It seems that home audio equipment was at its prime during the 1980's. Although I do get into today's electronics, I'm a huge fan of 1980's stereo and A/V components, mainly because of all the "bells and whistles" they had...receivers with built-in equalizers and huge digital displays often with spectrum analyzers and/or peak level meters (very cool to look at while listening in a dark room!), scores of input/output jacks for hooking up a turntable, CD player, often two tape decks, two VCR's and sometimes a spare aux. jack. Also, receivers back then seemed much more powerful than today's receivers. You could turn the volume up to 3 (on a 0-10 volume scale) and the windows would be rattling and the woofers pulsating with the bass. Today's receivers for some reason just don't seem to have the "punch" many older ones had. Also, it's now almost impossible to find a receiver today with a phono input, tape deck inputs/outputs and many now lack built-in AC "convenience" outlets. Although receivers today are obviously made for digital and HD applications (with the primary inputs/outputs being HDMI, component video, optical/coaxial, etc.), I wish they still included all the analog inputs/outputs that the older receivers had, so you could hook "everything" up to it and have the "ultimate" entertainment center!
Anyway, how do you rate today's home audio compared to 1980's equipment???
Anyway, how do you rate today's home audio compared to 1980's equipment???
chainsawsmalls
14 Posts
13 years, 11 months ago
I have fond memories of 1980s audio equipment. I agree, the receivers and equalizers were mesmerizing to watch and the floor speakers that stood 4 feet tall did pack more of a punch than a lot of today's systems. I also remember getting my hand smacked for playing with the turntable of the record player. I am pretty sure there are home videos of me getting in trouble for that. Analog is still a great sound. I'd love to have the set up my parents had when I was a kid. Digital is fine and all that but nothing compares to that raw sound.
We traded in 2 15 inch subs, 2 mids, and 2 tweeters for 5 small surround speakers and an 8 inch woofer we tuck away in the corner. I say we bring back the big wooden boxes that makes you want to turn it up a few more notches so the neighbors can feel it! :twisted:
In retrospect, 80's audio equipment is pretty horrible. Lots of bells and whistles, but not too great sounding. 70's audio equipment is the good stuff.
CleverHans
In retrospect, 80's audio equipment is pretty horrible. Lots of bells and whistles, but not too great sounding. 70's audio equipment is the good stuff.
I was pretty much a fan of those bells and whistles, or as my dad would call it, "gingerbread"! I just loved how a 1980's component/rack system would light up like Times Square at night when you turned it on, with the various LED/flourescent indicators seeming to "dance" to the beat of the music! I never had any issues with sound quality with the systems I had back in the mid/late 1980's. I had two Technics receivers, with the first one being a 50 watt per channel (audio only) model I bought in early 1988. The second one I bought about a year later, which was 100 watts per channel (A/V) and was my first surround sound receiver.
You can buy some pretty high end stuff today. They still sell tube amps which generally give you the most natural sound and the price is reasonable. Since I use my receiver for movies as well as music I want one that can do Dolby Truehd and DTS; you're not getting that with an 80s amp.
They were built to last, in my opinion. Sturdier and better quality.
I still have a stereo from the late 80's, early 90s that has a CD player, tape player, and record (LP) player. You can't find a record player in the stores, anymore.
I still have a stereo from the late 80's, early 90s that has a CD player, tape player, and record (LP) player. You can't find a record player in the stores, anymore.
System
79987 Posts
13 years, 11 months ago
chainsawsmalls
I also remember getting my hand smacked for playing with the turntable of the record player. I am pretty sure there are home videos of me getting in trouble for that. .
:lol: Yeah when I was a little kid I got in trouble for putting two toy racecars on the record player. I do think Stereo systems looked the coolest back in the 80s. We still have the Soundesign system my mom bought back in 1988. The radio still works but I haven't tried the record player or casette part in a long time.
System
79987 Posts
13 years, 11 months ago
I too loved watching the dials and equalizers on the old sterios! I recently found a synthasizer that is all digital but has an analog look, it's very cool!
DirtyD1979
chainsawsmallsI also remember getting my hand smacked for playing with the turntable of the record player. I am pretty sure there are home videos of me getting in trouble for that. .
:lol: Yeah when I was a little kid I got in trouble for putting two toy racecars on the record player. I do think Stereo systems looked the coolest back in the 80s. We still have the Soundesign system my mom bought back in 1988. The radio still works but I haven't tried the record player or casette part in a long time.
I've always thought Soundesign systems were very cheaply made. I've always liked brands such as Technics/Panasonic, JVC, Sony, Fisher, Kenwood, Pioneer, Teac, Akai, Aiwa and Yamaha. My late brother had a Soundesign 8-track stereo tape deck (play only) and I had a Soundesign old school "digital" clock-radio (the clock had those flip down numbers) that I got for Christmas 1978 when I was in 8th grade, which lasted until 1983.
System
79987 Posts
13 years, 11 months ago
Timothy1964
DirtyD1979chainsawsmallsI also remember getting my hand smacked for playing with the turntable of the record player. I am pretty sure there are home videos of me getting in trouble for that. .
:lol: Yeah when I was a little kid I got in trouble for putting two toy racecars on the record player. I do think Stereo systems looked the coolest back in the 80s. We still have the Soundesign system my mom bought back in 1988. The radio still works but I haven't tried the record player or casette part in a long time.
I've always thought Soundesign systems were very cheaply made. I've always liked brands such as Technics/Panasonic, JVC, Sony, Fisher, Kenwood, Pioneer, Teac, Akai, Aiwa and Yamaha. My late brother had a Soundesign 8-track stereo tape deck (play only) and I had a Soundesign old school "digital" clock-radio (the clock had those flip down numbers) that I got for Christmas 1978 when I was in 8th grade, which lasted until 1983.
They were a cheaper brand. I forget when they disappeared, probably some time around the mid 90s. Usually for electronics I prefer Sony.
Back in the 1980's and early 1990's I pretty much preferred Technics, but they have since disappeared. Technics was Panasonic's "high end" line of audio systems and components. Through the mid/late 1990's and early 2000's I owned several Sony ES components, which included a 3-head cassette deck, double cassette deck and minidisc deck.