I saw on Japanese tv that a foreigner started an online site so ppl. can buy Japanese i items and used also. One reason why it’s doing well is bc the Japanese take care of their items and in great condition. I’m half Japanese and raised in the IS since 7 years old and I’ve notice the Japanese to take care of their items and so have I , but not the same with many Americans. I’ve bought vintage watches from eBay from Japan and after 30 years, they look just like new and works great. So the world os starting to take notice of how the Japanese take great care of their items and now Japan is a great place to get used items from. Especially the electronics bc much of it was made there and lots of inventory in the used market.
I used to spend so much time dreaming to Crutchfield catalogs and Best Buy, American, and Circuit City ads as a kid. Watching this is making me miss those times.
I just recently discovered the joy of electronic recycling centers. Was picking up an Extron switcher that I had bought off eBay from a local recycling center and decided to see what else they had in the back. Ended up picking up two Xbox One controllers, two clear green Xbox original S controllers, a complete original NES with two controllers and a fully functional original Nintendo DS all for less than $50. I haven't tested all of it yet but even if some of it doesn't work they're still really awesome to have for parts. The center and I ended up exchanging phone numbers so that they could give me tips on stuff they get into their inventory.
Yeah, I would absolutely love this. Even the things we do have here that are similar often gross me out or are a ripoff. I think I'd feel much more comfortable in Japan where things are just maybe smoke stained rather than sticky or downright nasty.
What a great looking store. I could spend a few hours looking round there! Nice little set up you ended up with too, that Technics turntable is lovely! It's something I'm after myself but UK/Ebay prices are a bit of a joke on Technics stuff.
Thanks, Jason. Yeah, I love looking at all the audio equipment in that store. I, like you spend hours just looking at stuff. The Technics SL1300 has since made way for a Sony front loading turntable. The Technics did sound a little better but only a little. In fact, it's hard to notice most of the time. I made the change to the Sony so that I could save some space. You can see the Sony player in one of my record reviews such as Snatcher or Galaxy Force video.
seems like its mostly higher end models which would explain the greater care given to them and that quintessential Japanese aesthetic of space efficiency would dictate not filling up space with junk what a fascinating culture
I've been importing Japanese hi-fi components and media for a couple years now. Sometimes the shipping costs can sting, but I can always rely on everything I get having had a very gentle life, being taken well taken care of for the entirety of three, four, and even five decades. I wish Westerners would take care of their belonging at least half as well.
Absolutely correct. Here in Japan, seeing something listed as junk mostly means it hasn't been tested but will most likely be just fine. Same goes for all manner of electronics. In the 20 odd years I've lived here, I've only bought something completely dead twice. And I buy a lot of stuff. In most cases if a repair is needed, it's quite a simple one or maybe the unit just needs a bit of a clean.
@@RetroCore It's always nice to have my observations confirmed by someone who knows better :) I'm very glad that TH-cam recommended me your Lethal Enforcers video. I subscribed right away and I've had your videos on for the better part of the day. Best wishes to you and thank you for your excellent work.
Yes, they are! My father used to have very expensive Accuphase hifi (monoblocs etc) with high end German loudspeakers, solid electrolytic (!) silver cables, olala what a sound, it was really incredible!!!! I have an old and very fine Pioneer Blue line amp and a tangential Technics turntable and an old Denon CD + B&W. I hope to make enough money to buy some used Accuphase stuff. Incredible electronics!!! Respect to Japanese engineers and craftsmanship!!! Hello from Bohemia.
I love Hard Off but yes, some stuff can be expensive but saying that, if you are in to restoration projects you can find some amazing deals in these places.
I used to live in Sasebo. I visited this shop a few times while touring Kitakyushu. They often had nice junk PC Engine and Sega Saturn games. I would kill to move back to Japan.
Cool video. Looks like my kind of store. I've been looking at white Saturns lately. A shame I can't find them so easily in a store like that. The PS2 slim looks great in white. I'd probably have done an impulse buy on it if I was there. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed it.
+ravagingwolverine yeah, you'd probably love this place if you are in to tech. By the way, I have one of those white PS2 slims :) really nice version of the PS2.
Love looking at these Hard Off videos Mark. Makes me want to head off to Japan and see all these goodies for myself. Well done as always kind sir! Anthony...
Thanks for watching the video Sam. Do be prepared to see much higher prices in any store near Den Den Town. You should still be able to find a deal or two though.
That would have been nice but spec wise the onkyo was better. I no longer have the Technics turntable now. I sold it and replaced it with a front loading Sony deck.
Hi. This is Mangalmay Biswas from Kolkata, India. I have just now subscribed your channel. I really like the stuff you have purchased from the store. I wish I could visit the store😁. I need a vintage power amplifier and a turn table. Upload videos like this in future too.
