Music Centres

[CrystalBall]

Re: Music Centres

I think that Waltham was based in the Republic of Ireland, although by ~1980 they would probably be selling mainly rebranded products imported from the Far East like their direct competitors, e.g. Bush/Alba, Ingersoll, Fidelity etc. They were not exclusive to Woolworths - I can definitely remember them being in Argos catalogues and I think in Dixons/Currys as well.

[Zincubus]

Re: Music Centres

Think that I just had Sharp separates back in the day ...plus an amazing looking / sounding Armstrad turntable - it was basically a black pine base with a silver alloy three -pronged turntable ...


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[Mulletino]

Re: Music Centres

My parents had an HMV Radiogramme, one of those long wooden cabinets that could play lots of records all stacked up.

Then they moved onto a 70s Music Centre with the record player, radio and tape deck all in a small wooden case with a smoked plastic lid. Their's had touch buttons on the front so you could change stations without pressing them. I I remember listening to (and taping) the audio serialisation of Star Wars on this. It had pride of place in their G-Plan wall unit.

I had the usual ghettoblaster type things, then in 1990 (I think) bought myself this Technics system which cost me almost a grand:



I still have it (am thinking of getting rid of it) but don't use it, I do however still use the speakers it came with on my games room surround system.

I also got this from an ex who's uncle was a BBC sound engineer, so he had top of the range stuff, I gave it to my bro-in-law:




It's very beat up now after so many moves. Nowadays I just have my Sony 7.1 Surround amp and a Yamaha 5.1 surround amp and some small radios.

[Arran]

Re: Music Centres

Music centre = radiogram with semiconductors in a plastic case.

There were also all in one Hi-Fis in upright cabinets with a glass front and a space to store records at the bottom.

The advantage of Hi-Fi separates was that you could add a CD player and remove the record turntable at a later date.

[Zincubus]

Re: Music Centres

Ah yes Technics .... seem to recall being 'bullied' by peers to get rid of my Silver Sharp system and get a black Technics one as it was the 'thing' to have a Black HiFi ..


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[Clare]

Re: Music Centres

I remember my dad (RIP+) assembling a Technics hi-fi in the '80s.

[CrystalBall]

Re: Music Centres

So when did music centres/all-in-one cabinet systems go out of fashion? I would say the mid-1980s when midi-systems took over, which were in turn overtaken by mini-systems without record decks (e.g. JVC MX-1) in the early 1990s when CD became all the rage. Hi-fi separates were always a relatively small sector of the market and this is even more the case today. Every major city used to have two or three specialist hi-fi shops, now you are lucky if there is one!

[Richard1978]

Re: Music Centres

So when did music centres/all-in-one cabinet systems go out of fashion? I would say the mid-1980s when midi-systems took over, which were in turn overtaken by mini-systems without record decks (e.g. JVC MX-1) in the early 1990s when CD became all the rage. Hi-fi separates were always a relatively small sector of the market and this is even more the case today. Every major city used to have two or three specialist hi-fi shops, now you are lucky if there is one!

I'm lucky to have a Richer Sounds near me, which has been round since the early 1980s.

[CrystalBall]

Re: Music Centres

I'm lucky to have a Richer Sounds near me, which has been round since the early 1980s.

I can remember lusting after the products in their flyers, particularly tape decks and CD players. Don't ever remember buying anything there though. Did they not have a slightly dodgy reputation at the time, e.g. selling repackaged and imperfect/repaired items without letting on?

[zabadak]

Re: Music Centres

I used to haunt Richer Sounds!

[Richard1978]

Re: Music Centres

I can remember lusting after the products in their flyers, particularly tape decks and CD players. Don't ever remember buying anything there though. Did they not have a slightly dodgy reputation at the time, e.g. selling repackaged and imperfect/repaired items without letting on?

I not heard of that, but they sometimes sell reconditioned & ex-demo items at a discount, but make this clear.

[George 1978]

Re: Music Centres

I used to haunt Richer Sounds!

At least I know where the Nottingham branch is...

[Arran]

Re: Music Centres

So when did music centres/all-in-one cabinet systems go out of fashion? I would say the mid-1980s when midi-systems took over, which were in turn overtaken by mini-systems without record decks (e.g. JVC MX-1) in the early 1990s when CD became all the rage. Hi-fi separates were always a relatively small sector of the market and this is even more the case today. Every major city used to have two or three specialist hi-fi shops, now you are lucky if there is one!

The writing was on the wall for music centres in 1983 when CD players became available. They seemed to disappear around 1986ish although you could still buy the cabinet systems. In the late 1980s there seemed a trend for cabinets that looked like chests of drawers. Hi-Fi separates appear to be quite common in the 1980s judging from how many pieces I have picked up over the years.

[Zincubus]

Re: Music Centres

The writing was on the wall for music centres in 1983 when CD players became available. They seemed to disappear around 1986ish although you could still buy the cabinet systems. In the late 1980s there seemed a trend for cabinets that looked like chests of drawers. Hi-Fi separates appear to be quite common in the 1980s judging from how many pieces I have picked up over the years.

We were slightly conned though weren't we ... with CDs ..
I saw Tomorrow's World science program raving about them .. perfect sound (not) , indestructible ( not)... last forever ( not ) ...

Didn't mention that a mere fingerprint sound render them useless until you realise and clean them ..


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[Arran]

Re: Music Centres

Crown 5500 music centre





I used to have one of these. They seem to be a high end model with VU meters and Dolby noise reduction. The radio has preset tuners that you need a tool to tune in.