The retro look

[jose7740]

Now that Nikon came with a new camera with the retro look, I think that companies like Pioneer, Marantz, Kenwood and maybe others could make new stereo gear with the old look, silver faceplates, vu meters, wood cabinets and everything else the old gear used to have and with new electronics they should be more reliable than before, I know they can do it. I can not stand to see the prices people ask on eBay for old stuff that probably don't last long after you buy it. I would like to have a " new SX 1980 " or Kenwood model 11 that I can rely and enjoy for many years.:scratch2:

 

[river25]

That old stuff usually lasts longer than you think. The fact there's still a lot about and many people who cherish and use them daily is a testament to how robust they are.

While I wouldn't mind seeing some new audio with that old vintage look, I question the internals and fear they will have proprietary chips and SMD devices, which makes it a lot harder to repair. The older audio units, like older vintage computers. are a lot easier to work on than modern equipment, and had mostly had discrete off-the-shelf components. You can usually find a substitute for out of production components.

 

[tom e]

Check out outlaw audio's rr2150 retro receiver,its pretty cool.

 

[909Hemi]

Check out outlaw audio's rr2150 retro receiver,its pretty cool.

I have an intense dislike for the RR2150's looks: It's a copy of something that never existed in the first place. Small knobs and a small digital display on something that I guess is supposed to be "Art Deco".
Keep it!

 

[ra7c7er]

Now that Nikon came with a new camera with the retro look, I think that companies like Pioneer, Marantz, Kenwood and maybe others could make new stereo gear with the old look, silver faceplates, vu meters, wood cabinets and everything else the old gear used to have and with new electronics they should be more reliable than before, I know they can do it. I can not stand to see the prices people ask on eBay for old stuff that probably don't last long after you buy it. I would like to have a " new SX 1980 " or Kenwood model 11 that I can rely and enjoy for many years.:scratch2:

It wouldn't be a "new" sx 1980 or whatever. They wouldn't use the original parts. It would be the same modern tech just wrapped in a "vintage" package. Which as many have probably seen usually just means higher price and lesser internals. Companies that do the throwback looks are usually just out to capitalize on the look and not on the actual performance.

 

[lico]

There are a few manufactures like Yamaha and Teac who aspire for a retro look with quality performance. But I'm talking about amplifiers.

Both models mentioned by the OP were receivers. No manufacturer would build a high end receiver with FM tuning dial like a SX-1980 or model eleven these days. It would be a marketing nightmare trying to sell something like that these days. Because the FM part of the equation is not desirable anymore.

I see pictures all the time on this site with beautiful looking vintage receivers, flashy lights and dials, and I doubt anyone ever even listens to the the radio. It's all eye candy.

 

[909Hemi]

There are a few manufactures like Yamaha and Teac who aspire for a retro look with quality performance. But I'm talking about amplifiers.

Both models mentioned by the OP were receivers. No manufacturer would build a high end receiver with FM tuning dial like a SX-1980 or model eleven these days. It would be a marketing nightmare trying to sell something like that these days. Because the FM part of the equation is not desirable anymore.

I see pictures all the time on this site with beautiful looking vintage receivers, flashy lights and dials, and I doubt anyone ever even listens to the the radio. It's all eye candy.

You're out of touch. I listen to radio every single day, and all of my friends do too, with either vintage or modern receivers or separates.

 

[jose7740]

There are a few manufactures like Yamaha and Teac who aspire for a retro look with quality performance. But I'm talking about amplifiers.

Both models mentioned by the OP were receivers. No manufacturer would build a high end receiver with FM tuning dial like a SX-1980 or model eleven these days. It would be a marketing nightmare trying to sell something like that these days. Because the FM part of the equation is not desirable anymore.

I see pictures all the time on this site with beautiful looking vintage receivers, flashy lights and dials, and I doubt anyone ever even listens to the the radio. It's all eye candy.

I think that most of the members here have receivers instead of separates and even if they never use the am/ fm, it is still there and those dials is what made most people buy them.

 

[specialone53]

Radio is alive and well, no need for speculation that its died off.
I listen every day as well, and so do many others.
Analog radio, that is.

As for the "knock-off" retro crap, it's just that - crap.
Marketed for its looks.
It's a desperate attempt by manufacturers to capture a market longing for "the good old stuff", knowing full well that people are fed up with the junk they've sold for the last 20 years, and want solid quality, and are now hunting down Pioneer SX-xxx's and Rca Victor console stereos again.

People want good stuff. - again.

