Anyone else remember these old weird stereo system accessories?
[This was my weekly column for GlobalNews.ca. – AC]
I like shiny things, especially when it comes to audio systems. This affliction goes back to my youth when many of my generation spent ungodly amounts of after-tax income on building up stereo systems that were big, brash, and loud.
No speaker was too big, no amp was too powerful, and the more bells, lights, and whistles on display, the better. Part of the music listening experience often included lying in a dark room watching needles and meters dance to the music while hot red power buttons burned everywhere. It made audio visual.
But even after you had all the appropriate audio components, it wasn’t enough. That Wall of Stereo in your living room, bedroom, or dorm needed more. How many of these old-school accessories and accouterments do you remember?
Back in the day, I had a retail account that was primarily a Classical Music store. But along with having the largest selection of classical music on CD, The Gramophone also sold high end stereos and accessories. And when I say High end I mean the highest of the high end stereos. Stuff you’d need a bank loan to purchase. I did a quick Google and sure enough, they’re still around and going strong in Edmonton although it looks like they got rid of the Classical Music department
Link is broken
https://globalnews.ca/news/10500889/stereo-system-nostalgia/
The JC Penney MCS mention brought back memories for me. If I recall MCS was made by Technics and NEC so it was good stuff for folks on a budget. My first CD player was an MCS that I bought in 1987 for US$50 on ‘close out’ when JC Penney was closing down their electronics department at the local mall. It was still working and in use in my basement shop up until about 4 years ago when it finally quit reading discs. I still have an MCS cassette deck (with VU meters!) that was still working when last I used it a few years ago to digitize some old tapes.
It was the EQ module, and learning you don’t need to boost the EQ you need to Subtract it to get a better sound.
I had 12” Cerwin Vega towers with a 10” sub on its own volume control. I could shake the house. Or I could shake the house across the street. It never played Emo.
Then there’s the time my two 10” subs in the trunk of the hatchback caught fire.
Ahh! The 90’s.