For the speakers I'm looking at a pair of ELAC Debut B6. In the US they are under 300 dollars but in Japan they are a stupidly high 550 dollars! I'm eyeing up a beautiful quality used pair for about 100 US dollars. They sound fantastic!
@@RetroCore I bought the Elac debut 6.2 for a special low price of $150.00 limited time. Now they are currently $299.00 Best Buy. Awesome sounding speaker designed well and for the price. Andrew Jones is a awesome designer and engineer. You will love these speakers if you already have bought them.
Funny.... Japan has always been 5 years ahead of the USA...on everything in electronics... remember when the japanese had cell phones that could video chat.... the US was just entering the smartphone market... now japan has moved beyond that and the MP3 stuff and now going back to vintage stereo equipment...in the US the millennials are just starting a resurgence in vinyl and analog stuff again would love to see stores in US selling this kind of stuff again ...
millennials kind of annoy me with how they talk about records and call them vinyls. Just like how they say Legos too. Let go is none countable. Anyway, yeah it's cool that Japan takes care of its stuff. There's so much gratitude equipment available that is now reasonably priced.
I would've picked up that Nakamichi Zx-7 and that Luxman M-5 in a heart beat! I would live buying on that store. That's when you realize Ebay is too expensive. Ebay used to be an affordable place that people bought used stuff they needed at affordable proces, now it has turned into a business, full of scammers that want to sell junk that doesn't work for ridiculous prices!
Wow! Nice store with beautiful retro equipment, like it a lot. In the past I've had a Technics pre amp and power amp with VU on the power amp. Sounded beautiful and looks a lot like the Panasonic in your video. We all know that those 2 brands are from Matsushita company. Love those products. I also subscribed to your channel. I also use and buy older equipment. Friendly regards, Emiel
Hi Emiel, Thanks for subscribing. While my channel is mostly about video games I do from time to time visit the old electronics stores. I have a real interest in the audio equipment. Video no so much as it's always terrible to watch these days.
Retro Core I know your channel is also about lot's of gaming. I'm a videogame lover too. Owned a lot consoles in my lifetime. On the moment playing Zelda Breath of the Wild on Nintendo Switch. My PlayStation 4 is collecting dust. Saw another video on your channel about a Japanese videogames store. Lovely to see it. They got lot's of stuff and sometimes cheap regarding your video. Keep up the good work!
You are an amazing person who isn't affected by name, cost, vintage. Audiophiles are afflicted in that way, and cannot see the value of what was in that shop.
If it sounds good and built well then it's good enough for me. I do know the difference between rubbish and quality audio so I do like to buy good sounding equipment however I'm definitely not an audiophile. That's taking things a bit too far :)
That reel to reel deck will go for a good fortune on ebay but it's only 5,000 yen in Japan? I'll make sure I'll check out one of these Hard-Off stores when I'm in Japan later this year. I'll looking for some retro gaming in good prices there too.
Where's this store in Japan again? By the way I'll be arriving in Japan in December and staying in Niigata City and I found a Hard Off store close to where I'll stay so I'll go to that store and might a video out of that! How to buy stuff in the glass display do you have to tell the staff? And you can just pick up stuff on the shelve straight to cashier?
Yep, it's kind of Inaka but not too bad. Not living in a major city has some good advantages :) I'd never own my own house if I lived in a big city for sure.
Retro Core Oh, don't get me wrong. I think the Japanese "Inaka" is the best place to live. I would prefer that to being in the city, but work and wife had other priorities!
Depends what it is really. Some stuff might be easier for me to find on yahoo auctions, especially PlayStation styff. There&s way too much crap to wade through that I don&t even bother for myself.
Retro Core Haha, I'll have to try and remember what I was after, it's been so long :D Oh, The Sega Ages: Monster World Collection on the PS2 is one that's evaded me for some time.
***** Yeah, that can be bought. Best to contact me via a private message or Email.. My mail address is at the end of all my Battle of the Ports videos.
@@RetroCore They're are so brilliant arnt they... I have a Sony MDLP Atrac deck and a Marantz deck also MDLP. Minidisc was such a great format and still appreciated by so many. Wonderful tech and engineering.
That stuff is priced extremely reasonable. Serious question though, i was under the impression that Panasonic was an American or European label while in Japan it is called National/ Matsushita. I figured this since i always seen Japanese versions of Panasonic U.S stuff is labeled National. So whats the deal?
National is the brand used for household equipment. For example my fridge and light switches are National. Panasonic is the name used for mostly AV equipment such as TV, Audio, video etc. Same company though, Matsushita. In the past though, say around the mid 90s and before, some cheaper AV equipment was labeled as National.
