My mom took me to j c penny and bought me a complete system. I was 14 and it's the best memory I have with my mother. We bought MCS because she had to use her credit card.
When I was a HS sophomore I craved music (1972) the louder the better. I had an opportunity to obtain through a friend an expensive entertainment cabinet for literally Pennie’s on the dollar. I presented this to my parents on a timely wedding anniversary and it looked lovely in the L.R. that was never used. Never understood that one but anyway my very patient father purchased an inexpensive stereo I don’t remember the brand and I used the LR everyday for the next 2 years. It remained a family joke for years to come. Beware a son bearing gifts.
We all kinda have a story like that. My first system was a mid 80's Fisher all-in-one unit I got for my birthday. Even as a tween I kinda thought it sounded like crap...but it was what I had so I made the best of it.
I worked for JCPenney in their design department as a design student when they were still in NYC. I did the front ends on a few 8 track tape players and recorders in the early 1970's. At that time the manufacturer of the internals would also use my drawings to make the JCPenney version of the product. That particular manufacturer was Matsushita, founder of the Panasonic and Technics brands we know today. I assume most of the electronics were bid out to Japanese companies due to their expertise in electronics and low price back then. If I wanted to rearrange the controls or change the basic functions I would get a visit from the corporate buyer and my boss who gently told me, "Hell NO". I remember trying to describe vapor honing to one of the Japanese engineers when I specified it on a drawing for the face plate and got a blank stare. That finish and a brushed finish became the classic look of the 1970's electronics business, but at JCPenney, fake woodgrain got the nod.
I like the educational information. Many people don't have the knowledge of how these equipment are built. I'm an electronic technician, and it's very important to inform potential buyers of these flaws. Especially when proprietary op-amp or ic, and for those who can't do the work themselves, what they're getting themselves into, like the receiver equiped with these infamous STK output pack, those who have the component glued with corrosive glue that eat up the legs of the transistors and others component, it's time consuming and if you can't do this yourself, it just doesn't worth it.
Videos like this are educational and very needed in the community. It seems that folks on youtube are sometimes afraid to call out products (vintage or not) and their inherent weaknesses and/or drawbacks.
It is refreshing to see a video that cuts through the BS and presents "just the facts, just the facts mam." Your video is in no way to be taken as derogatory, but educational. You have done a great service to the potential vintage video buyer. You have saved mane from a bad case of buyers remorse, whether they realize it or not.
Agree regarding MCS. I worked as a technician in the late 70s in a shop contracted for warranty service by the local JC Penney. When it came to all but a very few specific models, it was, “If it’s working, enjoy! If it’s not, you better hope it’s under warranty.” Their best models (Matsushita-built) were OK, their worst items (GE-built TVs) were utterly horrible to work on.
I had a 4-channel system I bought in 1974 while in the Navy. It consisted of a Sansui QRX-5500 receiver, TEAC A2340R Reel to Reel, Dual 1229 Turntable, 4 Pioneer R-700 speakers and as an add on a JVC CD-4 4-channel demodulator. I never did buy the Koss 2+2 4 channel headphones, but always meant to. To play 4 channel discrete records required a special Audio-Technica stylus. I was able to borrow a couple of discrete 4 channel records by The Doors and Alice Cooper and they sounded pretty good. It was fun to watch the 4 channel light on the demodulator come on and I could record the 4 separate channels on the 4 channel tape deck. But it would use up a whole tape, so I only had a couple of albums on tape. Mainly I used my reel to reel to record party tapes and I took my system to a lot of parties and hooked up eight speakers at a time. It would give us 3 hours of music before we had to put on a new tape. But we had to have a fan blowing on the receiver because it got too hot and would fail. The first to go was my special stylus and I couldn't replace it. So, stereo records only. Later the reel to reel showed wear and even CDs recorded on it didn't sound too good. The right rear channel of the receiver kept going out and it became hard to find a transistor for it. A friend put a substitute transistor in and then it ran so hot the heat sinks in the back turned copper color and would give you a bad burn if you touched them. I made it a garage stereo and had a heavy duty fan blowing on the back of it whenever I used it. It played for almost 20 years that way. The receiver developed a bad hum in it and I ended up just giving it away in 2019. I gave the Reel-to-Reel to a thrift store and the demodulator to an electronics recycle shop. The turntable base had always been in marginal shape and during our last move the movers put a heavy floor woofer on it and destroyed it, I sold what was left for $40. The plug in terminals on the speakers had broke over the years and the ones I bought from Radio Shack didn't work great. I sold the speakers for $140. Big problem is now I'm in my 70s and I don't hear as well as I used to and I don't listen to music like I used to. Now I either listen to music while at my computer or while driving in my car. All of my CDs and streaming music I have bought are on my Apple iphone and played via Bluetooth or cable hookup. But I enjoyed almost 45 years with my music system and it was worth every penny.
The MCS 3125 is a beast of a receiver and sounds great. It was made by NEC. The one below it , the 3275 is also great. I can speak for any of the others.
I've bought, restored, used, and flipped several Technics SL-23 tables. For the price, quality, sound, and ease of service, they're hard to beat in the semi-auto vintage turntable market.
My first kit was a Heathkit AR 2020, i was in 7th grade and entered it as my sience fair item along with 4 speakers that i built. That was in 1978 and it's still going perfectly. For those who double stack Advents a quad amp or receiver is perfect. Anyway fum memories.
I had a roommate in college (1975), he had a complete Bang and Olufsen system. It was so beautiful! He flunked out, took his stereo with him. So I have lusted after B & O stuff ever since, but I never bought any of it. I also had a Marantz Quad receiver. Tried to get it fixed with multiple techs. Never worked right. I finally sold it on ebay "Not Working For Parts Only". Never looked back! Also good to warn people on the MCS stuff. I see it for sale locally all the time at cheap prices (mostly receivers). I wondered what the problem were. On turntables, I love my Pioneer PL-560, fully automatic. I have a Thorens TD125, hate that it doesn't even lift at the end of the record.
I have had my Marantz SR-4240 “Quadrarail” for nearly 30 years. I absolutely LOVE how good it sounds! Some days I can get it up to half volume, and still sounds AWSOME!!
okay so I own a 1965 VW Bus and I'm a full time reseller who specializes in Audio Gear. I've been watching your videos for a few days now and have actually laughed out loud at some of your stuff because it hits home so much. I really enjoy the fact that we are on the same wavelength . Good stuff guys. Also I created a channel called VW Life, i stopped making the videos for it but I got it up to 40k subs before my departure. again, keep it up.
My brother worked for JC Penney back in his high school days in the late 1979-1980 era and everything was MCS (receiver, tape deck, 8-track player, turntable, EQ, and speakers). He eventually upgraded to a new system (Onkyo) and I bought his MCS system when I was in my teens in the late 1980's and I still have the components of this system. The MSC got the AM/FM taken out due to a lightning strike but it still works and plays the turntable and other components. I eventually bought a new Pioneer from the early 1990's and love my Pioneer stuff.
B&O gear has gotten me all turned on, but I knew that I wasn't who they were built for. I knew I would be all alone and either end up with expensive unrepairables or run out of money getting them right. I think you nailed it on that score. The quadrophonic thing too. Solid advice on what to watch out for!
Think b & o and jbl are both owned by Harmon Kardin now. I know they build the upper line car audio for ford the last few years. My f-150 has an oval sub in back vented through the cab.
I've had my Technics SL D20 semi auto for... well forever... upgraded cartridge and its never let me down. Love it. Thanks for the great vid Kevin... another good one!
MCS gear can be fun for techie-oriented hobbyists: they get to replace all the capacitors, resistors and most of the transistors. They also get to reflow all the solder joints and repair PC board cracks. Just avoid MCS gear new enough to have proprietary IC's and/or op-amps. Once you do all this, you do wind up with decent gear.
Their turntables (B&O) worked well with all my non B&O electronics gear and two of their models got me through the 1980's. But I knew that since they used their own proprietary cartridges and a volatile period was coming for LP's and turntables, I decided to move to Thorens and Linn, turntables that will accept a large range of cartridges. I think I unloaded mine at just the right time.
Manual Table Kenwood KS-550.....This Granite composite monster sounds so good!! This table isolates itself so well, I never need to worry about heavy footfall interference! Plus it sounds Really Great! Best manual Table I've ever owned!! Thanks for your videos Kevin. Nice Work!!
No offense taken on MCS lol. I have a 3233 that I've had since high school. It is about 43 years old now and it was really starting to show its age. I decided to do a full restoration for sentimental reasons. I used all teir 1 components. The sound is phenomenal. No more dimming panel lights lol. Sparkling highs and punchy low end. The matrix speaker setup is a neat feature. Early attempt at surround sound. They also have a great tuner when aligned properly. You're right on the quality of the parts they used. Very cheap but they do seem to have a good platform to work with.
