Based on someone else's post, I've been motivated to hook up my rack system. Everything works great, it's just been dormant on the selves since a remodel a few years ago. Who else still has theirs??

[-]

gimme3strokes@reddit

I have an absolute monster rack system in my polebarn! Two receivers, cd player, cassette, and turntable. Also have a Bluetooth converter to connect my phone. Currently rocking 4-12" floor speakers, a surround system, and 2 subwoofers.

[-]

modernistamphibian@reddit

Where is the laserdisc player?

[-]

Definitive_confusion@reddit

I think I only ever used a laser disc player once. I don't think it's fair to include them in most of our experiences outside of us all watching their nearly immediate rise and fall.

Was that just me?

[-]

Mountain-Art6254@reddit

These elites with their “laser disk” systems- I mean, give me a break…..😉

[-]

hucklesnips@reddit

Yeah...but that's the only way to watch the original, theatrical release of Star Wars, before Lucas started changing stuff

[-]

mtvmemories@reddit

Torrent baby!

[-]

hucklesnips@reddit

You mean that new Internet thing-a-majig?

[-]

mtvmemories@reddit

I think it's a series of tubes.

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

Lol never had one.

[-]

WiseAce1@reddit

you can borrow mine, lol

Sony as well to match the system

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

Oh man nice. I'll be right over.

[-]

JazzfanRS@reddit

Only have the turntable, because it wasn't hooked up to faulty electrical and get zapped. Still had vinyl though and I could hook it up to the TV and use it's speakers. 10 years ago I converted some obscure platters to digital.

Haven't used it since, and I gave up trying to find someone who would buy it for $30.

[-]

stardustdriveinTN@reddit

I just started re-building my stereo rack system last year. My boys are grownups now and fully understand the "don't mess with Dad's stereo" that they didn't comprehend when they were kids. I can now crank up my Van Halen and BlackBerry Smoke and only annoy my wife and the dog.

[-]

Fish-Weekly@reddit

That Pioneer receiver with the analog controls is a beauty! I used to have a Technics tape deck that looked very similar to that one as well, I think I got mine in maybe 1981 or 82. Finally, spotted that Audio-Technica cartridge on your turntable 👍🏻

[-]

stardustdriveinTN@reddit

Back in highschool I had a Technics SA-222 receiver, a Technics RS-M218 cassette deck, and a Realistic Graphic EQ. This cassette deck was the closest I could find that looked like my old one, but this one has analog VU meters. Got it and the receiver off of eBay.

My turntable in the photo is an Audio Technica AT-LP120 my son got me for Father's Day several years ago. Other parts in the photo are an Eskin Bluetooth adapter that runs through a kit-built vacuum tube preamp and feeds into the auxiliary input of the SX-780. There's a BluRay player in the bottom of the rack that runs to the TV. I've got the optical output from the TV feeding a converter that splits the audio back to analog and feeds in to the second tape channel on the receiver.

[-]

Fish-Weekly@reddit

I still have a couple of original “high school” components. I still have my Sony turntable and Audio-Technica stylus (AT-120E) and a Pioneer SX-6 receiver which was one of the early digital control receivers from Pioneer. I’ve also replaced the needle on the cartridge once and have since hooked up a 90s era Sony Receiver in place of the SX-6. It got plenty of use from my kids in the basement as teenagers though and it still works even though it is not currently hooked up.

[-]

mtvmemories@reddit

Tubular!

[-]

stardustdriveinTN@reddit

That little Amazon kit-built tube preamp is actually pretty cool. It's not really an amplifier per say, but more like it adds "tube flavor" to whatever you run through it. I hate the fake blue LEDs under the tubes, but it works good for what it is.

[-]

jwade39@reddit

Nice 780. The sound and look amazing.

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

I love it!

[-]

absyrtus@reddit

i'm surprised your receiver isn't overheating in that thing

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

Never had an issue. There's plenty of air space above it and on sides and in back.

[-]

In_The_End_63@reddit

I do however casette deck and turntable croaked or at least would require difficult repairs. Thinking of replacing with either good condition used or new gear. Speakers also need replacement - the frickin' cones simply started to crack and disintegrate due to aging. Amp still kicks ass.

