I’ve recently put together a late ‘80s Technics setup in my garage / workshop. It’s taken me a bit of time to piece this all together but it’s finally up and running!

- Technics SU-V85A integrated amp
- Technics SH-8046 graphic equalizer
- Technics SL-P500 CD player
- Technics SL-Q3 turntable (hand-me down from Dad)
- Technics RS-55R tape deck (for completeness)
- WiiM Pro audio streamer
- Bose 201 bookshelf speakers (from an estate sale)
- Miller & Kriesel v90 12-inch powered subwoofer
- Technical Pro dB-30 blinkenlights / power strip.

The SU-V85 amp is solid. I mean not just physically heavy and solid, but it sounds really clean and has power to spare. The graphic equalizer is mainly in the mix for the blinkenlights, but I’m pretty impressed with it. It has a neat touch panel for adjusting the levels for each band.

The SL-Q3 turntable used to belong to my dad, and I’ve been holding on to it for a couple of years. I’ve finally been able to set it up. The tone arm / headshell has a Shure cartridge mounted, possibly Tracer 1 or 2. I’ve tried it with a couple of LPs and it is mind-blowing clean and easy to listen to. Dad previously used this with his Aiwa 22 system, which I’ve also got set up in our living room.

I’m not a Bose person myself but the speakers were at a local estate sale for an unbeatable price, and they fit the bookshelf nicely. The M&K fills in the bass nicely, so no complaints.

Overall, really happy with this setup, how it sounds, and especially happy to give new life to Dad’s old turntable.

Had it custom made with Ribbon Mahogany got the builder to put the logo front center.

Friday night spin

One of the last variants of the legendary Soviet S-90 series by Radiotehnika. The S-90 speakers are well known in Russia and the Baltics, over a million were made in Riga during Soviet times starting in 1977 with many being sold abroad to Finland and the Baltics. To this day, the classic S-90 speakers are a popular DIY project, with owners modifying and upgrading them.

This S-90K variant has a passive radiator instead of a port (the top woofer). Designed in 1992 during the chaotic post-soviet era, it is not as vintage as the other stuff here, but the elements are designed in Soviet times.

They are by no means audiophile speakers, there's a nasty dip around 2khz and a bit of a peak around 3-4khz, highs are decent but nothing special. But the bass is amazing, much tighter than in the older ported versions. At ~89db sensitivity, they are pretty loud and paired with my Pioneer SA-720 pushing ~65w of power, they are so much fun. The bass output is really nice, and because of their passive radiator design they handle modern dance music kicks very well. So much fun! I think they can handle a bit more power, but at 65 watts multiple neighbours started to complain.

I definitely expected something to not be working but played some cds through it and everything sounds good! Not bad for a 40+ year old system.

I've found a Sony TA-F55 at a decent price. The seller says it powers up and plays, but none of the lights work.

From what I've read, it's an unusual design with a pulse power supply and a freon heat pipe, so I'm worried a repair could be costly or hard to source parts for.

I know the basics of electronics, but I'm definitely not an experienced technician.

Is dead lights on a working F55 usually a cheap fix or a sign of a deeper supply problem?
Would you stay away?

I got tired of constantly getting up to change the volume so I attached a small dc motor with an IR receiver to the volume nob. Works subrisingly well!

I know it doesn't look as pretty with that belt but the comfort is very beneficial.

I just picked up a pair of pioneer cs-r500 speakers and they have no sound. I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this but any ideas?

Needs a home

In the past few months I’ve picked up red and yellow Weltrons, a couple Dynamite 8’s, a Toot a Loop, and a R77 Calendar. Love this aesthetic. Now to sell some of my other treasures so I can continue my hunt!

Hello, im looking to buy an hifi system, and initially i want to buy the amplifier the tuner and the speakers. Later i want to buy the turntable. I need recomendations of models as pioneer, technics or akai that i could find cheap as possible.Thanks

Cabinet has a huge hole on the top, damaged veneer. Unable to get photos of the speakers without the grills as well, will probably need a lot of work..

Is it worth paying $500 for?

I found 3 in great condition in the recycling bin next to my place!

We just bought a new house and this was left behind. It was all hooked up to speakers (that you guys would KILL me for having already donated 🫣) so I think it works but really don’t know. It’s heavy as heck but after researching it I would love it to go to someone that cares about it. Any of you near the central coast of California or want to pay the shipping plus a bit of time? Apologies for not washing it up before taking the terrible photos.

Sony TC 730 for $35 at the Deseret Industries on South Hill

Goodwill find. I know these ain't the greatest. The sound needs some high end boost (59 year old drummer here, ha!) but I love how these look. Plenty of bass too. The big dial on the back doesn't do much at all. I'd like to maybe beef these up, even if I have to gut them. I've never messed with speakers, but I know my way around a soldering iron. Any tips? Can you get speakers, tweeters and whatnot for these old cabinets? My only set of speakers were Panasonic Thrusters and they were retired YEARS ago.

it has emerson written all over it, but other than text on the back explaining how to hook up external audio it doesnt have much else

cant find anything online by reverse image searching, hoping one of you might know what ballpark this is