Thank you, Roderick for getting "it". I agree, they do sound really good for the build quality. They did what they set out to do, and I dont think they misleading people as thier MSRP was on point for what they were selling.
Great review! On another of your videos, you mentioned that the Marantz 2270 Owner's Manual states "use 16 gauge wire"; I was just looking at my Klipsch Heritage Owner's Manual (I own the Heresy III's) - the top of page 4 "Connecting Your Loudspeaker " states "Use 16 gauge, two conductor, copper wire at a minimum and larger gauge for longer runs". Most of the Heritage line has been in production since the 1950's, so this is an excellent point you made in reference to the cables. I use American made, pure copper, 14 gauge UL rated CL3, bare wire ends connected to my Sansui 5050, with excellent results.
It is hard to decide on the favorite, unless we tried them. Me can go buy what I have and if I like them. Start with my Dads Pioneer SX626 receiver, Dual 1215S turntable w/Grado F1 cartridge, and DWD speakers from 1971. All still working and after some service sound great. My Realistic STA2700 receiver, Dual 1216 turntable w/Grado G1 cartridge , and speakers I put together from 1980-1982. I love these items. Never stopped playing them. I have add to mine and Dads stereo 8 more Duals (including a 1229) and a second STA2700. I just love everything here. I never experience many other products except when visiting friends. I still love mine more.
As a vintage collector I often get the bug for a Sansui quadraphonic receiver or a B&O because of the unique factor of both but something holds me back every time! Well you have explained it in this video thank you ! Growing up in Europe I’ve always pronounced Technìcs the correct way.... the way you say it, the way the company says it, but when I moved to the US I switched into saying Tèchnics because that’s how everyone else said it !! I’m just so glad you brought this up because Technìcs it’s really the correct way!
I owned a Holiday 7100 integrated amp 55W/ch back in the late 70s and it had lots of power. It was purchased thru a catalogue store called Consumers Distributing. It ran great for many years and had some interesting features. That amp took a beating thru many parties powering a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls and never let me down until I made a big leap to Crown DC300A with matching Pre. Sometimes even inexpensive gear can get you where you're going.
My vote for an auto return table is the Technics SLD2. I've had one since 1978 and it still works perfectly. My manual choice is the new Audio Technica AT-LP120.
I used that Linear tracking Technics table with an ADC cartridge before it was ADCOM. In high school I used it with my dad's kit built tube receiver and with a pair of mid level inexpensive but surprisingly good sounding 3 way Technics speakers it rocked out!
@@willyboyw.5771 I switched to the Ortofon Blue cart and stylus in my Audio Technica table and love it. And you're absolutely right, blue duct or painters tape matches that cats perfectly....good choice!
Truly enjoyed another episode. The B&O portion amused me. I ran into a guy's shop in Atlanta that worked on B&O, along with McIntosh, and he was very proud of the B&O units that he wound up with, after he told the customer what it would cost to fix. They took a pass, and of course, he "traded" them for something more affordable. Also, there is the in-fighting among automotive audio that is happening. Our 2022 Ford Edge has a B&O system in it, however the Lincoln Nautilus toutes Revel. Ford is the parent, but even they cannot focus on one brand. Makes no sense. Admittingly, B&O IS sculpture. Will wait for the next installment...Rip
This is the show that made me subscribe to your channel, even though I've seen and liked what you've done before. This definitely does deserve to become a recurring topic. "Why or why not to buy?" This one and "Seven reasons you should get into vintage HiFi"
The kids online seem to love the quad receivers for some reason. Probably for looks more than anything. But, man what a pain in the butt they are to work on. Plus good luck getting a quad cartridge and LPs.
I can't speak for any of the MCS receivers because I've never owned or worked on one..... but for a real diamond in the rough check out the MCS 3865 Integrated amp! These were rebranded NEC AUA 8000s with 65watts/ch dual mono designs with completely independent power supplys for each channel. They will amaze you with the audiophile sound that they produce with a wide spacious open very musical presentation ! To boot they are very easy to work on! As for auto / auto lift turntables here's my list: Denon DP-62L, Sony PS-X600, Sony PS-X7, and Dual 1219!
I just got my Lloyds 8-track receiver back from restoration and upgrading and I bought it because of the HUGE silver faceplate and bright lights! Got a pair of vintage Technics speakers and an old automatic turntable and it sounds exactly like the stereo I had growing up, it is a lot of fun to listen to.
Great video thanks I've been repairing stereos for 50 years I won't work on 1990 db but I fix b&o equipment not many people do it's challenging but it keeps me busy I bought it being all bx2 this morning at a garage sale for $5 it's in the Box Stylus is broke that's why he got rid of it because he didn't want to spend hundreds on a cartridge but that's okay it was worth $5 thanks for the information it's very good A lot of people I'll be aware now what to look for I found a Gerard 301 for $25 it's absolutely horrific was in a damp basement flooded it's probably the roughest one on earth but I'd like to fix it but it needs the world that's the problem it's just not stored properly have a great day I'll keep watching it's very inspiring
Being a fellow vintage audio technician down here in the Pacific in New Zealand, Kevin I'm 100% with you on everything mentioned in this video. I've had a couple of nightmare experiences with a 9090db and a QRX9001 with dolby board issues and man did they soak up some time. Totally on the same page in regards to B&O and won't touch it either now, I found your thoughts on this brand honest and refreshing for telling it like it is. Great work man and enjoying your content and uploads. 😊👍
@@skylabsaudio You're welcome Kevin. Your thoughts and comments in other videos really resonate with me and being a tech as well can relate a fair bit. If I'm ever in your part of the world in the future I'll come and visit your shop for sure! 🙂
My favorite Model is the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB. There is no auto anything. I love it. I've owned several auto return turn tables. When the auto return stops working its a problem. I'm a big believer in the KISS principle.
I recently had my sansui AU 717 amplifier re capped. £550 very very well spent. The 45 year old sui 717 is a elegant beast of a amplifier that can STILL take on and batter any integrated amplifier 100 watts and under ever made. Those who know know. Nice work mate
My stepmom bought me a Optonica Receiver in 79-80. It lasted about three months and one the channels died. We took it back and it was gone forever, 4-6 months, finally the salesman just gave us the next model up. I ended selling it to buy camera equipment before i joined the Air Force. I read that they were either owned by Sharp,or Sanyo not sure which. Im guessing they werent the best of quality, lol. Good video.
I bought a Yamaha A-960 and found that the balance fader was bad. It took me a few rejections before I could find someone to work on it. (Just trying to shoot some fader lube in it helped me realize why😂) Now that it’s working, I sure do love it!
I'm a sub. Love your stuff. My advise...." NEVER" apologise to strangers on the internet. They feed on that! Loved my B&O RX2. You could have a dance party and it never would skip. I know. :) MM
Another great video Kevin.... You're so spot-on on every topic that you cover... Great analogy on b&o... It's like buying a Ferrari, but nobody knows how to work on them except for Ferrari Auto technicians, so it's going to be really expensive to fix... Same reason why I stay away from anything that says rare, if it's rare, that means parts are going to be hard if not impossible to find... And unfortunately quadraphonics just never took on, because it's too specialized needing compatible components & media to utilize the 4 channels.. definitely not worth the money when a two-channel will play music beautifully for our 2 ears... Also true about MCS. I bought a MCS 8-track player to hook up to my home receiver back in the late 70s because it was cheap and because I didn't see any other manufacturer make one for a home stereo at the time..... Sorry for the long comment...
When buying fromeBay or Reverb or who ever online, be familiar with Said gear, know how many pilot lites or meters and ask, " Do all lites work being power or pilot lamps, lamps for meters. Even after u get the right lamp, u could spend an hour taking unit apart like I just did on an ADC Sound Shaper 2.
Many very good amplifiers and receivers used STK output packs. My Pioneer SX-650 receiver and Technics SU-G50 integrated amp have these audio output packs and both sound very good. However, if one of these should fail the replacement STK packs may be difficult or impossible to find. Amplifiers and receivers that use discrete audio output transistors would be a better choice for the long haul.
Amen … Had my Technics SA 400 rebuilt, One STK replaced, did something dumb (hooked it to a badly rebuilt speaker), burned it out. My tech replaced it but warned me he was saving his remaining stock for Pioneer.. Bought a Sansui 5000X recently as insurance. These STK packs on the market are often fakes. Techs who don’t know any better, or do and are jerks, will use the fakes. If you do own gear with these, make sure you don’t over load them or hook them up to “crap speakers someone rebuilt in his basement”. Kevin this might be a great video subject.
Fascinating topic, even if I'm not in the market for any of the items you mentioned. I was fortunate to experience discrete quadrophonic sound in the form of 8-track. Pink Floyd's DSOM and Moody Blues' DOFP stick with me. While the wide-stereo panning used in quad mixes does sound gimmicky, you tend to hear things that are just buried in a regular stereo mix. Enjoyable? Yes. Realistic? Not usually.