[-]

Spare_Ad_1831@reddit

Nice….. Real nice…. M57

[-]

vatreides411@reddit

Yes I have a technics system, but my tuner died about ten years ago and I never replaced it

[-]

Fish-Weekly@reddit

The picture is a little dark but here is the setup in my basement. Not everything is hooked up:

Sony GX800ES A/V Receiver (early 90s era)
Sony Turntable with Audio-Technica cartridge (early 80s era)
Pioneer SX-6 Receiver (early 80s era, the Sony replaced it)
Sony TC-WE435 Dual Cassette Deck (early 90s era, I recently replaced the drive belts)
Fisher 3-way speakers (not shown)

And then that there’s one of them VCRs your grand pappy used to talk about.

[-]

asj-777@reddit

I still have mine but the speakers suck and after seeing this I am going to have to get new speakers.

The one thing I never got -- but now will have to look for -- was one of those EQs with all the lights.

[-]

biggamax@reddit

Anybody remember when "Auto Reverse" seemed revolutionary? :)

[-]

Haunting-Prior-NaN@reddit

I remember when they started ffwd on tapes while sensing when the next next tune started.

[-]

asj-777@reddit

That was life-changing!

[-]

analogpursuits@reddit

My 1999 Toyota 4Runner has exactly this feature on the tape deck and I play tapes all the time! Very handy for that one filler song that sucks on some albums.

[-]

FictitiousFuego@reddit

YESSSS! Oh the modern convenience it was to not have to spend endless time on "oops! Too far forward! Dammit, re-wound too far back again!" over and over, lol.

[-]

oldschool_potato@reddit

Then there was next level, my Nakamichi tape automatically flipped the tape because single direction heads produced better sound than bi-directional heads. At least that's what 20 year old asshole me spouted off about.

[-]

LazyOldCat@reddit

Still got my CR-3A in the basement. Roomie had to 1Up me with the Dragon, of course.

[-]

oldschool_potato@reddit

In one of my apartment moves the outlet cord was dragging, got caught under a door and there went my deck, pre-amp and tuner. I was devastated. Still have the Yamaha amp in the basement

[-]

biggamax@reddit

As I recall, Yamaha made excellent amps back then.

[-]

oldschool_potato@reddit

They did, Onkyo as well. Stereo equipment was my first in a long line of expensive hobbies my ADHD addled brain has gotten me into. My friends nicknamed me, the ultimate consumer.

[-]

biggamax@reddit

Ultimate in taste, you mean.

[-]

biggamax@reddit

Nakamichi, though. Good stuff!

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

Yes!!!

[-]

biggamax@reddit

Magic. You don't even have to open the door.

[-]

1funnyguy4fun@reddit

For the win:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lf4eR3ZkvoY

[-]

Fishmike52@reddit

someone was a big spender! (30 years ago!)

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

Yet I was broke lol

[-]

Fishmike52@reddit

Yeah but the tunes sounded GOOD

[-]

Choose-Carefull-y@reddit

Nope. No more physical media for me. I've moved several times over the years and have embraced streaming and download. Streaming for TV, movies, and music. Downloads for video games. Kindle for books.

I love not having all the clutter and stuff.

[-]

doubleohzerooo0@reddit

My rack has been reduced to just the receiver. I have the TV and my Alexa connected to it.

[-]

Bucks2174@reddit

I have my 80s Technics system. One of the duel cassettes doesn’t work. Everything else fire right up.

[-]

Hairy_Al@reddit

I have my Technics separates, but I need a new amp. Shit, those things have gone up in price? And why is everything midi-sized? Where's the full sized separates at?

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

Is that Freedom Rock? Turn it up man!

[-]

biosfearmag@reddit

I’ve had two Technics 1200 turntables in my living room since the 90s. Not much has changed over here.

[-]

FujiKitakyusho@reddit

There is no substitute for moving air.

[-]

RCA2CE@reddit

Look at that horn. I love the sound of horn speakers

I have some klipsch chorus horn speakers from 1987, I use them daily

[-]

FujiKitakyusho@reddit

JBL 2441 2" compression drivers on JBL 2382 horns.

[-]

FictitiousFuego@reddit

Niiice! Wish I still had my old school Cerwin-Vegas. 🥺

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

YES

[-]

dustin91@reddit

I had two Sony dual tape decks from the early 90s I tried to revive last year. They worked as a test but when I actually hooked them up, they died.

[-]

Weak_Employment_5260@reddit

Everything but the stereo/amp. I put everything through my eq to my sound bar

[-]

Divtos@reddit

I renovated my living room to be a home theater and gym last year. Awesome 5.1 sound, big screen movies and the gym is never crowded.

[-]

coopnjaxdad@reddit

No speaker pics? Where are the Bose 301 Series 2 speakers??