Hi! Could you please help me find a part of the CD/SACD Player MARANTZ SA-7S1. Or how to contact with the MARANTZ headquarters service in Japan? Thanks!
White SEGA Saturn for $35!!! I want one but the eBay prices are expensive. Are there Japanese online stores that will ship to USA? The shipping would probably be too much though.
Does anybody knows is there any store like this here in US ? I've bought two used Aiwa stereo shelf systems from the free market near me a few years back. One of them stopped playing CD and cassettes in within a few weeks.I still like to buy an old Japanese stuff in the store like that so I able to testing before spent hundred of dollars. Thanks.
Were they allow you to record video or you did it in low profile? I'll do the same kind of video when I'm Japan later this week,any advice on how to make video without them ask me to leave. My trip changed to Asahikawa instead.
I film undercover (low profile). I use an app called "background video recorder" that allows you to video while the phones screen shows another app running or nothing at all. The advantage to this is the shop staff think I'm either using another app such as Chrome or a spreadsheet viewer or nothing at all. The downside is that I have no idea what the camera is filming.
I just took a video of the store I gone through three different Hard Offs in Hokkaido. One just out of the downtown area of Asahikawa another store Closest to Sapporo Terminal and another one in Eniwa. Let's just say all three stores are pretty small "Hard Off" section are tiny while Off House simply dwarfed the rest of the store area. I did find some great deal there I bought "Junk" Neo Geo CD with box cables and controllers for 4850 yen and two sports games for it for 800 yen each. (both NCD games came with spine cards too) I tested it and it worked perfectly the console itself are actually in great condition. Too bad I have to throw away package box since it would not fit in my luggage and is in banged up condition the only "Junk" looking part of this otherwise paid-to-steal amazing deal.
Some of those units that have the tape deck receiver and record player all-in-one are not rubbish they actually sound quite good they actually can compare to some audio file units Sony's have made some very nice ones so of zenith the quality of the workmanship and then we're very very good especially the ones that were made in the early 70s people put them down because they were mass produced and they look like clunky things but unless you've worked on them and you've seen the circuitry that are in them you don't know what you're talking about I have worked on them and some of them are quite good the amplifiers in them are quite you know acceptable they put out quite a bit of power and the sound quality is excellent you put them on a good pair of speakers and you could fool anybody as you just put the unit away and you just let The Music Play and you could fool audio files with a good pair of speakers they would not know what kind of unit it was playing through I recently sold a KLH unit that had the FM radio and turntable that I also modified with a Bluetooth in it and I was amazed on how good it sounded through a vintage pair of Pioneer speakers some of these units will Amaze you on how good they sound I don't remember the model number of the Zenith one that I had that I repaired for a customer but the sound quality when I played it through a pair of B&W speakers amaze me I wasn't expecting the sound that came out of it but then again you can put a turd amplifier through a pair ofB&W's and it'll sound pretty good but I'm just talking about the circuitry I went repaired something in the amplifier and the circuit is an excellent circuit the amplifier is a nice push-pull design and it had some very nice components the stuff that they put out nowadays it's crap compared to it some of these newer home theater receivers that are out there that are being half the time going in out of the repair shop because they're overheating not enough heat sinks on the transistors or a multi packs their garbage compared to them it's it's different it's nine and day sound qualities from the older equipment is so much better the new stuff it overheats easily because they're cramming everything into a smaller case there's not enough heat sink space and then you get the people that love to play their music loud and that's more stress on the transistors which Heats them up more and if you don't have enough heat sink they overheat and there it goes it's popped transistor Burns Out and then you got to send it out to be repaired and they don't realize it they figured oh and it's a piece of junk well nine times out of 10 it is a piece of junk and you're paying a lot of money for it that's why Pioneer Denon Marantz all these expensive receivers that are out there now they're not worth the money that they used to be they become mass produced pieces of garbage that when they break down you take them and you throw them away even though you're spending 500 dollars on them or even more I've seen Marantz receivers surround sound receivers home theaters that are going for 11,200 and they break down and people are throwing them away it might be nice to have that kind of money to throw away $1,200 throw them them my way throw those receivers my way now I'll turn around and take them apart and I'll repair them but I'll do it right I'll put transistors in there that'll take the punishment I'll take the transistors that are in there and put oversized transistors that will put more handle the power and then we'll walk over heat and then I'll have a receiver that will last a long time
Ah, I don't remember now. But that Sony finally died and has since been replaced with a rare-ish Technics table from the 80s. I did a video about that on my 2nd small channel, Retro Core AV.
Sadly older stuff like this seems to be expensive in the US. In Japan they are cheap because I guess people took good care of their electronics meaning there's still quite a fair few about.