I have been using a Denon DP-47f automatic turntable for years. It works great, especially with the dynamic servo tracer tonearm minimizing low frequency resonance. I also have a Pioneer PL-L1000a linear tracker that works well, although it is much more finicky to set up. The problem with the Pioneer (and its Phase Linear variant) is the deterioration of the rubber in the base feet.
I 100% agree on MCS Series. While the later electronics were usually NEC sourced and good quality, there is no service data on them unless you know which NEC model it was a variant of. The early MCS was utter garbage. Another brand that has no service data on is Project/one. It's generally good product (unlike MCS) but there is no service data to be found. Some were also sold under the Telefunken brand - but again nothing there either. I recently restored a Mark IV b receiver, and not only is there no data - the boards aren't marked for the component location. Instead the copper tracings are silkscreened on the component side. The Mark IV b was a Toshiba product, but again no data. I once had a B&O turntable. Every time I went to use it, something was wrong and I spend the afternoon fixing it. Their speakers were fantastic though. As for turntable suggestions, the Yamaha PF-800/1000 definitely goes on my list. The PF-1000 was simply the real walnut and brushed metal version. For me it replaced a Thorens TD-318 that was a big let-down. The Dual CS-5000 is on my list as well. One to mention is the Philips 212/312, which added end of record lift later in production. Finicky to repair though.
On the quad receivers that I own I mostly bought them because they were beautiful. I just run them in to channel mode. I love my Sansui QR 9001 and my Marantz 4400.
I've got a Garrard SP25mkii with a Goldring cartridge. I love the sound and the look of such an old piece of equipment. Might not have all the bells and whistles of a more modern table, but auto return works great.
I was told that my Nakamichi TA-3A Stasis Receiver was a BEAR to work on and easy to overheat. Some boards were incredibly difficult to get to. I made an hi-fi tinkerer VERY happy by selling him the Nakamichi (it had "issues") and a B&O Beogram RX-2 turntable for less than $200 about a week before I downsized to smaller digs. He even gave me a little more than I was asking for them. I don't miss the Nakamichi.
I bought a pioneer qx-8000 quad receiver and cs66 speakers from the original owner awhile back. He bought it when he was in the army .The receiver crackles when powering up , but it does work . I don’t play it too loud ,because I don’t want to damage anything , and I would like to have it serviced at some point .
B&O stuff is beautiful. I have a Beogram 4002 I bought new in the mid seventies. I have probably spent 1000 hours maintaining, updating and restoring it over the years. While the Beogram 4002 is gorgeous electro-mechanical masterpiece, it's literally like working on a wrist watch. And that's in addition to it's complex all-discrete circuitry and optical sensors that control the linear tracking arm and automatic functions without using a single integrated circuit.
Favorite auto return turntable: Technics SL-D2. Sturdy, plays great, feels well made, easy to work on, and the arm will park itself and shut off the table at the end of the record.
Still love my Pioneer QX949A and I do have 4 matching speakers, and other equipment to listen to it correctly. Yes, it can be a real PITA finding records and reel to reel tapes. But there in also lies some of the fun.
I have seen MCS go for astronomical prices - just because it was vintage. A couple of years ago, I acquired a Harmon/Kardon 50 quadrophonic receiver. I repaired the speaker terminals and section.
I have a Pioneer PL-5 direct drive turntable. It has sat in its box since August 1995. Recently I decided to get it out because I have some of my music that is only on vinyl. I bought a cheap phono pre-amp because my current A-V receiver has no phono input and plugged it in. Initially, it wouldn't run at the correct speed according to the built in strobe, so I let it run for several hours a day for a week or so and now it works perfectly. I've been listening to albums via the $30 pre-amp and my 40 year old phones while I build a stand to place it on.
I own a completely restored (by myself except for the paint) 1962 VW sedan that I bought in 1969 while in college and my favorite quote, from a friend, after witnessing me work on it often, said "It's tough to make them run perfectly, but they run shitty forever." Still running great after all these years! I also own a B&O turntable that's going to the dump. replaced with a nice Fluance.
Lol, my comment is late, but I love my Sansui FR-D#, not big fancy or expensive, I bought used for $125 bucks, but it's clean and the strobescope is dead on set speed, doesn't waver at all. This is only my second turntable, but I love it!
As someone who sold stereo equipment 1978-1981 I have to agree with your comments here, despite the fact that I own two B&O turntables including the linear tracker. it is not so fun to replace the dust covers, as I'm sure you know. BTW, there is an inherent design flaw in the 4002 and similar dust covers. They can crack at the attachment point and become completely non-working. There is a place in Denmark that makes reproduction dust covers with an improved design. Not cheap, but well worth it in my view. I had the misfortune of trying to sell Marantz quadraphonic equipment when it was new. Glad that's over. And MCS? Don't even get me started.
Another great video. I own a B&O Beocenter 9500 that I bought at an estate sale, I did the belt replacement on the cassette side and had to fix both sliding doors. Also had to diagnose and fix a sporadic CD player issue. It was challenging to say the least but I got it done. The build quality was truly very good but I doubt I would get into another one. Keep up the good work.
I'm old enough to remember the "Quadrophonic Revolution" in the early 70's. I had a subscription to Stereo Review at the time and they were all-in for it. I almost bought a Sansui add-on unit for a stereo receiver that provided a decoding preamp (Sansui used QS) and power for the two rear channel speakers. It connected via the pre-out/main-in loop that was so common in older receivers. My nephew has gotten into records and vintage hi-fi and the two receivers he had last time I asked were both quadrophonic. I gave him the one quad album I had (Poco - Crazy Eyes - SQ) but haven't been over to see his set-up yet. Hopefully it's serving him well. Pink Floyd traveled for a while with a Quadrophonic sound system with the instruments coming from all around.
@@skylabsaudio Ha. Yep. Quad sound was probably a mess for the people stuck in the nosebleed seats. You'd want to be near the soundman. At least it planted the seed in Pete Townsend's head to write Quadrophenia.
B&O equipment yes its tough fixing this stuff and I've learnt how to repair hifi equipment mainly on CD50s and a 4002 turn table. I rebuilt a couple of the speaker systems which are OK but one thing not mentioned is posting them. The equipment tends to be heavy and some of the panels are not suited to being thrown around which means reselling and repair is always going to be local, and ebay sales are likely to end in pieces unless its collect. Its beautifull stuff but does not necessarily integrate well. After market parts such as a stylus for the 4002 are none existant and regrainding of the old is the only option unless there is some old stock about, and if it is, the prices are high like twice what I paid for my 4002.
I bought one of those back in the 70s. Another issue with it was there were very FEW albums made for this format! I gave it to my sister and forgot about it!
The best part of buying new stuff is the warranty and the worry free operation. My 1983 Harmon Kardon receiver as it aged had many trips to shop over the 30 years I had it. After even a few years it had issues so it was routine for me to fix. I have had a Yamaha Aventage AVR on my tv for 9 years no issues. I have a new Emotiva system with a 3 year warranty for my 2 channel set up upstairs love it. Just the fact if something goes wrong with the Yamaha I will shit can it and buy a new one. I tried spending a couple of grand on a Marantz 2270 but that failed miserably no more hassle for me.
Apparently amongst the vintage line of Denon turntables is a processing chip which is unobtanium and renders the unit to boat anchor status. A local tech is hesitant to replace the rca cables on my dp-60l because of the potential complications when he opens it up.
Drunk on silver face, ha! I think you picked the wrong car to compare to B&O repair. After the John Muir "How to Keep your Volkswagen Alive" book came out, everybody and anyone could work on a bug or a bus. Just ask any hippie! I will say that B&O 1300 receiver, what a beautiful work of art. Thanks for the video.
Re: the 70s Quad thing, there were some FM stations positioning around it. In Philly, 94.1 WYSP (now WIP-FM) made a big deal and used the slogan "Quad 94". You needed a decoder or Quad receiver. And the radio station transmitted the encoded Quad audio. The big problem was keeping all of that aligned on the transmisison side. Most times the Stereo broadcast (99% listened that way) was trashed by a loss of phase and the need to really compress the audio to fit it all in the FM bandwidth. I get a headache just recalling it! BUT, I guess if you bought some of the limited albums available in Quad and enjoyed that, it woukd be more impressive.