[-]

Pernicious_Possum@reddit

Loved mine back in the day, but was more than happy to not need it anymore. I just use my iPad and a Yamaha sound bar, or a Bluetooth in the kitchen

[-]

45thgeneration_roman@reddit

It's in a cupboard.

I should put it all together. Especially the two Technics 1200s

[-]

SlowPokeInTexas@reddit

I love it. I wish I still had mine.

[-]

Wldchld73@reddit

I was too poor to have one. Is it strange that I still want one? My 11 year old self remembers how good my brother-in-law's sounded (lived with my sister).

[-]

jcstrat@reddit

I don’t have a rack system but a piecemeal system. Lots of Yamaha with JBL floor speakers. It certainly does the job.

[-]

moopet@reddit

I don't have any equipment from when I was younger, but I've been gradually putting something together over the last couple of years.

Sounds way better than a phone and bluetooth cheapos.

[-]

Gen_Ecks@reddit

I have a rad double cassette deck with high speed dubbing. Bought it about 8 seconds before the arrival of the CD I think. I don’t have the rack anymore, but I do have a Denon head unit from the 90s, cd player and that tape deck tho. I should wire it up. Wonder what happened to my 20 band EQ with the dancing lights?

[-]

lilcbra@reddit

I still have 2 systems, both pieced together from different makes. One I did in the 90s, another was given to me by a friend when he made a cross country move. The only things I'm missing are the speakers.... hoping to be able to find some at some point. [fingers crossed]

[-]

2Dogs3Tents@reddit

Look at you with your fancy 5 disc changer.

[-]

sleva5289@reddit

I still have two of them. My original from my teens and a surround sound that I bought in the 90’s. Haven’t used them in a while. Might pull one out.

[-]

Quick-Economist-4247@reddit

Mine went about 15 years ago!

[-]

Prudent-Programmer11@reddit

You can get a Bluetooth adapter and play music from your phone on this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/193532470878

[-]

fredout1968@reddit

I had a Yamaha stack back in the day. Eventually it started to glitch and I got rid of it and went the way of the soundbar for a couple of decades. One day I realized that I hated the soundbar. So a year and a half ago I bought a Yamaha A-S501 integrated amp, a Fluance RT-82 turntable, some Klipsch RP-600M II's, a klipsch sub, Wiim Streamer, and an old Sony CD player ( i still had over 100 cd's but nothing to play them on). It was a great decision! The new system while not elaborate by audiophile standards bumps! It's clear as a bell and reveals detail that my soundbars could only dream of. It can also do this easily at 100 decibels. It has become a source of joy in my life. I love being able to spin vinyl even if it is just for the ritual of it. That said, cd's and albums really have a different mood when played in their entirety vs. Jumping around streaming. I also love the versatility of the streamer! It's the best of both worlds the old and the new. And as someone has side above.. There is no substitute for pushing air! The Kilpsch speakers and sub do an amazing job considering that it is a budget set up! I highly recommend this for you my Gen X peeps if you ever loved music and ended up settling for a soundbar at some point. 🍻

[-]

Unhappy_Hat_2593@reddit

I got ride of mine 20 years ago..wish I still had it.

[-]

Johnno_in_oz@reddit

Yes. Started with a "vintage" Yamaha receiver, a PS1 cd player and some small JBL bookshelf L19s. Now running A bigger Yamaha receiver, CD player , Sony Blu-ray/SACD, Dual turntable and thumping big JBL towers. It's a lot of fun.

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

!!!!!!!!

Yes!! Looks great!!!!! Love it!!

[-]

NL_Gray-Fox@reddit

No. Mostly because mine was 💩. But I do wish they brought back VU meters.

[-]

bfisher_ohio@reddit

Nice. I’ve got mine still too but I’ve been relegated to the basement.

Does your tape player work? Mine is not working and I haven’t had the time or energy to mess with it.

Extra point for the vhs drawers.

[-]

Emotional_Status2962@reddit

Fuck yeah

[-]

mytruckhasaflattire@reddit

Get yourself a bluetooth adapter with RCA outputs and hook it to your receiver--- BOOM---play your phone through the vintage stereo!

[-]

candykhan@reddit

I have a split level home with a small closet about halfway up the stairs. I'm actually considering putting a glass door on it & putting some stereo equipment in it.

I'd have to put the record player somewhere else & run long cables to it. But it would be kinda cool.

