Who remembers component stereos?

[Tahitijack]

For the Marantz owners,

How do you keep them operational? Lights, gyro tuner? I see ones like the 2270 and 2230 on CL all the time, but wonder how to keep it going after 30 to 40 years.

[robj144]

When I listen to music at home, I listen with my laptop through a DAC to a tube preamp, to an amp. I have Kilpsch speakers. It sounds really good:

[ahorsewithnonam]

Originally Posted by kydave

What I have now:

Marantz 2270 Receiver


Marantz Challenger VII Speakers

Dude!!!! This is what I had!!!!!!

[Davis Webb]

OMG Dayton Wright speakers. No, it was Loudspeakers. Carver amps, 500 watts!

[uposb4]

I started building my system back in the early 80's when I was around 17 and had my first job. I started out with a Realistic STA-700 receiver (still have) with a set of Realistic minimus 7 speakers, Coustic HEQ-7000 EQ, a JVC dual cassette deck and a jvc turntable. Shortly after, I upped the speakers to a pair of Marantz 30/300's (still have) and the turntable to a Pioneer PL-55X. I changed out a few things over the years and what I have today (and use every day) is an Optimus STAV-3280 Receiver, A Sony CDP-C315 5 disc changer, The old Coustic HEQ-7000 EQ, and a pair of Cerwin Vega D-3 speakers. Yep! The component systems are much better!

Originally Posted by Misty44

Still my only hi-fi system after all these years, built to last, keeps chugging along: Marantz 2230 receiver with a NAD CD player on top and a pair of Dynaco A25's. Sweet natural sound, and plenty of it.

Boy, that brings back some memories. My first good receiver was a Marantz 2230. I got Advent speakers rather than the Dyanaco A25s, and I had a Dual turntable, like everyone else. That system got stolen and replaced by system built around a Mitsubishi R7, which is still sitting here next to me.

[mercy]

I want to buy something with great sound to hear my CDs. Im afraid my vinyl is too used to sound good any more. Any suggestions for a real sound? I had a friend years ago that had a band. He invited me over to jam. While I was there he was playing CDs through a mixing deck and speakers on poles. I wasnt interested at the time to ask what it was and now its too late.

[Wasper]

I got nothing special, just a Kenwood component system. It is pretty old. I don't remember when I bought it, but, I know it followed me through three moves. I did buy the whole system new.. I remember that much, cuase it cost me a good chunk of change.

I still have it in the family room hooked up to the 55" TV. The two big floor speakers are about chest hieght and I have three other soround speakers hooked into it as well. It still sits in the cabinet I bought with it new. The only thing I disconnected (but still have in a box somewhere) is the double tape deck.... lost all my tapes on my last move (2005), so figured I could free up some space.

[seannx]

You can go on Craigslist and search for an amp. You want one that is a well known brand, and has a phono input. You will probably connect the CD player to a tape or auxiliary input if it's older. If newer, it may have a dedicated CD input.
$75 to $200

Then look for a good set of vintage speakers. Twelve inch woofers are an excellent size for strong, full bass, and are usually combined with additional speakers to give a full frequency response. You can copy the name and model number, and then search for reviews via Google.
$75 to $250

You can get a multi disk CD playe5. Hook everything up, and it will sound surprisingly good.
$50 to $100

[Dan Carey]

Remember them? I still have one! Onkyo amp (300Watt), dual cassette, 6 disk CD player, Stanton direct drive turntable. and an Akai reel to reel. Oh yeah...Polk Audio and Klipsch speakers

[dhodgeh]

Still using them:

For my Vinyl:

Rega RP-1 -> Bottlehead Eros Phono Preamp -> Bottlehead Stereomour Amp-> Klipsch Heresey's

CD, XM, and TV:

Oppo BDP-93 -> Vintage Onkyo A7 Amp -> Klipsch Heresy's

At my office (and this is my real kick *** system):

Raspberry Pi running Raspify -> Aune T1 DAC -> Bottlehead S.E.X 2.1 -> Blumenstein Orca's with a Dungeness Sub

D

[kydave]

Originally Posted by ahorsewithnonam

Dude!!!! This is what I had!!!!!!

Nice stuff, huh?



P.S. Not to make you guys cry, but I got the receiver about 10 years ago at Goodwill for $35 (working) and the speakers along with a second pair (Advents like above, IIFC) for $50 from a stereo nut cleaning out his storage locker.

[Dirk Hofman]

Here's the essential component stereo system for the current age:



Have this in my home. Streams Pandora, Spotify, Local Radio, anything off my iTunes library, my Satellite radio and plays the sound on my TV.

It does windows as well.

But seriously. Love, love, love SONOS.

[seannx]

I think that's a great system for streaming, itunes, radio, TV, etc. I have a Sony sound bar with a big powered subwoofer, that I use for the same things.

But when it comes to CDs and vinyl, it can't come close to my vintage Yamaha amp and big Marantz model 7000 stereo speakers.

[Chicago Sandy]

Still have mine--components replaced as they wear out or obsolesce. Three systems (now all A/V): front room, den, master bedroom. Front room still has B&W speakers that are older than my grown son. And two systems have turntables. Of course, when I started building my own as a step-up from a single-brand “compact” (aka fake component) system in 1974, I never dreamed that systems would include some sort of recording device beyond a cassette deck (much less DVD burners and HD-DVRs).