Updated Old Stereo Consoles ?

[gadget73]

The big problem with a lot of consoles is quite frankly the speakers suck. I imagine that one is a huge improvement over the stock design. Personally I might have kept the grille cloth just for stealth reasons but no qualms about ditching the stock speaker arrangement at all. I dumped mine, though unfortunately the physical quirks of my console leave me rather limited. Still, whats in there now is way better than it came.

 

[HypnoToad]

The big problem with a lot of consoles is quite frankly the speakers suck.

Back in the day most around here had oval speakers, we had one that had three channels, a 12" woofer that did all the bass and two 6" twin cones for the rest, the 12" woofer crapped out and when we took it out it was a small magnet cheap pressed steel affair, we replaced it with a Richard Allen and it was vastly superior, should have replaced those 6" twin cones with something decent as well.

 

[Rog50]

I have rebuilt/modified a Viking, Electrohome, Phillips, Nordmende and Grundig. The Viking was a mono unit and I kept the amp as it actually sounds very good. Only the Grundig had speakers that sounded half decent, but they were at floor level and just did not work in the room that the console was destined for.

I love the look of some consoles, and will probably get another some day. But reality is separate components are much easier to get a sweet sound out of.

 

[HunterMcD]

I repurposed this old 1950 rca tv console for my listening room. It was my grandfather’s. It originally had a tv, separate 33 1/3 and 45 record players, and radio. The electronics were gutted years ago, it was being used for tool storage in my dad’s garage. It took a long time to strip stain and reseal it but it was worth it. Even matched the original color and found replacement rca decals online.

 

[tom3]

Picked up a Magnavox Theater a while back, free but had to carry it up a mountain. Very well cared for and basically working. Pulled the old round picture tube set, some major rework to install an RCA flat screen CRT set in it's place. Pretty modern TV with analog and digital antenna/cable inputs and component inputs. Rewired the Maggie receiver to accept the line out from the set, put a top side aux. input where the channel selector was. Added tweeters to the console and put the TV's little speakers in there too, much better sound with them in the big enclosure, put it through the console amp for serious stuff. Made for a perfect basement TV - for now.

 

[Ohighway]

Stromberg Carlson had the right idea with some of their consoles. Quality tuners and amps, and standalone speakers hidden inside. Would make upgrading speakers a snap.


https://people.ohio.edu/postr/bapix/StromCon.htm

 

[cason]

I bought this Normende to use exactly as it’s being used here, an accent piece to support my Fisher 500c (and turntable).
Bob

 

[Tucker99]

I have done five rest-mods of old console cabinets...

My first is here...http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/tv-console-into-stereo-rack.640165/

Second...https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...console-come-stereo-rack.655857/#post-8731995

Third was a mono console, two left-right hinged doors, refinished into a single shelf for a Pioneer sx-950 and the lower 3/4 house a pair of EPI 360 3-ways. This was for middle daughter who wanted a small footprint and no remote speakers so it is stereo in one cabinet.

Fourth was similar to third but instead of speakers below my youngest daughter wanted vinyl storage space. I must locate some pics of that one.

Fifth I just finished. It was an older atomic age record player/radio combination that I restored but into a vinyl storage cabinet. It was posted here https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/rca-victor-l-200-mono-console-re-purposed.860824/

So, many styles of old consoles can be reused, just depends what you want to do with them.

 

[AnalogBrad]

I’m considering a resto mod console, using a solid state Zenith as a starting point. The general plan would be to backdate it to Scott tube components, an AR turntable and newer speakers installed in the cabinet. Many of these consoles are top loading with a front wood panel. Has someone removed the front panel(s) then converted them to door(s)? This would solve the front access issue.

 

[Tucker99]

AnalogBrad...I have always worked from a console having the exterior features that I wanted. Then once gutted I can do what I want inside. No reason that could not be done if you are a decwent woodworker with adequate tools.