 

[lico]

I'm not out of touch, I listen to radio all the time. Local jazz station and for background music. Just don't think that many other people would buy into a big old flashy FM receiver type tuner these days, that's all. Change the display to a touch screen with buttons like a car stereo head unit, different story.

 

[specialone53]

I'm not out of touch, I listen to radio all the time. Local jazz station and for background music. Just don't think that many other people would buy into a big old flashy FM receiver type tuner these days, that's all. Change the display to a touch screen with buttons like a car stereo head unit, different story.

If these people you speak of are of the "ipod" generation, perhaps they'd prefer modern conveniences like touch screens.
But from what I can see, the older crowd likes a knob to turn.
Take note of the automotive industry - they've reterned to "knobs" on their dashboards - why? - because of customer demand.

 

[fgb4]

While I love the look of retro gear I dont think it'll ever really make a true comeback in the mid-hi region of the market. All those fancy lights, knobs, and meters cost money to include on a piece. I look at the new marantz line up, and I say this because my father owns one, but its relatively simple looking. Yes it looks nice, and it sounds great, but all in all, the knobs on it dont compare to the older knobs imo. The simple led that switches for input, and the lcd display are pretty cheap to come by these days. If they included everything that makes the old gear attractive from an aesthetic point of view my guess is the price would go up at least $100 dollars.

More importantly, companies exist to make money. Not to provide a percentage of their consumers with all the bells and whistles. Audiophiles are not the only ones buying stereo equipment. I'd venture a guess and say we make a small portion of the market. That portion gets larger in terms of ratio as price goes up. (*I am not making a statement on which is better/worse/etc Im just giving an example) a lot of new Mac gear comes with the pretty lights and the meters, and everything (but I still like knobs over the new buttons) where as the newer Marantz doesnt. Marantz isnt Mac and Mac isnt Marantz. They are two different price segments in the market. I know a lot of people who have Mac gear because it was the most expensive, and wanted to impress people, not because it sounded any different to them, or any other reason beyond the lettering on the faceplate. Yes these companies want to provide good gear and make a claim at "the best" and probably truly care about the opinions of the audiophile or stereo nut. But at the end of the day companies are about making money. If these companies included fancy pretty things we like, and prices go up, the lines start to blur in the segmentation of the market, and these companies lose on prospective buyers because the price is out of their reach. At the same time people who were willing to spend X now have to spend X+ they might say screw it and buy a completely separate brand which is X++ but if youre already spending X+ why not just make the jump to get the "better" "cooler" "more impressive" brand/unit.

Its the same with cars today. I dont think anyone can doubt the beauty of a '57 chevy. But why doesnt chevy just take todays modern impala, and literally just put a '57 chassis on it? Because the chrome trim, the skirts, the fenders, lights, everything would cost too much. If people are already buying today's sedan why spend extra money to make it different?

Just my opinion, albeit probably ill informed. Its also 1am so my argument probably came across poorly and halfheartedly. Just know I had it all worked out in my head, but it was lost in translation on the keyboard.

;tldr all that stuff is awesome, and id like to see it come back, but its too expensive for manufacturers to make.




side note: ford/chevy/honda/anyone really should just take a standard family sedan and throw a sick ferrari/lambo/porshe/etc looking chassis on it. Dont change anything about the car, just make it look cool.

 

[specialone53]

While I love the look of retro gear I dont think it'll ever really make a true comeback in the mid-hi region of the market. All those fancy lights, knobs, and meters cost money to include on a piece. I look at the new marantz line up, and I say this because my father owns one, but its relatively simple looking. Yes it looks nice, and it sounds great, but all in all, the knobs on it dont compare to the older knobs imo. The simple led that switches for input, and the lcd display are pretty cheap to come by these days. If they included everything that makes the old gear attractive from an aesthetic point of view my guess is the price would go up at least $100 dollars.

More importantly, companies exist to make money. Not to provide a percentage of their consumers with all the bells and whistles. Audiophiles are not the only ones buying stereo equipment. I'd venture a guess and say we make a small portion of the market. That portion gets larger in terms of ratio as price goes up. (*I am not making a statement on which is better/worse/etc Im just giving an example) a lot of new Mac gear comes with the pretty lights and the meters, and everything (but I still like knobs over the new buttons) where as the newer Marantz doesnt. Marantz isnt Mac and Mac isnt Marantz. They are two different price segments in the market. I know a lot of people who have Mac gear because it was the most expensive, and wanted to impress people, not because it sounded any different to them, or any other reason beyond the lettering on the faceplate. Yes these companies want to provide good gear and make a claim at "the best" and probably truly care about the opinions of the audiophile or stereo nut. But at the end of the day companies are about making money. If these companies included fancy pretty things we like, and prices go up, the lines start to blur in the segmentation of the market, and these companies lose on prospective buyers because the price is out of their reach. At the same time people who were willing to spend X now have to spend X+ they might say screw it and buy a completely separate brand which is X++ but if youre already spending X+ why not just make the jump to get the "better" "cooler" "more impressive" brand/unit.