[-]

RobNY54@reddit

I do.. every day I use my old Onkyo receiver and 5 disc CD changer and polk 4A speakers Got the TV hooked up too. Sounds great!

[-]

IRingTwyce@reddit

I still have several components boxed up. Most of my stuff was Sony. The receiver died a few years back and I just left it in the house when I sold it.

I also still have these 3-way Pioneer tower speakers that I bought circa 1989 at Monkey Wards.

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

gif

[-]

251Cane@reddit

Wow how long did it take to download all the software updates when you powered it on?

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

Days.

Dial up sucks.

[-]

iamrava@reddit

i have a sony dat player in storage that would fit this setup perfectly.

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

Haha ... they are the floor speakers that came with my system in '93 lol.

[-]

Momofcats74@reddit

Sweet system!

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

Thanks!

[-]

ruby651@reddit

This is something I would have loved in 1990 and find hilariously antiquated in 2025.

[-]

thesupineporcupine@reddit

Time to break out the Quasar!!!!

[-]

ChiefinLasVegas@reddit

reminds me we need a needle, and not of the temu ilk

[-]

Anathama@reddit

If we wanted to build a system again from scrounging thrift stores, yard sales and pawn shops, what are some of the best brands or hidden gems to keep an eye out for?

[-]

sooperedd@reddit

Kenwood. Although it's in the garage

[-]

Specific_Ad_97@reddit

gif

I can hear the Light!

[-]

safetaco@reddit

I thought in the future we would all have more advanced JVC, kenwood and pioneer shelf/rack systems. Instead we have phones and Bluetooth speakers. The future is somewhat underwhelming.

[-]

Better_Chard4806@reddit

Just replaced my receiver (gift from hubby) and cd player by Onkyo. Love it.

[-]

MarvinParanoAndroid@reddit

I kept the amp, the CD player and the DVD/Blue ray player. The cassette deck died with a cassette inside more than 25 years ago. I still have a turntable but the motor speed is unstable.

I’ve added a Bluetooth receiver to stream directly to the sound system.

[-]

ShaiHulud1111@reddit

I bought a Sony with Bluetooth in 2015, but some nice Polk speakers and monster cable. It kinda feels like the 80s. Gots lots of power and Polk a really great at all volume. Peace.

[-]

jbellafi@reddit

Seeing this made me so nostalgic for the days before streaming music. Technology is great in many ways, but I feel like I’m either looking for the phone charger, having an earbud fall out, reconnecting my Sonos to WiFi, reconnecting pandora TO Sonos which inexplicably gets kicked off all the time, have to take phone out, unlock the phone to find the music I want to play blah blah. It’s just sooo much work.

[-]

ArtichokeDifferent10@reddit

I still use my Yamaha receiver along with a decent assortment of Polk speakers for surround sound in my basement "man cave".

I'm probably going to have to replace it or give up on discreet components soon though as it doesn't support most modern encoding. 😕

[-]

Fun_Branch890@reddit

I still have mine. My husband actually put it up a few weeks ago. Still sounds great! It’s been in storage close to 20 years.

[-]

SlickrickybobbE@reddit

Never new what shit did. Once presets where set (dust with care)

[-]

SlickrickybobbE@reddit

Whoops I meant *knew

[-]

hucklesnips@reddit

Oh yeah. I do love my rack system. I had a STR-915 (or 925?), and it was fantastic...until it died. I replaced it with the Costco Denon as a stop-gap measure (and to get HDMI!), but I think my Sony had better sound.

I'm still eyeing a used, 2000's era Harman-Kardon for my music station. That sound was crazy good, but I was too poor at the time.

[-]

That_Jicama2024@reddit

I just have the receiver now. I can't part with my 7:1 surround sound. The only thing it's connected to is our apple TV and an old turntable.

[-]

DetroitsGoingToWin@reddit

I have my receiver and speakers, I’ve been thinking of hooking them up in the garage for the radio.

[-]

woodya1@reddit

Man I’m rocking the Technics Sa-200 with Bose 10.2 speakers. Of course with a wifi adapter connected to the receiver, playing tunes the modern way through the old school system.

[-]

IdubdubI@reddit

gif

[-]

BandOfBroskis@reddit

I still have a full size Sansui w/ phonograph circa 1988 and a Sony mini system with 5 disc changer (!!) circa 1993

[-]

vanwhisky@reddit

Quite the setup for the day!

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

Kids don't appreciate lol

[-]

vanwhisky@reddit

With streaming services today, they wouldn’t understand what this meant for us!