Spot on with the the information from my own 45 years of experiences. MCS, yep, looks decent but know it's not worth what get sucked into paying for "silver face". Sansui DB issues are horrible and kill good stuff if you don't know how to repair them. As for B&O....Don't get me started. Yes, beautiful but issues abound. I can say some model turntables had some major issues. I've worked on multiple B&O tables that looked good but they were horrible build quality. Biggest one I found was wallowed out gears and bent parts on auto return decks. Others were much better but it was very sad to see how cheaply made many model tables were. As for their BeoCenters, a nightmare to work on. Even just replacing the cassette and load door belts. Very complicated with drive strings for the load doors and the list goes on. Lots of specialized components and limited service data too. When it comes to Quad, that is a whole sub category in itself. Consider it to be the "Surround 4.0" of the early 1970s. It was such a big gimmick at the time. Every manufacturer seemed to offer something. It was available in many forms from cheapo all-in-one Electrtophonic brand systems to high end setups and even jukeboxes (Seeburg SQS160). The biggest problem as to why it didn't takeoff was just as you said, three separate encoded matrix systems. QS, SQ and CD-4. In the Quad game Sansui was in its own world as they helped refine the QS system and called it Vario-Matrix. Sansui's QS was the best sounding quad matrix system but they held a patent on the upgraded system. Some licensed it, many didn't. Quad is fun and fine IF you like to play with it. Fortunately Sansui made products that made it simple to have quad with a QS-500/800 external 4-Channel rear Amplifier. One of these you could add to an existing system of any make and have the Quad experience. For an integrated system you could have the QSX-7500. Both options had a synthesizer to create the rear channel effect from the two channel source if you had no quad encoded records. With the QSX-7500 you could decode all three matrix systems in the combined receiver.
Wow, thank you for sharing this. Not gonna lie, I was nervous before hitting the upload button on this one, but responses like this, make me feel better that we are not alone! Thank you!
A friend of mine had a very nice B&O system back in the late 1970s. On the back was a switch, blocked over to the off position by a tab and screw, marked CS. I had no clue what it did until one day a couple of years ago, I was talking with a guy who used to service B&O ... "Oh you mean the 'cheap speaker' switch." LOL. FWIW... the currently popular Class D ICEPower modules are B&O products.
Glad to say I knew most of the gotchas on this list such as Quad Receivers & the DB model Sansui's... I wanted a 9090 so bad ( settled for a 7070 ) but was only pulling the trigger if I found a non DB.. I aalso heard good things about some model B&O Speakers.. Found a pair of BeoVox 2600's locally which I never heard of and they looked familiar, They used a proprietary speaker plug but it can be cut off or adapted. Turns out they use an 8" version of the Seas drivers in the famous Dynaco A25s and usually fly under the radar.. May pick these up since they only want $50 and they are real wood veneer.
When I was a teenager and had only a boombox for music I would go to the local JC Penny and look at the MCS. At the time it was too expensive for me. Glad I never saved my money and purchased. 45 years later I now have Mcintosh.
A MCS series from J C Penny's was my first purchase after high school on my first credit card. It served me well until 2004 when a lightning strike took it out.
Your comments on the complexity of the quadraphonic experience are generally accurate, but following is some clarification. There are 4 types of quad encode/decode systems available dating from the 1970s: (1) Discrete used four separate channels for tape or CD-4 vinyl. The CD-4 vinyl required a special demodulator and special phono cartridge. While the separation was superior to other quad systems, the vinyl had limited frequency response and was more vulnerable to surface noise and other defects when decoded. The vinyl was compatible for stereo systems. (2) SQ was a matrix system using phase manipulation and logic to extract rear channels encoded into stereo-compatible vinyl. No special phono cartridge or demodulator was necessary. The logic could actually decrease the volume of front and/or opposite rear channels to increase the apparent separation of rear signals, because the actual separation was inferior to discrete systems. Because SQ was developed and pushed by Sony and CBS, it was the dominant system for program material. Many SQ records have different mixes that can be easily discerned even on stereo systems. (3) QS was another matrix system similar to SQ developed by and primarily marketed by Sansui. Much less program material was available in QS. To me, it always seemed like just a way for Sansui to get around the SQ patents. (4) Regular matrix was probably the least popular and least effective quad system. I believe that it only manipulated the phase of incoming signals and no logic was used. I have found that the Dolby Surround setting in a modern A/V receiver will do an interesting if not completely accurate job of decoding SQ or QS vinyl.
I used to have a Harman/Kardon T35C which just lifted and shut off at the end of the record, it also had a "cut" button on the front in case you wanted to do just that in the middle of a record. It was/is a great table that had the classic '80s look to it. The H/K went to other people as I often switch gear around from time to time. Since then, I have experienced tables from Garrard, PE, Dual, ELAC just to name a few. The two I have left now are a Pioneer PL-530, and the one I use most is a (drum roll) MCS 6710 (and everyone face palms). The MCS 6710 is one of the "record changer" units, made by Panasonic in the late 70s, and I do use it with the dropper spindle. The build quality between the two is obviously huge, with the Pioneer being worlds ahead of the MCS, but the MCS can stack up to 6 records, and when I am listening to albums while on the computer, that convenience of not having to get up every 35 minutes is worth it to me. I don't worry of how the table handles the records as it uses the same type of dropper spindle as DUAL, ELAC, and those tables never damaged a record on me ever. I don't have records in the collection that would be worth hundreds or thousands anyway, but if I did, I would not play them on a changer (or would I even play them at all). For me, trading up from the MCS would be to one of the Technics dropper tables anyway. The Pioneer is a keeper since I would never be able to find another for the price I got this one at ($35 at a flea market) with the original head shell, 45 RPM adapter and dust cover, and it works great. I use Sansui receivers for my amps (a model 2000 and a 881).
This is like saying: doesn't matter what you like, what you should buy is what is easier for us to work on. On the other side of the coin, kudos to you for putting it clear: no problem if you like it, it's just that we will not repair it.
Yeah, not my intention at all. When you are in the business of selling your time, you just have to prioritize or you go out of business giving your time away. I am the last person to tell someone what they "should' like or buy. I was just trying to give a heads up to people that migh not know about these potential issues, as our repair shop is not alone with these problems. Thanks for watching.
Didnt realise i was a silverface hobbyist all these years. Lotta catching up to do. Lot of your videos to watch. Cough do you have any cassette player videos cough
I don't think I'm unique, but I like 2 channels, 4 speakers. My Sansui QR 6500 can do that and stay in Stereo mode. Just check it out before buying one, with 4 speakers hooked up. At 280 watts, it has all the power you need. If you don't want 4 speakers then you can run it like a 2 channel receiver with 140 watts. I also have several other Pioneer, Sansui, Kenwood, receivers but don't hesitate to pick up one of these vintage 4 channel units, the build quality is the same as the stereo units. In good cosmetic condition they aren't cheap usually.
My mom took me to j c penny and bought me a complete system. I was 14 and it's the best memory I have with my mother. We bought MCS because she had to use her credit card.
Great memory- my first stereo was a Soundesign I got for Christmas- was a complete POS, but was my world and I loved that damn thing
Gold man 😊
When I was a HS sophomore I craved music (1972) the louder the better. I had an opportunity to obtain through a friend an expensive entertainment cabinet for literally Pennie’s on the dollar. I presented this to my parents on a timely wedding anniversary and it looked lovely in the L.R. that was never used. Never understood that one but anyway my very patient father purchased an inexpensive stereo I don’t remember the brand and I used the LR everyday for the next 2 years. It remained a family joke for years to come. Beware a son bearing gifts.
We all kinda have a story like that. My first system was a mid 80's Fisher all-in-one unit I got for my birthday. Even as a tween I kinda thought it sounded like crap...but it was what I had so I made the best of it.
fly now. What year was that?
I worked for JCPenney in their design department as a design student when they were still in NYC. I did the front ends on a few 8 track tape players and recorders in the early 1970's. At that time the manufacturer of the internals would also use my drawings to make the JCPenney version of the product. That particular manufacturer was Matsushita, founder of the Panasonic and Technics brands we know today. I assume most of the electronics were bid out to Japanese companies due to their expertise in electronics and low price back then. If I wanted to rearrange the controls or change the basic functions I would get a visit from the corporate buyer and my boss who gently told me, "Hell NO". I remember trying to describe vapor honing to one of the Japanese engineers when I specified it on a drawing for the face plate and got a blank stare. That finish and a brushed finish became the classic look of the 1970's electronics business, but at JCPenney, fake woodgrain got the nod.
I like the educational information. Many people don't have the knowledge of how these equipment are built. I'm an electronic technician, and it's very important to inform potential buyers of these flaws. Especially when proprietary op-amp or ic, and for those who can't do the work themselves, what they're getting themselves into, like the receiver equiped with these infamous STK output pack, those who have the component glued with corrosive glue that eat up the legs of the transistors and others component, it's time consuming and if you can't do this yourself, it just doesn't worth it.
Videos like this are educational and very needed in the community. It seems that folks on youtube are sometimes afraid to call out products (vintage or not) and their inherent weaknesses and/or drawbacks.
agreed, so many myths busted. i still love my technics SA-500 though. lol
speaking honestly, truthfully, always theory to go. Whomever has issues with hearing the truth, the issue is THEMSELVES.