I will buy everything in that store :) Love how they have all of it shrink wrapped and clean and neat! Japanese people take care of their stuff!
nobody needs old crap.....
@@lucasrem That old crap is way better than all the new crap out there today.
I saw on Japanese tv that a foreigner started an online site so ppl. can buy Japanese i items and used also. One reason why it’s doing well is bc the Japanese take care of their items and in great condition. I’m half Japanese and raised in the IS since 7 years old and I’ve notice the Japanese to take care of their items and so have I , but not the same with many Americans.
I’ve bought vintage watches from eBay from Japan and after 30 years, they look just like new and works great. So the world os starting to take notice of how the Japanese take great care of their items and now Japan is a great place to get used items from. Especially the electronics bc much of it was made there and lots of inventory in the used market.
Love how they rap the hardware with plastic in Japan 😅
Really enjoy these vlogs from you in Japan 😄
These are the sort of shops I miss, because of the current situation 🇬🇧
I used to spend so much time dreaming to Crutchfield catalogs and Best Buy, American, and Circuit City ads as a kid. Watching this is making me miss those times.
Me too and love those ads and catalogs. Those were fun times being young and dreaming.
I just recently discovered the joy of electronic recycling centers. Was picking up an Extron switcher that I had bought off eBay from a local recycling center and decided to see what else they had in the back. Ended up picking up two Xbox One controllers, two clear green Xbox original S controllers, a complete original NES with two controllers and a fully functional original Nintendo DS all for less than $50. I haven't tested all of it yet but even if some of it doesn't work they're still really awesome to have for parts. The center and I ended up exchanging phone numbers so that they could give me tips on stuff they get into their inventory.
Everything is so clean and in good shape.
That has to be the coolest stores I think I have ever seen.
Wow, wish we had stores like that in the States. Or maybe its a good thing, I'd be broke!!
If you go broke you can always sell your hi-fi to one of them stores. 😁
I wish this shop is just a bus ride away, it's heaven!!
Yeah, I would absolutely love this. Even the things we do have here that are similar often gross me out or are a ripoff. I think I'd feel much more comfortable in Japan where things are just maybe smoke stained rather than sticky or downright nasty.
Sega Saturn just sitting there? Those would fly off the shelf in my town..
What a great looking store. I could spend a few hours looking round there! Nice little set up you ended up with too, that Technics turntable is lovely! It's something I'm after myself but UK/Ebay prices are a bit of a joke on Technics stuff.
Thanks, Jason. Yeah, I love looking at all the audio equipment in that store. I, like you spend hours just looking at stuff.
The Technics SL1300 has since made way for a Sony front loading turntable. The Technics did sound a little better but only a little. In fact, it's hard to notice most of the time. I made the change to the Sony so that I could save some space. You can see the Sony player in one of my record reviews such as Snatcher or Galaxy Force video.
Everything is so clean and organized. I love this!
Welcome to Japan. A place were even the junk is organised.
I will lose all of my money in that store!!!!!!
I have many a time. It's a pure place of evil according to my wife :)
Looks far better than richer sounds for sure.
You and me both
@@RetroCore If your wife is anything like mine, she'll spend all her money on clothes, so it's fair game as far as I'm concerned!
Wow, A Nakamichi Tape deck! very rare. The best tape decks ever made are Nakamichi ZX Dragon or ZX Computing, astoundingly good sound.
I love watching videos like this with my currency converter app open
Hell that store is well stocked with great stuff. I wish stores here had stuff like this. Love the japanese stuff.
Great amp, and that store looks nice! It looks to me like the Japanese take much better care of their stuff then we Americans do.
I'd say so. You only have to look at your typical Goodwill to see that :(
Oh yeah, Goodwill was my point of comparison.
seems like its mostly higher end models which would explain the greater care given to them
and that quintessential Japanese aesthetic of space efficiency would dictate not filling up space with junk
what a fascinating culture
Considering how much those TC-K333ESG cassette decks go for now, 7,500yen for that was an absolute steal
Compact Cassette, how mad are you?
CRAP HERE!!!!
@@lucasrem I am absolutely nuts
I've been importing Japanese hi-fi components and media for a couple years now. Sometimes the shipping costs can sting, but I can always rely on everything I get having had a very gentle life, being taken well taken care of for the entirety of three, four, and even five decades. I wish Westerners would take care of their belonging at least half as well.
Absolutely correct. Here in Japan, seeing something listed as junk mostly means it hasn't been tested but will most likely be just fine.
Same goes for all manner of electronics. In the 20 odd years I've lived here, I've only bought something completely dead twice. And I buy a lot of stuff.
In most cases if a repair is needed, it's quite a simple one or maybe the unit just needs a bit of a clean.