Its the same with cars today. I dont think anyone can doubt the beauty of a '57 chevy. But why doesnt chevy just take todays modern impala, and literally just put a '57 chassis on it? Because the chrome trim, the skirts, the fenders, lights, everything would cost too much. If people are already buying today's sedan why spend extra money to make it different?

Just my opinion, albeit probably ill informed. Its also 1am so my argument probably came across poorly and halfheartedly. Just know I had it all worked out in my head, but it was lost in translation on the keyboard.

;tldr all that stuff is awesome, and id like to see it come back, but its too expensive for manufacturers to make.




side note: ford/chevy/honda/anyone really should just take a standard family sedan and throw a sick ferrari/lambo/porshe/etc looking chassis on it. Dont change anything about the car, just make it look cool.

What you've just concluded makes me think of Corporate Greed and desperation, that's all.
And that's surely the case with today's manufacturers AND suppliers - lots of them.
The cost of living factors in this pitiful mess too.

Cutting costs by cutting corners is the bottom line for decades, but yet, that 1957 Belair was chromed up, and the average person bought it anyway.
Pride of ownership was/is for reasons too many to count, but has developed into a throwaway society. - thus the cheepening of products to current levels.
The "out to make money" mindset of companies has really gotten to the point of pissing off the consumer though, and the manufacturers are aware of this.
But how to fix the problem?
Import parts from asian sources? - so far, no good. - people are tired of the junk coming over here.
"Made In China" has become a dirty phrase - finally.

 

[jhoyt]

To the OP's point: Pioneer, Marantz, Onkyo, Teac, etc., have done just that. Some amazing new gear at great price points, with classic styling sensibilities.

 

[mhardy6647]

Now that Nikon came with a new camera with the retro look, I think that companies like Pioneer, Marantz, Kenwood and maybe others could make new stereo gear with the old look, silver faceplates, vu meters, wood cabinets and everything else the old gear used to have and with new electronics they should be more reliable than before, I know they can do it. I can not stand to see the prices people ask on eBay for old stuff that probably don't last long after you buy it. I would like to have a " new SX 1980 " or Kenwood model 11 that I can rely and enjoy for many years.:scratch2:

it's been done...

EDIT: oh! or...

 

[dumptruck]

 

[mgosdin]

If these people you speak of are of the "ipod" generation, perhaps they'd prefer modern conveniences like touch screens.
But from what I can see, the older crowd likes a knob to turn.
Take note of the automotive industry - they've reterned to "knobs" on their dashboards - why? - because of customer demand.

Here's an idea, make a "classic" or "'70's retro" receiver with a nice big glass plate with what appears to be a radio dial behind it ... that is actually a touch screen. Imagine dragging you finger down the dial and the needle follows it. Turn the knob and the pointer moves, press the knob and the dial changes to, maybe, a menu for various "modern" functions.

Someone with design chops ( Pioneer, Yamaha, TEAC? ) needs to try this.

EDIT : I see that they've already done some work in that vein from the pics above.

Mark Gosdin

 

[jose7740]

I have not seen these items for sale anywhere, are these manufacturer pictures? I get the Crutchfield catalog and have not seen them there.

 

[dumptruck]

I have not seen these items for sale anywhere, are these manufacturer pictures? I get the Crutchfield catalog and have not seen them there.

Yes. The US version of the Pioneer only comes in black for some reason so for that one you'd have to get an import, but I think the rest are all available in the US. Crutchfield definitely carries a few of them, or at least similar models (I only took a quick peek).

 

[specialone53]

While those glamour photos look snazzy, only the test of time will convince me of the quality, and longevity.
I've seen way too many "pretty" dresses on things, but peek inside, where the consumer rarely if ever does. - they buy for the looks, usually.

The same goes for those sexy flat screen tv sets - framed with illuminated plexiglas trim, touch controls.... and inside? - a cheap 2 or 3 PC boards overworked, under-rated parts, and stressed to eventually fail.
But hey, in the store the picture quality is enough to sell them to unsuspecting customers!
... and the business of "extended warranty"?
Just another ploy.