It is refreshing to see a video that cuts through the BS and presents "just the facts, just the facts mam." Your video is in no way to be taken as derogatory, but educational. You have done a great service to the potential vintage video buyer. You have saved mane from a bad case of buyers remorse, whether they realize it or not.
Thank you so much 🙂
Agree regarding MCS. I worked as a technician in the late 70s in a shop contracted for warranty service by the local JC Penney. When it came to all but a very few specific models, it was, “If it’s working, enjoy! If it’s not, you better hope it’s under warranty.” Their best models (Matsushita-built) were OK, their worst items (GE-built TVs) were utterly horrible to work on.
NEC built most of JCPenney branded electronics as far as solid state. Wells-gardner built JCPenney's tube gear for the most part
I had a 4-channel system I bought in 1974 while in the Navy. It consisted of a Sansui QRX-5500 receiver, TEAC A2340R Reel to Reel, Dual 1229 Turntable, 4 Pioneer R-700 speakers and as an add on a JVC CD-4 4-channel demodulator. I never did buy the Koss 2+2 4 channel headphones, but always meant to. To play 4 channel discrete records required a special Audio-Technica stylus. I was able to borrow a couple of discrete 4 channel records by The Doors and Alice Cooper and they sounded pretty good. It was fun to watch the 4 channel light on the demodulator come on and I could record the 4 separate channels on the 4 channel tape deck. But it would use up a whole tape, so I only had a couple of albums on tape. Mainly I used my reel to reel to record party tapes and I took my system to a lot of parties and hooked up eight speakers at a time. It would give us 3 hours of music before we had to put on a new tape. But we had to have a fan blowing on the receiver because it got too hot and would fail.
The first to go was my special stylus and I couldn't replace it. So, stereo records only. Later the reel to reel showed wear and even CDs recorded on it didn't sound too good. The right rear channel of the receiver kept going out and it became hard to find a transistor for it. A friend put a substitute transistor in and then it ran so hot the heat sinks in the back turned copper color and would give you a bad burn if you touched them. I made it a garage stereo and had a heavy duty fan blowing on the back of it whenever I used it. It played for almost 20 years that way.
The receiver developed a bad hum in it and I ended up just giving it away in 2019. I gave the Reel-to-Reel to a thrift store and the demodulator to an electronics recycle shop. The turntable base had always been in marginal shape and during our last move the movers put a heavy floor woofer on it and destroyed it, I sold what was left for $40. The plug in terminals on the speakers had broke over the years and the ones I bought from Radio Shack didn't work great. I sold the speakers for $140.
Big problem is now I'm in my 70s and I don't hear as well as I used to and I don't listen to music like I used to. Now I either listen to music while at my computer or while driving in my car. All of my CDs and streaming music I have bought are on my Apple iphone and played via Bluetooth or cable hookup. But I enjoyed almost 45 years with my music system and it was worth every penny.
The MCS 3125 is a beast of a receiver and sounds great. It was made by NEC. The one below it , the 3275 is also great. I can speak for any of the others.
I've bought, restored, used, and flipped several Technics SL-23 tables. For the price, quality, sound, and ease of service, they're hard to beat in the semi-auto vintage turntable market.
i got ahold of one in box with original head. i love it.
My first kit was a Heathkit AR 2020, i was in 7th grade and entered it as my sience fair item along with 4 speakers that i built. That was in 1978 and it's still going perfectly.
For those who double stack Advents a quad amp or receiver is perfect. Anyway fum memories.
I had a roommate in college (1975), he had a complete Bang and Olufsen system. It was so beautiful! He flunked out, took his stereo with him. So I have lusted after B & O stuff ever since, but I never bought any of it. I also had a Marantz Quad receiver. Tried to get it fixed with multiple techs. Never worked right. I finally sold it on ebay "Not Working For Parts Only". Never looked back! Also good to warn people on the MCS stuff. I see it for sale locally all the time at cheap prices (mostly receivers). I wondered what the problem were. On turntables, I love my Pioneer PL-560, fully automatic. I have a Thorens TD125, hate that it doesn't even lift at the end of the record.
I have had my Marantz SR-4240 “Quadrarail” for nearly 30 years. I absolutely LOVE how good it sounds! Some days I can get it up to half volume, and still sounds AWSOME!!
Great to hear!
okay so I own a 1965 VW Bus and I'm a full time reseller who specializes in Audio Gear. I've been watching your videos for a few days now and have actually laughed out loud at some of your stuff because it hits home so much. I really enjoy the fact that we are on the same wavelength . Good stuff guys. Also I created a channel called VW Life, i stopped making the videos for it but I got it up to 40k subs before my departure. again, keep it up.
My brother worked for JC Penney back in his high school days in the late 1979-1980 era and everything was MCS (receiver, tape deck, 8-track player, turntable, EQ, and speakers). He eventually upgraded to a new system (Onkyo) and I bought his MCS system when I was in my teens in the late 1980's and I still have the components of this system. The MSC got the AM/FM taken out due to a lightning strike but it still works and plays the turntable and other components. I eventually bought a new Pioneer from the early 1990's and love my Pioneer stuff.
B&O gear has gotten me all turned on, but I knew that I wasn't who they were built for. I knew I would be all alone and either end up with expensive unrepairables or run out of money getting them right. I think you nailed it on that score. The quadrophonic thing too. Solid advice on what to watch out for!
Thanks, Michael!
Think b & o and jbl are both owned by Harmon Kardin now. I know they build the upper line car audio for ford the last few years. My f-150 has an oval sub in back vented through the cab.
I've had my Technics SL D20 semi auto for... well forever... upgraded cartridge and its never let me down. Love it. Thanks for the great vid Kevin... another good one!
MCS gear can be fun for techie-oriented hobbyists: they get to replace all the capacitors, resistors and most of the transistors. They also get to reflow all the solder joints and repair PC board cracks. Just avoid MCS gear new enough to have proprietary IC's and/or op-amps. Once you do all this, you do wind up with decent gear.
like a mechanic that owns an old dodge. lol
Their turntables (B&O) worked well with all my non B&O electronics gear and two of their models got me through the 1980's. But I knew that since they used their own proprietary cartridges and a volatile period was coming for LP's and turntables, I decided to move to Thorens and Linn, turntables that will accept a large range of cartridges. I think I unloaded mine at just the right time.
I loved my B & O turntable. Had to get rid of it after the second time the dust cover broke. All my equipment now is vintage, including me.
Manual Table Kenwood KS-550.....This Granite composite monster sounds so good!! This table isolates itself so well, I never need to worry about heavy footfall interference! Plus it sounds Really Great! Best manual Table I've ever owned!!
Thanks for your videos Kevin. Nice Work!!
No offense taken on MCS lol. I have a 3233 that I've had since high school. It is about 43 years old now and it was really starting to show its age. I decided to do a full restoration for sentimental reasons. I used all teir 1 components. The sound is phenomenal. No more dimming panel lights lol. Sparkling highs and punchy low end. The matrix speaker setup is a neat feature. Early attempt at surround sound. They also have a great tuner when aligned properly. You're right on the quality of the parts they used. Very cheap but they do seem to have a good platform to work with.
Thank you, Roderick for getting "it". I agree, they do sound really good for the build quality. They did what they set out to do, and I dont think they misleading people as thier MSRP was on point for what they were selling.
Great review! On another of your videos, you mentioned that the Marantz 2270 Owner's Manual states "use 16 gauge wire"; I was just looking at my Klipsch Heritage Owner's Manual (I own the Heresy III's) - the top of page 4 "Connecting Your Loudspeaker " states "Use 16 gauge, two conductor, copper wire at a minimum and larger gauge for longer runs". Most of the Heritage line has been in production since the 1950's, so this is an excellent point you made in reference to the cables. I use American made, pure copper, 14 gauge UL rated CL3, bare wire ends connected to my Sansui 5050, with excellent results.
Nothing wrong with stepping up a guage, just to make sure! Thanks for the comment!
It is hard to decide on the favorite, unless we tried them. Me can go buy what I have and if I like them. Start with my Dads Pioneer SX626 receiver, Dual 1215S turntable w/Grado F1 cartridge, and DWD speakers from 1971. All still working and after some service sound great. My Realistic STA2700 receiver, Dual 1216 turntable w/Grado G1 cartridge , and speakers I put together from 1980-1982. I love these items. Never stopped playing them. I have add to mine and Dads stereo 8 more Duals (including a 1229) and a second STA2700. I just love everything here. I never experience many other products except when visiting friends. I still love mine more.
Its an incredible hobby! Glad you found yours!
