Some Familiar Faces

[aclarke207]

Hey all- glad to be back on a working forum and it's great to see some familiar faces.

I've always loved audio and stumbled into the wonderland of consoles several years ago. I've learned much from visiting forums such as this and soliciting sage advise and tidbits of wisdom and opinion from many of you- and I expect that behavior to continue

I've owned several consoles from a basic solid state (Zenith maybe?) to a pair of three channel Motorola consoles and 1961 Magnavox Imperial French Provincial... actually, the Motorolas were also 1961. Currently the Maggie is the only console I have- and I'm considering finding a new home for it- even after bringing it back to life after sitting dormant for over 35 years.

In the last year, I've had more interest in smaller HiFi gear and have acquired a Sansui 2000x receiver to go along with an early 1980's Pioneer SX-3700 receiver. At least that gear isn't relegated to the basement!

In any case- it's great to be back on board!

[William]

Welcome aboard! Just because, everyone needs at least one console. Some of us, have a sickness and require more than one.

Bill

[hermitcrab]

my wife does not call it a sickness... she calls it insanity ... but she puts up with my hobbies just like I put up with hers ...

[William]

Your wife is a keeper!

Bill

[electra225]

Welcome aboard! Maybe you need to learn the fine art of stacking. My long-suffering wife has done that in the past. You can't have too many and there is always room for one more!

[Motorola minion]

Welcome aboard! Just because, everyone needs at least one console. Some of us, have a sickness and require more than one.

Bill

Way too many in my case...
Bill I am just curious to hear the next sleeper like a 64 RCA I sold, some tube models really were better and I live to find which ones are and report on that.

Then again the TOTL solid state models like my RCA VJT76, Sylvania SC919 and Zenith Z966 seem to all fall short of their self-reported power ratings

[aclarke207]

Just want to say- you guys all gave me the same advice on V-Hi Fi- lol. There is something to be said for consistency!

[TC Chris]

The trouble with power ratings is that the public generally viewed more as better, so the companies all indulged in creative inflation. The best was "instantaneous peak power," basically like measuring a big capacitor discharging. If you measure at just the right moment, the power can be very impressive indeed. Problem is, music is generally a sustained effort. It was so bad that the Federal Trade Commission had to step in and set standards for power measurement so the numbers had some meaning and were comparable.

In about 1966, I took my Heathkit AA-22 integrated amp to a McIntosh Clinic. They tested power and distortion across the standard audio bandwidth. The Macs all passed the test, of course, unless their tubes were really tired,and then the Mac guys would replace those for the grateful owner. The lesser brands were all failing to meet specs. Except my little Heathkit, a very modest little 40-watt (20/channel) device. Yeah, it met its specs across the bandwidth. I still have the graph the technicians drew. Heath was not run by the advertising department. The engineers did the talking.

My buddy was inspired to make the trek to Columbus the next day because he had just purchased a new Olson amp rated at something like a hundred watts. He wanted a cool graph too. Olson was a Radio Shack competitor back in those days, a chain of parts-and-devices stores. Well, my friend came back with a long face. His amp put out less power than mine before the distortion ran off the top of the graph.

You can find a history and explanation of the FTC rule, later weakened somewhat, here:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/ftc ... ifier-rule

Chris Campbell

[TC Chris]

Welcome aboard! Maybe you need to learn the fine art of stacking. My long-suffering wife has done that in the past. You can't have too many and there is always room for one more!

OK, Greg, explain t me how the theory of "always room for one more" applies to a Wurlitzer 1100 jukebox. Here's a photo:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=htt ... AdAAAAABAG

I'll be needing to move mine soon. Likely I'll be supporting the storage-unit industry for a while. Last night I tried to find room for my RCA Radiola 17, RCA's first AC powered radio. Eventually I freed up one shelf by creatively stacking some table radios that had occupied it before.

The Wurlitzer weighs almost as much as a compact car so it ain't sitting on nothing. And with the pointy top, ain't nobody gonna sit on top. Gotta find a pole barn for Chevy plus '38 Buick plus radios.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Paying for storage out here is like taking a mortgage out on your house. If I told you what I'm paying to store stuff not even worth one month's worth of storage, you'd think my trolley left the rails. What is one to do? There is no room in the house. We are waiting for the process to complete itself so our shop can be built. It will be nice when it's done. And if I should live that long. Nobody is in a hurry out here. Six weeks to four months out on almost any project. They want $13,000 to replace a 30X60 bathtub with a shower. I'm not kidding, thirteen grand!

I can see where stacking a jukebox might present a problem.

[Firedome]

no permits or taxes required most places.

https://www.shelterlogic.com/shop/depar ... /sheds?p=2

[walyfd]

Glad to see where everyone went!!! Sad the old site turned out to need a recap, tubes and a full alignment but it seem it'll never be right...

[electra225]

I'm glad you are here! Welcome aboard! It's nice to be able to communicate with all of you again.

[William]

Welcome, it's good to have another new member and one of the ole' gang.

Bill

[19&41]

Welcome!