@@RetroCore It's always nice to have my observations confirmed by someone who knows better :) I'm very glad that TH-cam recommended me your Lethal Enforcers video. I subscribed right away and I've had your videos on for the better part of the day. Best wishes to you and thank you for your excellent work.
Thanks for the positive words 👍
Cool video Yakumo! And great find on that amp, nice bargain and looks terrific!
Thanks. It did need a good clean but after that it's as good as new.
Japanese products are best in world.
Aaarv course.
Yes, they are! My father used to have very expensive Accuphase hifi (monoblocs etc) with high end German loudspeakers, solid electrolytic (!) silver cables, olala what a sound, it was really incredible!!!! I have an old and very fine Pioneer Blue line amp and a tangential Technics turntable and an old Denon CD + B&W. I hope to make enough money to buy some used Accuphase stuff. Incredible electronics!!! Respect to Japanese engineers and craftsmanship!!! Hello from Bohemia.
I wish I had stores like that here in America.
I guess there are smaller version but it seems places like this only exist in Japan.
I am dead , and this is heaven
Nope, you're not dead but this is kind of like heaven :)
Retro Core Niceee
yes I agree. looks like vintage heaven. talk about pricey! nice setup.
I love Hard Off but yes, some stuff can be expensive but saying that, if you are in to restoration projects you can find some amazing deals in these places.
wish we had stores like this in the u.s.a
I used to live in Sasebo. I visited this shop a few times while touring Kitakyushu. They often had nice junk PC Engine and Sega Saturn games. I would kill to move back to Japan.
Sasebo? Were you living on the base down there? I've only been down that way once but I did enjoy it.
This is heaven.
Cool video. Looks like my kind of store. I've been looking at white Saturns lately. A shame I can't find them so easily in a store like that. The PS2 slim looks great in white. I'd probably have done an impulse buy on it if I was there. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed it.
+ravagingwolverine yeah, you'd probably love this place if you are in to tech. By the way, I have one of those white PS2 slims :) really nice version of the PS2.
That place is the absolute fucking holy grail
It sure is. I live going there but also hate it because I come out with no money.
Those Technics ST-1 horn speakers at 2:37 on the top shelf are very rare and valuable in the US
Japan only models I guess? They've been in the store for ages. They're still there now. If Hard Off did overseas sales I bet they'd be gone by now.
Looks very pretty, we still have a Technics stereo vinyl set back from the 80s my dad bought then.
As long as it works and sounds good you should keep hold of it.
Retro Core
It's been siting there for a while, I have to put it to sound, it really sounded well back then.
So much cool stuff. And I guess prices are also great.
Yep, the prices are very reasonable.
Some of those prices are incredibly cheap, while a few things like the Quad 44/405 combo @ 1.58 are ridiculously expensive.
I guess it all depends upon the country youive and availability.
Those prices!!!! So good
Nice video very informative done watching new friend here
Nothing but NOTHING beats old hifi, I used to work at a hifi shop in my teens, so I KNOW what I'm talking about
And you're modest too.
Love looking at these Hard Off videos Mark. Makes me want to head off to Japan and see all these goodies for myself.
Well done as always kind sir!
Anthony...
If you ever do come over, make sure to bring a suitcase of cash :)
Retro Core
My no.1 idea exactly.
Anthony..
Ohmy god those Technics speakers only 279 euro.
I wonder does the store ship products.
I'm afraid not.
Nice job! I'm in Japan and I can't wait to check out Hard Off, Book Off, and Den Den Town. :) Take care, Sam.
Thanks for watching the video Sam. Do be prepared to see much higher prices in any store near Den Den Town. You should still be able to find a deal or two though.
what a lovely shop
You should have gotten the Panasonic.Perfect match for your Technics Turntable.
That would have been nice but spec wise the onkyo was better.
I no longer have the Technics turntable now. I sold it and replaced it with a front loading Sony deck.
Wow £35 that's cheap what a steal 👍👍👍
Oh man! I miss that place!
A ZX7 for 40.000 yen is super cheap. Instant buy :)
Hi. This is Mangalmay Biswas from Kolkata, India. I have just now subscribed your channel.
I really like the stuff you have purchased from the store. I wish I could visit the store😁. I need a vintage power amplifier and a turn table.
Upload videos like this in future too.
Just love Tech, old and new. May invest in a new amp and speakers myself.
For the speakers I'm looking at a pair of ELAC Debut B6. In the US they are under 300 dollars but in Japan they are a stupidly high 550 dollars! I'm eyeing up a beautiful quality used pair for about 100 US dollars. They sound fantastic!
@@RetroCore I bought the Elac debut 6.2 for a special low price of $150.00 limited time. Now they are currently $299.00 Best Buy. Awesome sounding speaker designed well and for the price. Andrew Jones is a awesome designer and engineer. You will love these speakers if you already have bought them.