Auto return turntable Dual CS-505-2 - simple to use and nice wood look
As a vintage collector I often get the bug for a Sansui quadraphonic receiver or a B&O because of the unique factor of both but something holds me back every time!
Well you have explained it in this video thank you !
Growing up in Europe I’ve always pronounced Technìcs the correct way.... the way you say it, the way the company says it, but when I moved to the US I switched into saying Tèchnics because that’s how everyone else said it !!
I’m just so glad you brought this up because Technìcs it’s really the correct way!
Appreciate it! Thanks for watching!
I owned a Holiday 7100 integrated amp 55W/ch back in the late 70s and it had lots of power. It was purchased thru a catalogue store called Consumers Distributing. It ran great for many years and had some interesting features. That amp took a beating thru many parties powering a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls and never let me down until I made a big leap to Crown DC300A with matching Pre. Sometimes even inexpensive gear can get you where you're going.
I have a MCS turn table. Its a low end but the thing just keeps spinning. I have replaced the belt but it works. And super quiet.
Today I have Wilson Audio with pass amps. Lin table and about 1000 records. rock on.
My vote for an auto return table is the Technics SLD2. I've had one since 1978 and it still works perfectly. My manual choice is the new Audio Technica AT-LP120.
I've got a audio technica AT LP 1240 to sell if you're interested?
I used that Linear tracking Technics table with an ADC cartridge before it was ADCOM. In high school I used it with my dad's kit built tube receiver and with a pair of mid level inexpensive but surprisingly good sounding 3 way Technics speakers it rocked out!
Sony PS-T2 from '78 and A new Ortonfon Blue stylus--It matches the DucTape holding my dustcover together (3/2024).
@@willyboyw.5771 I switched to the Ortofon Blue cart and stylus in my Audio Technica table and love it. And you're absolutely right, blue duct or painters tape matches that cats perfectly....good choice!
Truly enjoyed another episode. The B&O portion amused me. I ran into a guy's shop in Atlanta that worked on B&O, along with McIntosh, and he was very proud of the B&O units that he wound up with, after he told the customer what it would cost to fix. They took a pass, and of course, he "traded" them for something more affordable. Also, there is the in-fighting among automotive audio that is happening. Our 2022 Ford Edge has a B&O system in it, however the Lincoln Nautilus toutes Revel. Ford is the parent, but even they cannot focus on one brand. Makes no sense. Admittingly, B&O IS sculpture. Will wait for the next installment...Rip
Thanks, Rip!
I like your honesty I'd rather that . Than someone pushing what they like. Some people today can't handle criticism.
This is the show that made me subscribe to your channel, even though I've seen and liked what you've done before. This definitely does deserve to become a recurring topic. "Why or why not to buy?"
This one and "Seven reasons you should get into vintage HiFi"
The kids online seem to love the quad receivers for some reason. Probably for looks more than anything. But, man what a pain in the butt they are to work on. Plus good luck getting a quad cartridge and LPs.
Thanks!
Thank you! Very much appreciated!
I can't speak for any of the MCS receivers because I've never owned or worked on one..... but for a real diamond in the rough check out the MCS 3865 Integrated amp! These were rebranded NEC AUA 8000s with 65watts/ch dual mono designs with completely independent power supplys for each channel. They will amaze you with the audiophile sound that they produce with a wide spacious open very musical presentation ! To boot they are very easy to work on! As for auto / auto lift turntables here's my list: Denon DP-62L, Sony PS-X600, Sony PS-X7, and Dual 1219!
Thank you! I have never heard or worked on a 3865, but I believe you. Some of the really questionable MCS pieces really do sound pretty dang good.
@skylabsaudio No service manual for this MCS either, but fortunately, there's one the NEC AUA 8000, which is the exact same unit!
I just got my Lloyds 8-track receiver back from restoration and upgrading and I bought it because of the HUGE silver faceplate and bright lights! Got a pair of vintage Technics speakers and an old automatic turntable and it sounds exactly like the stereo I had growing up, it is a lot of fun to listen to.
Very nice!
Great video thanks I've been repairing stereos for 50 years I won't work on 1990 db but I fix b&o equipment not many people do it's challenging but it keeps me busy I bought it being all bx2 this morning at a garage sale for $5 it's in the Box Stylus is broke that's why he got rid of it because he didn't want to spend hundreds on a cartridge but that's okay it was worth $5 thanks for the information it's very good A lot of people I'll be aware now what to look for I found a Gerard 301 for $25 it's absolutely horrific was in a damp basement flooded it's probably the roughest one on earth but I'd like to fix it but it needs the world that's the problem it's just not stored properly have a great day I'll keep watching it's very inspiring
This was great! I value your opinions, especially because they come from experience! I have also always said Techneeks !
Thanks, Miles!
My candidate for automatic turntable is the Akai AP-207. Super solid, with a beefy platter and a very nice tone arm.
Favorite semi-auto turntable: Pioneer PL-55D. Used that one while in college.
Still worked fine when I moved back home. That says a lot.
Being a fellow vintage audio technician down here in the Pacific in New Zealand, Kevin I'm 100% with you on everything mentioned in this video. I've had a couple of nightmare experiences with a 9090db and a QRX9001 with dolby board issues and man did they soak up some time. Totally on the same page in regards to B&O and won't touch it either now, I found your thoughts on this brand honest and refreshing for telling it like it is. Great work man and enjoying your content and uploads. 😊👍
Thank you, Glen. Means a lot! Really
@@skylabsaudio You're welcome Kevin. Your thoughts and comments in other videos really resonate with me and being a tech as well can relate a fair bit. If I'm ever in your part of the world in the future I'll come and visit your shop for sure! 🙂
My favorite Model is the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB. There is no auto anything. I love it. I've owned several auto return turn tables. When the auto return stops working its a problem. I'm a big believer in the KISS principle.
I have a Kenwood KD 5033A that was completely serviced when I got it and I love it. Works every time sounds great.
I recently had my sansui AU 717 amplifier re capped. £550 very very well spent. The 45 year old sui 717 is a elegant beast of a amplifier that can STILL take on and batter any integrated amplifier 100 watts and under ever made. Those who know know. Nice work mate
They a really good amp .Love mine
@@stephencallil6512 had the dreaded sui glue with all the cap devastation/destruction caused by it sorted out yet Steven?
My stepmom bought me a Optonica Receiver in 79-80. It lasted about three months and one the channels died. We took it back and it was gone forever, 4-6 months, finally the salesman just gave us the next model up. I ended selling it to buy camera equipment before i joined the Air Force.
I read that they were either owned by Sharp,or Sanyo not sure which. Im guessing they werent the best of quality, lol. Good video.
Optonica was Sharp's attempt at good audio.
In some respects they did OK, but their dream didn't last.
Dual 1219. Favorite automatic turntable
I bought a Yamaha A-960 and found that the balance fader was bad. It took me a few rejections before I could find someone to work on it. (Just trying to shoot some fader lube in it helped me realize why😂)
Now that it’s working, I sure do love it!
Exactly right about B&O. I have one of those "sliderules" seen at 16:18. One of the few tuners to change frequency by with the dial pointer itself.
I really like my Pioneer PL-55X. Using a Shure V15 type III. I bought it new on 1975 are it still works perfectly.
I'm a sub. Love your stuff. My advise...." NEVER" apologise to strangers on the internet. They feed on that! Loved my B&O RX2. You could have a dance party and it never would skip. I know. :) MM
Another great video Kevin.... You're so spot-on on every topic that you cover...
Great analogy on b&o... It's like buying a Ferrari, but nobody knows how to work on them except for Ferrari Auto technicians, so it's going to be really expensive to fix...
Same reason why I stay away from anything that says rare, if it's rare, that means parts are going to be hard if not impossible to find...
And unfortunately quadraphonics just never took on, because it's too specialized needing compatible components & media to utilize the 4 channels.. definitely not worth the money when a two-channel will play music beautifully for our 2 ears...
Also true about MCS. I bought a MCS 8-track player to hook up to my home receiver back in the late 70s because it was cheap and because I didn't see any other manufacturer make one for a home stereo at the time..... Sorry for the long comment...
Thank you, Karen! I agree 100% on the "rare" stuff too! Super rare is a bad thing with electronics. You're spot on!
When buying fromeBay or Reverb or who ever online, be familiar with Said gear, know how many pilot lites or meters and ask, " Do all lites work being power or pilot lamps, lamps for meters. Even after u get the right lamp, u could spend an hour taking unit apart like I just did on an ADC Sound Shaper 2.
Many very good amplifiers and receivers used STK output packs. My Pioneer SX-650 receiver and Technics SU-G50 integrated amp have these audio output packs and both sound very good. However, if one of these should fail the replacement STK packs may be difficult or impossible to find. Amplifiers and receivers that use discrete audio output transistors would be a better choice for the long haul.
