I'm old people' shock when first seeing this pic:

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And then reading this:



I had one similar to that when I was a kid. And it just kinda hit me weird to hear it referred to as mom's childhood stereo - I feel a little older now than I did before I read this thread.
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She's not too old, only in her forties. But, I see what you're getting at. It's a pretty cool little system, it may be cheaply made, but it had some cool stuff to it.
 
Another quick thing to note, se said she would do a component CD changer, as my father found his old Pioneer (Cartridge Based) 6-CD Changer. It's very cool, I quite like it.
She really wants to be able to play her cassettes and LP's without fuss.

I've thought about even just replicating my stereo for her, I have a new Sony Receiver, The Pioneer PL-50 Record player (Old Model, not the weird new one) A Pyle Cassette Deck (Not proud of the brand, but it works well) and a brand new Onkyo 6-CD Changer (I highly recommend this changer, it's awesome!

Again though, she doesn't want the components, other than that CD Changer.
 
All in one units like the one I first posted are commonly found in thrift stores, Craigslist, yard sales, etc at very reasonable prices. As stated, easy to operate and likely with much better sound quality than the stack system.
 
I mean, I still think it was 2007 yesterday, so, even fifty is still young for me. Most of you in your forties were eighteen in 1990, or a few years before, that's when my father turned eighteen. I don't know why it seems weird to me.
 
Craigslist is your best friend. There is a good chance you can find a rack system for cheap. Alternately, you could find a rack and fill it with decent components. It would function much as her rack system did.
 
Kingshead said:
All in one units like the one I first posted are commonly found in thrift stores, Craigslist, yard sales, etc at very reasonable prices. As stated, easy to operate and likely with much better sound quality than the stack system.
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I will swing by a thrift shop as soon as possible then, hard to do this while moving, but, I think I will see how the TEAC works at the new house, then, maybe shoot to surprise her with a nicer system for Christmas.
 
hotrodman21 said:
I mean, I still think it was 2007 yesterday, so, even fifty is still young for me. Most of you in your forties were eighteen in 1990, or a few years before, that's when my father turned eighteen. I don't know why it seems weird to me.
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I'm just playing around, dude. Those of us in our 40s are just now realizing we're not in our 20s anymore. (It kinda sucks!)

But like I was saying, I had one of those all-in-ones back in the early 80s until I graduated HS in 90. And yes, there was Thriller, Men At Work, ELO, a 45 of EJ's Rocket Man, and others I no longer remember.

It was suggested earlier up about a little separates setup based around a new Yamaha receiver - I'd totally recommend that route if you don't end up finding the system you're looking for.

Those little Yamaha micro units are reasonably priced, and are getting some great reviews. Not to mention, they look fantastic.
 
I really just would like to track down a system that won't grind her records. See, the reason I say this, is she kept her albums in pristine condition, the way I treat mine. I go to a local record store in my area called "Melodies and Memories" anyone in the Detroit area may recognize this store. They are awesome there, and keep great stock, if you go down a few corners in the store, they have a "Dollar Record Room" you can find some great stuff, but, I would say, about two times out of ten, a record looks great. I then take it home, drop the needle on my deck, and it has distortion. My copy of "The Quietest Moments" By Super Tramp suffers from this to the extreme. It's a great album, and I need to track down a better copy. At the same time, I found a Near Mint copy of "Paradise Theater" by Styx, you know, the one with the cool laser etching, for just a buck. It's a mixed bag.

Back on topic, one of the things I noticed about the turntable, which quickly stopped working all together after I started checking it out. The needle was heavily worn. Any loud parts of music, and the needle would literally skip along the record until it found a quiet bit. Mom had no idea this meant wear, and I couldn't track down a needle, or get into the mechanism to try to get it spinning again, so she tossed it out.
 
reydelaplaya said:
I'm just playing around, dude. Those of us in our 40s are just now realizing we're not in our 20s anymore. (It kinda sucks!)

But like I was saying, I had one of those all-in-ones back in the early 80s until I graduated HS in 90. And yes, there was Thriller, Men At Work, ELO, a 45 of EJ's Rocket Man, and others I no longer remember.

It was suggested earlier up about a little separates setup based around a new Yamaha receiver - I'd totally recommend that route if you don't end up finding the system you're looking for.

Those little Yamaha micro units are reasonably priced, and are getting some great reviews. Not to mention, they look fantastic.
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Bingo!

I tracked down that Yamaha unit, that looks great for Mom, I don't know where she's looking to put the system, be it in the kitchen, or set it up in the living room, but, that would be great for her!

I will surely look into this further. Thanks a lot.
 
As you're a noob, those used records that sound so bad most likely just need a good cleaning. If you don't have access to a record cleaning machine use the search here for alternative methods.
 
Kingshead said:
As you're a noob, those used records that sound so bad most likely just need a good cleaning. If you don't have access to a record cleaning machine use the search here for alternative methods.
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I bought a cleaning kit awhile ago, that is definitely the case for a LOT of the records that come out of there, it's just distilled water and a carbon fiber brush, since Crosley wanted to charge ten bucks for a replacement bottle, I decided to figure out exactly what this "secret formula" was that they were using. Found out it was water, went up to the local market, and got a gallon of "distilled water" for a buck. Take that Crosley.

I bought a copy of "Brothers in Arms" from there, caked in dirt and crap, brought it home, cleaned it, it was a pristine copy, and I love it.

I clean each one I bring home from there, the Supertramp LP may just need a deeper cleaning.
 
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I have had extensive time using that particular LXI combo unit. It was also sold as a JCPenney MCS2230. As far as cheap all in ones were, it was one of the better cheap all in ones. It had "enough" watts to actually be useful, and with efficient speakers, it sounded perfectly fine. They could last quite a long time as long as they weren't beat on. Perfectly pleasant middling stuff has its place, too. I bet all of the belts just rotted and fell off.

You might be able to dredge up a receiver, turntable and tape deck for very little, because If she can use that particularly designed all in one, there is no user difference between it and the component stack it was designed to mimic. The initial hookup might have to be done by you, but its set it and forget it after that.

I actually have one like these out in the garage, of much lesser quality than the LXI. I think the output wattage is nearly 3 or almost 5. If you were local, I'd leave it out front for you. All you'd have to do is find the matching proprietary turntable. I just plugged it up for fun. Came right on, everything works. Listened to a tape. it sounds so bad
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Gazdatronik said:
I have had extensive time using that particular LXI combo unit. It was also sold as a JCPenney MCS2230. As far as cheap all in ones were, it was one of the better cheap all in ones. It had "enough" watts to actually be useful, and with efficient speakers, it sounded perfectly fine. They could last quite a long time as long as they weren't beat on. Perfectly pleasant middling stuff has its place, too. I bet all of the belts just rotted and fell off.

You might be able to dredge up a receiver, turntable and tape deck for very little, because If she can use that particularly designed all in one, there is no user difference between it and the component stack it was designed to mimic. The initial hookup might have to be done by you, but its set it and forget it after that.

I actually have one like these out in the garage, of much lesser quality than the LXI. I think the output wattage is nearly 3 or almost 5. If you were local, I'd leave it out front for you. All you'd have to do is find the matching proprietary turntable. I just plugged it up for fun. Came right on, everything works. Listened to a tape. it sounds so bad
s-l1600.jpg
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but it looks so cool
 
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