Funny.... Japan has always been 5 years ahead of the USA...on everything in electronics... remember when the japanese had cell phones that could video chat.... the US was just entering the smartphone market... now japan has moved beyond that and the MP3 stuff and now going back to vintage stereo equipment...in the US the millennials are just starting a resurgence in vinyl and analog stuff again would love to see stores in US selling this kind of stuff again ...
millennials kind of annoy me with how they talk about records and call them vinyls. Just like how they say Legos too. Let go is none countable. Anyway, yeah it's cool that Japan takes care of its stuff. There's so much gratitude equipment available that is now reasonably priced.
I seriously want that Nak deck, not sure about that particular model but I imagine any Nak model would beat the Sony one I have.
I would've picked up that Nakamichi Zx-7 and that Luxman M-5 in a heart beat! I would live buying on that store.
That's when you realize Ebay is too expensive. Ebay used to be an affordable place that people bought used stuff they needed at affordable proces, now it has turned into a business, full of scammers that want to sell junk that doesn't work for ridiculous prices!
I have never used Ebay in my life and hope to keep it that way.
I buy original Lps from all over the world AND ship them to North America for less than I can get the same Lps in a record shop..just saying..
Related to Bookoff? They also sell tube amps in addition to books andCDs.
Yes, there's House Off, Hard Off, Garage Off, Book Off, Hobby Off and many others. They're all the same chain.
@@RetroCore I recognized the blue and yellow typeface which is the same across the stores.
who needs this nerdy museum crap???
mad here!
@Retro Core
Do they have an online store with international shipping?
Great video btw!
I'm afraid not.
I need to get to this store man!
Wow! Nice store with beautiful retro equipment, like it a lot. In the past I've had a Technics pre amp and power amp with VU on the power amp. Sounded beautiful and looks a lot like the Panasonic in your video. We all know that those 2 brands are from Matsushita company. Love those products. I also subscribed to your channel. I also use and buy older equipment. Friendly regards, Emiel
Hi Emiel,
Thanks for subscribing. While my channel is mostly about video games I do from time to time visit the old electronics stores. I have a real interest in the audio equipment. Video no so much as it's always terrible to watch these days.
Retro Core I know your channel is also about lot's of gaming. I'm a videogame lover too. Owned a lot consoles in my lifetime. On the moment playing Zelda Breath of the Wild on Nintendo Switch. My PlayStation 4 is collecting dust. Saw another video on your channel about a Japanese videogames store. Lovely to see it. They got lot's of stuff and sometimes cheap regarding your video. Keep up the good work!
Hardware recycle store...... something the US desperately needs
Wow 32 bucks for a Saturn? I spent just about 100 to get mine with a controller and power cable shipped to me on eBay.
Panasonic vs Onkyo? I could tell right away whatnyou bought🤣
Perfect video 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
very nice, would like to see more of these vids!
I don't get chance to visit stores that often these days but when I do I'd be happy to make some more videos.
you do really good videos like watching.
Glad you like them!
I wanna go shopping spree there
Una gran colección de productos de Calidad mundial... ..
You are an amazing person who isn't affected by name, cost, vintage. Audiophiles are afflicted in that way, and cannot see the value of what was in that shop.
If it sounds good and built well then it's good enough for me.
I do know the difference between rubbish and quality audio so I do like to buy good sounding equipment however I'm definitely not an audiophile. That's taking things a bit too far :)
Nice stuff - the Quad 44/405 combo was way overpriced though, you could make a fortune importing those if that’s what they go for over there
Does all of those hifi can be used outside japan? As far i know japanese electricity is rare (100v)
Some have voltage selectors up to 240 volts but most are 100 to 110 volts 60htz.
thanks for the video.
You're welcome.
That reel to reel deck will go for a good fortune on ebay but it's only 5,000 yen in Japan?
I'll make sure I'll check out one of these Hard-Off stores when I'm in Japan later this year.
I'll looking for some retro gaming in good prices there too.
Yep, stuff like that isn't too expensive here as there are many good conditioned machines available.
Where's this store in Japan again?
By the way I'll be arriving in Japan in December and staying in Niigata City and I found a Hard Off store close to where I'll stay so I'll go to that store and might a video out of that!
How to buy stuff in the glass display do you have to tell the staff?
And you can just pick up stuff on the shelve straight to cashier?
Tell me again which Hard Off this is? Such a nice selection! Or if you don't want to tell me, I completely understand!
It's located in Shin-Shimonoseki which is in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Ken.
Retro Core Wow, dude. That's proper inaka! Maybe next time I visit Hiroshima I'll take a little day trip!