Amen … Had my Technics SA 400 rebuilt, One STK replaced, did something dumb (hooked it to a badly rebuilt speaker), burned it out. My tech replaced it but warned me he was saving his remaining stock for Pioneer.. Bought a Sansui 5000X recently as insurance. These STK packs on the market are often fakes. Techs who don’t know any better, or do and are jerks, will use the fakes. If you do own gear with these, make sure you don’t over load them or hook them up to “crap speakers someone rebuilt in his basement”. Kevin this might be a great video subject.
Fascinating topic, even if I'm not in the market for any of the items you mentioned. I was fortunate to experience discrete quadrophonic sound in the form of 8-track. Pink Floyd's DSOM and Moody Blues' DOFP stick with me. While the wide-stereo panning used in quad mixes does sound gimmicky, you tend to hear things that are just buried in a regular stereo mix. Enjoyable? Yes. Realistic? Not usually.
Just get an magnepan
B&O was the Apple of their day when it comes to design, compatibility with other brands, the need for adapters, etc.
I have been using a Denon DP-47f automatic turntable for years. It works great, especially with the dynamic servo tracer tonearm minimizing low frequency resonance. I also have a Pioneer PL-L1000a linear tracker that works well, although it is much more finicky to set up. The problem with the Pioneer (and its Phase Linear variant) is the deterioration of the rubber in the base feet.
I 100% agree on MCS Series. While the later electronics were usually NEC sourced and good quality, there is no service data on them unless you know which NEC model it was a variant of. The early MCS was utter garbage.
Another brand that has no service data on is Project/one. It's generally good product (unlike MCS) but there is no service data to be found. Some were also sold under the Telefunken brand - but again nothing there either. I recently restored a Mark IV b receiver, and not only is there no data - the boards aren't marked for the component location. Instead the copper tracings are silkscreened on the component side. The Mark IV b was a Toshiba product, but again no data.
I once had a B&O turntable. Every time I went to use it, something was wrong and I spend the afternoon fixing it. Their speakers were fantastic though.
As for turntable suggestions, the Yamaha PF-800/1000 definitely goes on my list. The PF-1000 was simply the real walnut and brushed metal version. For me it replaced a Thorens TD-318 that was a big let-down. The Dual CS-5000 is on my list as well. One to mention is the Philips 212/312, which added end of record lift later in production. Finicky to repair though.
Thank you, Alan! We speak the same language!
On the quad receivers that I own I mostly bought them because they were beautiful. I just run them in to channel mode. I love my Sansui QR 9001 and my Marantz 4400.
I've got a Garrard SP25mkii with a Goldring cartridge. I love the sound and the look of such an old piece of equipment. Might not have all the bells and whistles of a more modern table, but auto return works great.
Very diplomatic and professional and informative information well done
Thank you!
I was told that my Nakamichi TA-3A Stasis Receiver was a BEAR to work on and easy to overheat. Some boards were incredibly difficult to get to. I made an hi-fi tinkerer VERY happy by selling him the Nakamichi (it had "issues") and a B&O Beogram RX-2 turntable for less than $200 about a week before I downsized to smaller digs. He even gave me a little more than I was asking for them. I don't miss the Nakamichi.
I’m still using my Marantz 6300 that I bought in 1976. I’ve had it serviced once. Just a good cleaning and a new strobe and the lift button lubed up.
B&O is the 70s version of Apple to me😉
Same idea - completely proprietary.
I bought a pioneer qx-8000 quad receiver and cs66 speakers from the original owner awhile back. He bought it when he was in the army .The receiver crackles when powering up , but it does work . I don’t play it too loud ,because I don’t want to damage anything , and I would like to have it serviced at some point .
B&O stuff is beautiful. I have a Beogram 4002 I bought new in the mid seventies. I have probably spent 1000 hours maintaining, updating and restoring it over the years. While the Beogram 4002 is gorgeous electro-mechanical masterpiece, it's literally like working on a wrist watch. And that's in addition to it's complex all-discrete circuitry and optical sensors that control the linear tracking arm and automatic functions without using a single integrated circuit.
Favorite auto return turntable: Technics SL-D2. Sturdy, plays great, feels well made, easy to work on, and the arm will park itself and shut off the table at the end of the record.
I enjoy all your videos Kevin. Very informative and entertaining. Keep up the good work!
I appreciate that!
Still love my Pioneer QX949A and I do have 4 matching speakers, and other equipment to listen to it correctly.
Yes, it can be a real PITA finding records and reel to reel tapes. But there in also lies some of the fun.
My favorite auto return turntable would be my late 70s pioneer pl-200 direct drive unit.
I have seen MCS go for astronomical prices - just because it was vintage.
A couple of years ago, I acquired a Harmon/Kardon 50 quadrophonic receiver. I repaired the speaker terminals and section.
HK Quads were made very well.
I have a Pioneer PL-5 direct drive turntable. It has sat in its box since August 1995. Recently I decided to get it out because I have some of my music that is only on vinyl. I bought a cheap phono pre-amp because my current A-V receiver has no phono input and plugged it in. Initially, it wouldn't run at the correct speed according to the built in strobe, so I let it run for several hours a day for a week or so and now it works perfectly. I've been listening to albums via the $30 pre-amp and my 40 year old phones while I build a stand to place it on.
I own a completely restored (by myself except for the paint) 1962 VW sedan that I bought in 1969 while in college and my favorite quote, from a friend, after witnessing me work on it often, said "It's tough to make them run perfectly, but they run shitty forever." Still running great after all these years! I also own a B&O turntable that's going to the dump. replaced with a nice Fluance.
Lol, my comment is late, but I love my Sansui FR-D#, not big fancy or expensive, I bought used for $125 bucks, but it's clean and the strobescope is dead on set speed, doesn't waver at all.
This is only my second turntable, but I love it!
Correction, FR-D3
As someone who sold stereo equipment 1978-1981 I have to agree with your comments here, despite the fact that I own two B&O turntables including the linear tracker. it is not so fun to replace the dust covers, as I'm sure you know. BTW, there is an inherent design flaw in the 4002 and similar dust covers. They can crack at the attachment point and become completely non-working. There is a place in Denmark that makes reproduction dust covers with an improved design. Not cheap, but well worth it in my view.
I had the misfortune of trying to sell Marantz quadraphonic equipment when it was new. Glad that's over. And MCS? Don't even get me started.
Another great video. I own a B&O Beocenter 9500 that I bought at an estate sale, I did the belt replacement on the cassette side and had to fix both sliding doors. Also had to diagnose and fix a sporadic CD player issue. It was challenging to say the least but I got it done. The build quality was truly very good but I doubt I would get into another one. Keep up the good work.
I'm old enough to remember the "Quadrophonic Revolution" in the early 70's. I had a subscription to Stereo Review at the time and they were all-in for it. I almost bought a Sansui add-on unit for a stereo receiver that provided a decoding preamp (Sansui used QS) and power for the two rear channel speakers. It connected via the pre-out/main-in loop that was so common in older receivers.
My nephew has gotten into records and vintage hi-fi and the two receivers he had last time I asked were both quadrophonic. I gave him the one quad album I had (Poco - Crazy Eyes - SQ) but haven't been over to see his set-up yet. Hopefully it's serving him well.
Pink Floyd traveled for a while with a Quadrophonic sound system with the instruments coming from all around.
Pink Floyd is a band quad could make sense for. The Ramones? Not so much
@@skylabsaudio Ha. Yep. Quad sound was probably a mess for the people stuck in the nosebleed seats. You'd want to be near the soundman.
At least it planted the seed in Pete Townsend's head to write Quadrophenia.
@@skylabsaudio The Ramones probably would have just preferred if each member of the band could have his own corner of the room. Dysfunctional quad.
B&O equipment yes its tough fixing this stuff and I've learnt how to repair hifi equipment mainly on CD50s and a 4002 turn table. I rebuilt a couple of the speaker systems which are OK but one thing not mentioned is posting them. The equipment tends to be heavy and some of the panels are not suited to being thrown around which means reselling and repair is always going to be local, and ebay sales are likely to end in pieces unless its collect. Its beautifull stuff but does not necessarily integrate well. After market parts such as a stylus for the 4002 are none existant and regrainding of the old is the only option unless there is some old stock about, and if it is, the prices are high like twice what I paid for my 4002.
I owned a Emerson stereo, not a power machine , around 25 watts , but solid as a Sherman tank..
I bought one of those back in the 70s. Another issue with it was there were very FEW albums made for this format! I gave it to my sister and forgot about it!
The best part of buying new stuff is the warranty and the worry free operation. My 1983 Harmon Kardon receiver as it aged had many trips to shop over the 30 years I had it. After even a few years it had issues so it was routine for me to fix. I have had a Yamaha Aventage AVR on my tv for 9 years no issues. I have a new Emotiva system with a 3 year warranty for my 2 channel set up upstairs love it. Just the fact if something goes wrong with the Yamaha I will shit can it and buy a new one. I tried spending a couple of grand on a Marantz 2270 but that failed miserably no more hassle for me.