[-]

mbadolato@reddit

I gave up my Fisher Rack System 20 years ago, before we moved into the house we're in now. Man I loved that thing!

[-]

blade944@reddit

My first rack system in 1984 was a fisher studio standard system I bought at radio shack. I've had a full system at all times since then.

[-]

MarqBarq@reddit

I also owned a Fisher. It was given away a decade ago.

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

I refuse to part ways lol

[-]

jmaudsley@reddit

My Dad (84) has a Mitsubishi System he bought after my parents divorced in ‘76. He’s used it pretty regularly for years, mostly the tuner, but he added a 100 CD changer. AFAIK the turntable and cassette deck still work. It is still a sweet system! Sounds incredible.

[-]

fruitless7070@reddit

We have ours in the garage. Sounds AMAZING!!!

[-]

togocann49@reddit

I built my old system that was basically a hodgepodge of brands (Kenwood receiver, Sony amp and cassette player, and cerwin Vega speakers), and I let it go when my mom needed space at her place.

[-]

mrdaver911_2@reddit

This Yamaha is still the heart of my entertainment system! Everything routes through it then to my TV…no point in playing Xbox without 5.1 surround. 😁

[-]

SwimmingHand4727@reddit

I just had my house built, ran the wires in the walls before the drywall went up for my Bose speakers, I love it, and it's paid for! I even bought 2 more speakers off Ebay. Mine is also Sony, and I have the same Magnavox Vcr, that's had a tape stuck in it for 20 years.... lol

[-]

NoUniqueNameNeeded@reddit

I have thinned out my system over the years, but at its prime it was two stereo VCRs, dual cassette deck, equalizer, 300+1 CD changer, cable box, DVD player, three games systems.

With most of it being analog connections on a Dolby Pro Logic 5 channel A/V system, I had six cables per VCR, four cables for the cassette deck, four cables for the E/Q, three cables for each game system, three cables for the cable box, two TOSLINK for CD and DVD, one composite video and one S-video connector, plus heavy duty speaker wire for five speakers and a passive sub.

I was proud of the number of cables, but now it is a digital receiver with HDMI connections and all of my music ripped to 320kbs MP3s. The only connections are a HTPC, Xbox, and projector.

[-]

Antique_Yam_2083@reddit

I still use the tuner and speakers, everything else is taken care of by the computer.

[-]

Jasperblu@reddit

Still have mine!

[-]

Techchick_Somewhere@reddit

I was just thinking how I want to score one of these off Marketplace so I can play real music again.

[-]

lgramlich13@reddit

We still have ours, never stopped using it, and even have a spare amp for the day the 1st one dies.

[-]

Cobra-Lalalalalalala@reddit

I still have mine boxed up but no cabinet to put it in. Harder to find a good one these days.

[-]

dreadpirate_metalart@reddit

I still use my kenwood stereo receiver from 1990. Works great with a Bluetooth adapter and my phone. The dual cassette and 200 disc charger is long been sold off.

[-]

Present-Arm-6023@reddit

She's a beauty .

[-]

Lumbercounter@reddit

I have still have mine packed away. A Sharp system ca 1990 with an added 5 disc changer.

[-]

Definitive_confusion@reddit

I'm so jealous right now

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

Lol.... don't be. Just come over and listen to some cds lol

[-]

JRBowen9@reddit

Still have my Sharp Compact Disc Player (DX-670) from 1990; works most of the time. "Paul's Boutique" got played on it a few thousand times.

[-]

Darostheone@reddit

Oh damn this takes me back to the 80's. Army brat, and that was the big deal, buying a sound system like this from the PX in Germany. My step dad had a crazy system!

[-]

Jpkmets7@reddit

Nice rack.

[-]

Affectionate-Map2583@reddit

I still have mine, with a DVD player on the turntable shelf and a VCR on the bottom (I think the turntable is in the basement somewhere). The CD player works, but skips if anyone walks across the living room. Everything else works fine.

[-]

Oldman_Dick@reddit

My receiver and 101cd changer both died in the last 4-5 years.

[-]

88Gonzo@reddit (OP)

My condolences.

[-]

JoeMagnifico@reddit

Hah! I have my very similar Sony setup from 1991 purchased at the Bon Marche (Mall store) as my garage stereo.

[-]

Mortimer452@reddit

Mine was a Technics, had the motorized dial, digital equalizer and everything, also bought around 1993 or so.

I used it until about 2015 when it finally let out the magic smoke