Yep, it's kind of Inaka but not too bad. Not living in a major city has some good advantages :) I'd never own my own house if I lived in a big city for sure.
Retro Core Oh, don't get me wrong. I think the Japanese "Inaka" is the best place to live. I would prefer that to being in the city, but work and wife had other priorities!
I didn't know you lived in Japan, I thought you were there for your Hols?
No mate, I go to the UK for my hols :p
I've been in Japan for 19 years come this November.
Retro Core
Ah wow, that's amazing! I don't suppose theres any chance you could ever keep an eye out for some stuff for me at all? :D
Depends what it is really. Some stuff might be easier for me to find on yahoo auctions, especially PlayStation styff. There&s way too much crap to wade through that I don&t even bother for myself.
Retro Core
Haha, I'll have to try and remember what I was after, it's been so long :D
Oh, The Sega Ages: Monster World Collection on the PS2 is one that's evaded me for some time.
*****
Yeah, that can be bought. Best to contact me via a private message or Email.. My mail address is at the end of all my Battle of the Ports videos.
The labels really say Junk products lol. I’d love to have what they consider junk lol
Real junk is probably not accepted in to the shop.
Completely overlooked the Minidisc decks
Because I have 3 minidisc decks including a nice TEAC one that takes PC PS2 keyboards for typing the tracks on to Mini Discs.
@@RetroCore
They're are so brilliant arnt they...
I have a Sony MDLP Atrac deck and a Marantz deck also MDLP.
Minidisc was such a great format and still appreciated by so many.
Wonderful tech and engineering.
The prices are high.. this is not a bargain .
I want cassette Deck
What city and do you remember the name of the shop? Thank you.
Oh my god 😳, I have to go to Japan one day. Can you take that stuff back with you and how many of those places are there?
Yes, you can take stuff back with you. There are stores like this all over the country.
@@RetroCore Far out ! I have to go there
Tokuyama?
No, this was in Shin-Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefcture.
That stuff is priced extremely reasonable. Serious question though, i was under the impression that Panasonic was an American or European label while in Japan it is called National/ Matsushita. I figured this since i always seen Japanese versions of Panasonic U.S stuff is labeled National. So whats the deal?
National is the brand used for household equipment. For example my fridge and light switches are National. Panasonic is the name used for mostly AV equipment such as TV, Audio, video etc. Same company though, Matsushita.
In the past though, say around the mid 90s and before, some cheaper AV equipment was labeled as National.
@@RetroCore ok that makes a little more sense to me thanks for the clarification👍
ITS HEAVEN!! WE NEED STORES LIKE THIS IN THE U,S!!
One of the plus points of living in Japan. They take good care of their tech (mostly.
I wish we have 110v down under ...
You missed the Triode amplifier for 60,000 at 1:57..........would have been the perfect buy, imo.
pannonianbrute I did see that but it was quite a bit more that I wanted to pay.
Great vid :)
There is a hum in your audio in case you didn't know :)
Yep, I know about that. Started withing the past week. Not sure what is causing it. Hmm.....
I today’s money uk what is 10,000 worth please, oh and great vid 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Hi! Could you please help me find a part of the CD/SACD Player MARANTZ SA-7S1. Or how to contact with the MARANTZ headquarters service in Japan? Thanks!
man i would have brought that teac tape deck myself or the nak
Feel like I've fallen into an episode of techmoan :D
Yep. He'd love this place.
White SEGA Saturn for $35!!! I want one but the eBay prices are expensive. Are there Japanese online stores that will ship to USA? The shipping would probably be too much though.
I'm afraid not. The shipping cost would kind of defeat the point though.
@@RetroCore That's what I thought. Thanks for answering.
Love these videos! Thank you!
Glad to hear that. I'll make more when I have a chance.
Does anybody knows is there any store like this here in US ? I've bought two used Aiwa stereo shelf systems from the free market near me a few years back. One of them stopped playing CD and cassettes in within a few weeks.I still like to buy an old Japanese stuff in the store like that so I able to testing before spent hundred of dollars. Thanks.
Most of my system is from Hardoff. I've learned to be cautious with the junk section though. BTW, what kind of accent is that?
We can test stuff in out junk section if we ask.
I'm originally from Liverpool in the UK.
Were they allow you to record video or you did it in low profile?
I'll do the same kind of video when I'm Japan later this week,any advice on how to make video without them ask me to leave.
My trip changed to Asahikawa instead.
I film undercover (low profile). I use an app called "background video recorder" that allows you to video while the phones screen shows another app running or nothing at all. The advantage to this is the shop staff think I'm either using another app such as Chrome or a spreadsheet viewer or nothing at all. The downside is that I have no idea what the camera is filming.
So they don't allow video recording inside then?
I'll give that app a try.