Nice .. this is going to be an informative series. Love it.
I picked up a Montgomery ward 450 it was made by Sanyo it rocks and the quality is the same as a pioneer
Apparently amongst the vintage line of Denon turntables is a processing chip which is unobtanium and renders the unit to boat anchor status. A local tech is hesitant to replace the rca cables on my dp-60l because of the potential complications when he opens it up.
Drunk on silver face, ha! I think you picked the wrong car to compare to B&O repair. After the John Muir "How to Keep your Volkswagen Alive" book came out, everybody and anyone could work on a bug or a bus. Just ask any hippie! I will say that B&O 1300 receiver, what a beautiful work of art. Thanks for the video.
Re: the 70s Quad thing, there were some FM stations positioning around it. In Philly, 94.1 WYSP (now WIP-FM) made a big deal and used the slogan "Quad 94". You needed a decoder or Quad receiver. And the radio station transmitted the encoded Quad audio. The big problem was keeping all of that aligned on the transmisison side. Most times the Stereo broadcast (99% listened that way) was trashed by a loss of phase and the need to really compress the audio to fit it all in the FM bandwidth. I get a headache just recalling it! BUT, I guess if you bought some of the limited albums available in Quad and enjoyed that, it woukd be more impressive.
Spot on with the the information from my own 45 years of experiences.
MCS, yep, looks decent but know it's not worth what get sucked into paying for "silver face". Sansui DB issues are horrible and kill good stuff if you don't know how to repair them. As for B&O....Don't get me started. Yes, beautiful but issues abound. I can say some model turntables had some major issues. I've worked on multiple B&O tables that looked good but they were horrible build quality. Biggest one I found was wallowed out gears and bent parts on auto return decks. Others were much better but it was very sad to see how cheaply made many model tables were. As for their BeoCenters, a nightmare to work on. Even just replacing the cassette and load door belts. Very complicated with drive strings for the load doors and the list goes on. Lots of specialized components and limited service data too.
When it comes to Quad, that is a whole sub category in itself. Consider it to be the "Surround 4.0" of the early 1970s. It was such a big gimmick at the time. Every manufacturer seemed to offer something. It was available in many forms from cheapo all-in-one Electrtophonic brand systems to high end setups and even jukeboxes (Seeburg SQS160). The biggest problem as to why it didn't takeoff was just as you said, three separate encoded matrix systems. QS, SQ and CD-4. In the Quad game Sansui was in its own world as they helped refine the QS system and called it Vario-Matrix. Sansui's QS was the best sounding quad matrix system but they held a patent on the upgraded system. Some licensed it, many didn't. Quad is fun and fine IF you like to play with it. Fortunately Sansui made products that made it simple to have quad with a QS-500/800 external 4-Channel rear Amplifier. One of these you could add to an existing system of any make and have the Quad experience. For an integrated system you could have the QSX-7500. Both options had a synthesizer to create the rear channel effect from the two channel source if you had no quad encoded records. With the QSX-7500 you could decode all three matrix systems in the combined receiver.
Wow, thank you for sharing this. Not gonna lie, I was nervous before hitting the upload button on this one, but responses like this, make me feel better that we are not alone! Thank you!
A friend of mine had a very nice B&O system back in the late 1970s. On the back was a switch, blocked over to the off position by a tab and screw, marked CS. I had no clue what it did until one day a couple of years ago, I was talking with a guy who used to service B&O ... "Oh you mean the 'cheap speaker' switch." LOL.
FWIW... the currently popular Class D ICEPower modules are B&O products.
Glad to say I knew most of the gotchas on this list such as Quad Receivers & the DB model Sansui's... I wanted a 9090 so bad ( settled for a 7070 ) but was only pulling the trigger if I found a non DB.. I aalso heard good things about some model B&O Speakers.. Found a pair of BeoVox 2600's locally which I never heard of and they looked familiar, They used a proprietary speaker plug but it can be cut off or adapted. Turns out they use an 8" version of the Seas drivers in the famous Dynaco A25s and usually fly under the radar.. May pick these up since they only want $50 and they are real wood veneer.
Great thoughts here. Appreciate all the info.
Thanks for watching!
When I was a teenager and had only a boombox for music I would go to the local JC Penny and look at the MCS. At the time it was too expensive for me. Glad I never saved my money and purchased. 45 years later I now have Mcintosh.
A MCS series from J C Penny's was my first purchase after high school on my first credit card. It served me well until 2004 when a lightning strike took it out.
Apple took notes from B&O 📝
Your comments on the complexity of the quadraphonic experience are generally accurate, but following is some clarification. There are 4 types of quad encode/decode systems available dating from the 1970s:
(1) Discrete used four separate channels for tape or CD-4 vinyl. The CD-4 vinyl required a special demodulator and special phono cartridge. While the separation was superior to other quad systems, the vinyl had limited frequency response and was more vulnerable to surface noise and other defects when decoded. The vinyl was compatible for stereo systems.
(2) SQ was a matrix system using phase manipulation and logic to extract rear channels encoded into stereo-compatible vinyl. No special phono cartridge or demodulator was necessary. The logic could actually decrease the volume of front and/or opposite rear channels to increase the apparent separation of rear signals, because the actual separation was inferior to discrete systems. Because SQ was developed and pushed by Sony and CBS, it was the dominant system for program material. Many SQ records have different mixes that can be easily discerned even on stereo systems.
(3) QS was another matrix system similar to SQ developed by and primarily marketed by Sansui. Much less program material was available in QS. To me, it always seemed like just a way for Sansui to get around the SQ patents.
(4) Regular matrix was probably the least popular and least effective quad system. I believe that it only manipulated the phase of incoming signals and no logic was used.
I have found that the Dolby Surround setting in a modern A/V receiver will do an interesting if not completely accurate job of decoding SQ or QS vinyl.
My auto-return turntable is Technics SL Q2. Also SL 5200.
B&O blew my mind in the seventies..everybody tried to copy them later on..but I remember drooling over them for years.
I belive that some of the older B&O amps have boards that you can fold up. Its on hinges. At least those appears easier to work on.
I used to have a Harman/Kardon T35C which just lifted and shut off at the end of the record, it also had a "cut" button on the front in case you wanted to do just that in the middle of a record. It was/is a great table that had the classic '80s look to it. The H/K went to other people as I often switch gear around from time to time. Since then, I have experienced tables from Garrard, PE, Dual, ELAC just to name a few. The two I have left now are a Pioneer PL-530, and the one I use most is a (drum roll) MCS 6710 (and everyone face palms). The MCS 6710 is one of the "record changer" units, made by Panasonic in the late 70s, and I do use it with the dropper spindle. The build quality between the two is obviously huge, with the Pioneer being worlds ahead of the MCS, but the MCS can stack up to 6 records, and when I am listening to albums while on the computer, that convenience of not having to get up every 35 minutes is worth it to me. I don't worry of how the table handles the records as it uses the same type of dropper spindle as DUAL, ELAC, and those tables never damaged a record on me ever. I don't have records in the collection that would be worth hundreds or thousands anyway, but if I did, I would not play them on a changer (or would I even play them at all). For me, trading up from the MCS would be to one of the Technics dropper tables anyway. The Pioneer is a keeper since I would never be able to find another for the price I got this one at ($35 at a flea market) with the original head shell, 45 RPM adapter and dust cover, and it works great. I use Sansui receivers for my amps (a model 2000 and a 881).
This is like saying: doesn't matter what you like, what you should buy is what is easier for us to work on.
On the other side of the coin, kudos to you for putting it clear: no problem if you like it, it's just that we will not repair it.
Yeah, not my intention at all. When you are in the business of selling your time, you just have to prioritize or you go out of business giving your time away. I am the last person to tell someone what they "should' like or buy. I was just trying to give a heads up to people that migh not know about these potential issues, as our repair shop is not alone with these problems. Thanks for watching.
@@skylabsaudio fair enough for me. Thank you for your answer!
Didnt realise i was a silverface hobbyist all these years. Lotta catching up to do. Lot of your videos to watch. Cough do you have any cassette player videos cough
I don't think I'm unique, but I like 2 channels, 4 speakers. My Sansui QR 6500 can do that and stay in Stereo mode. Just check it out before buying one, with 4 speakers hooked up. At 280 watts, it has all the power you need. If you don't want 4 speakers then you can run it like a 2 channel receiver with 140 watts. I also have several other Pioneer, Sansui, Kenwood, receivers but don't hesitate to pick up one of these vintage 4 channel units, the build quality is the same as the stereo units. In good cosmetic condition they aren't cheap usually.