No. In most shops you can't video inside. Same for arcades as well. Some stores even have a no cameras sign on the entrance.
I just took a video of the store I gone through three different Hard Offs in Hokkaido.
One just out of the downtown area of Asahikawa another store Closest to Sapporo Terminal and another one in Eniwa.
Let's just say all three stores are pretty small "Hard Off" section are tiny while Off House simply dwarfed the rest of the store area.
I did find some great deal there I bought "Junk" Neo Geo CD with box cables and controllers for 4850 yen and two sports games for it for 800 yen each. (both NCD games came with spine cards too)
I tested it and it worked perfectly the console itself are actually in great condition.
Too bad I have to throw away package box since it would not fit in my luggage and is in banged up condition the only "Junk" looking part of this otherwise paid-to-steal amazing deal.
I need to get to japan
I.love Atari2600 I am Pakistani
But sir thanks you video is very
very lucky 🍀 you get to live in Japan 🗾 nice
Yes, there are many downsides to living in Japan but when it comes to tech and safety the plus points outweigh the negatives.
Pray tell!! I'm fascinated by those willing to take the plunge living abroad. What are the plus and minus of living in Japan?
No sé exactamente lo que está diciendo. Pero me encanta lo que veo .
Jajaja ni yo pero es le cielo de los aparatos.
What an unusual name hard off? But nice electronics
Some of those units that have the tape deck receiver and record player all-in-one are not rubbish they actually sound quite good they actually can compare to some audio file units Sony's have made some very nice ones so of zenith the quality of the workmanship and then we're very very good especially the ones that were made in the early 70s people put them down because they were mass produced and they look like clunky things but unless you've worked on them and you've seen the circuitry that are in them you don't know what you're talking about I have worked on them and some of them are quite good the amplifiers in them are quite you know acceptable they put out quite a bit of power and the sound quality is excellent you put them on a good pair of speakers and you could fool anybody as you just put the unit away and you just let The Music Play and you could fool audio files with a good pair of speakers they would not know what kind of unit it was playing through I recently sold a KLH unit that had the FM radio and turntable that I also modified with a Bluetooth in it and I was amazed on how good it sounded through a vintage pair of Pioneer speakers some of these units will Amaze you on how good they sound I don't remember the model number of the Zenith one that I had that I repaired for a customer but the sound quality when I played it through a pair of B&W speakers amaze me I wasn't expecting the sound that came out of it but then again you can put a turd amplifier through a pair ofB&W's and it'll sound pretty good but I'm just talking about the circuitry I went repaired something in the amplifier and the circuit is an excellent circuit the amplifier is a nice push-pull design and it had some very nice components the stuff that they put out nowadays it's crap compared to it some of these newer home theater receivers that are out there that are being half the time going in out of the repair shop because they're overheating not enough heat sinks on the transistors or a multi packs their garbage compared to them it's it's different it's nine and day sound qualities from the older equipment is so much better the new stuff it overheats easily because they're cramming everything into a smaller case there's not enough heat sink space and then you get the people that love to play their music loud and that's more stress on the transistors which Heats them up more and if you don't have enough heat sink they overheat and there it goes it's popped transistor Burns Out and then you got to send it out to be repaired and they don't realize it they figured oh and it's a piece of junk well nine times out of 10 it is a piece of junk and you're paying a lot of money for it that's why Pioneer Denon Marantz all these expensive receivers that are out there now they're not worth the money that they used to be they become mass produced pieces of garbage that when they break down you take them and you throw them away even though you're spending 500 dollars on them or even more I've seen Marantz receivers surround sound receivers home theaters that are going for 11,200 and they break down and people are throwing them away it might be nice to have that kind of money to throw away $1,200 throw them them my way throw those receivers my way now I'll turn around and take them apart and I'll repair them but I'll do it right I'll put transistors in there that'll take the punishment I'll take the transistors that are in there and put oversized transistors that will put more handle the power and then we'll walk over heat and then I'll have a receiver that will last a long time
what Sony model you replaced that Technics SL-1300 MK2 with ?
Ah, I don't remember now. But that Sony finally died and has since been replaced with a rare-ish Technics table from the 80s. I did a video about that on my 2nd small channel, Retro Core AV.
@@RetroCore you mean that linear SL7 deck
Yes, that's the one.
I know there’s a lot of Hard Off in Japan but where is this particular one? Thanks
Shinshimonoseki in Yamaguchi Ken.
Thanks
Wish I could find one of those Sony cassette desks in my area for around $80.
Sadly older stuff like this seems to be expensive in the US. In Japan they are cheap because I guess people took good care of their electronics meaning there's still quite a fair few about.
You have to show us your game room
It's not much different from the video I made earlier this year to be honest.