Unconventional Audio Designs!

[aeroash]

SONY PS-F9 (1983)​

This is as close as Sony ever got to producing a Walkman for LP records and 45 rpm singles. The bulk and sensitivity to shock made the medium unsuitable for mobile use but the PS-F9 was nevertheless battery operated and played through stereo headphones, making it a clear member of the Walkman family.

 

[Analogous]

Ferguson Hill FHOO1

Jetstream loudspeaker system. - Ferguson Hill

Ferguson Hill Jetstream loudspeaker system

www.fergusonhill.co.uk

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Seems very transparent and revealing of everything in front, inside and behind!

 

[aeroash]

SONY WM-W800 (1985)

The WM-W800 was a unique addition to the Walkman range, for it was the only model that featured twin tape decks and hence the ability to copy a cassette without the use of external equipment.
As well as being able to copy tapes, the WM-W800 could also make “live” recording using the miniature stereo microphone capsule that was included with each machine. The microphone socket included a “plug in power” connection for amplified type microphones.

 

[aeroash]

Gramovox Floating Record​

This new design, includes full-range stereo speakers (with external options connectable via a RCA line out) powered by an internal 15W amplifier, with a volume knob situated on the maple or walnut-veneered base. The belt-driven system runs at 33.33 or 45rpm. A record clamp fixes the record to the machine while the deck features an good quality Audio Technica AT95E cartridge and an acrylic platter. You also get a built-in headphone socket

 

[Subbu68]

SONY WM-W800 (1985)

The WM-W800 was a unique addition to the Walkman range, for it was the only model that featured twin tape decks and hence the ability to copy a cassette without the use of external equipment.
As well as being able to copy tapes, the WM-W800 could also make “live” recording using the miniature stereo microphone capsule that was included with each machine. The microphone socket included a “plug in power” connection for amplified type microphones.

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Looks super sophisticated. These Japanese

 

[Subbu68]

Moving a bit away from hi-fi what intrigued me when a kid . My classmate Rajeev's father who worked in the Gulf gifted him and he used to go around in the college (inter) hearing cricket commentary. We used to stare at him with our mouth open. He used to be kind to let us wear for some time

 

[aeroash]

Kuba - Komet​

The “TV-Stereo-Concert-Chest” Komet by the German company Kuba, produced from 1957-61 in three versions.

1957-58: 191 x 167 x 60 cm featuring a 53 cm TV and radio chassis Graetz F 44K and a 4-drive record changer Telefunken TW 561.
1959-60: 216 x 171 x 70 cm featuring a 53 cm TV chassis Imperial 1021 SL, a radio chassis Imperial 609 and a record player Telefunken TW 501.
1960-61: unaltered dimensions featuring a 53 or 59 cm TV chassis Imperial 1223 SL, a radio chassis Imperial 609a and a record player Telefunken TW 501.

An integrated tape recorder Magnetophon KL 75 T as well as a remote control were available for an additional charge. The Komet had eight speakers, and the upper part with the TV screen was swivel-mounted. The housing was made from imperial palm and maple wood, later from maple and wenge, both with polyester high-gloss finish. Although the Komet was not at all the most expensive of the then very fashionable “sound furnitures”, only about 900 pieces were produced.

 

[aeroash]

HIFI ROSE RA180 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER












SPECIFICATIONS
Amplifier Output

• 4Ω – 200 W x 4 Ch (800 W)
• 8Ω – 200 W x 4 Ch (800 W)
• BTL Mode On – 400 W x 2 Ch (800 W)

Input Sensitivity

• Balanced Inputs – 500mV (200 W x 4 Ch)
• Unbalanced (Line 1,2,3) Inputs – 500mV (200 W x 4 Ch)
• Phono (MM / MC) Input – 5mV / 0.5mV (200 W x 4 Ch)

Input Impedance

• Balanced Inputs – 44kΩ
• Unbalanced (Line 1,2,3) Inputs – 47kΩ
• Phono (MM / MC) Input – 47kΩ

Bandwidth (0dBr + / – | 8Ω)

• Speaker Output – 12Hz – 100Khz (@1W x 2Ch)
• H/F Speaker Output – 12Hz – 100Khz (@1W x 2Ch)

Frequency Response (1W, +/- 1dB | 8Ω)

• Speaker Output – 12Hz – 100Khz (@1W x 2Ch)
• H/F Speaker Output – 12Hz – 100Khz (@1W x 2Ch)

Total Harmonic Distortion

• Balanced & Unbalanced (Line 1,2,3) Inputs – 0.005% (100W) (@200W x 4Ch)

Damping Factor

• Speaker & H/F Speaker Outputs – >150 (@200W x 2Ch)

Signal-to-noise-Ratio (S/N)

• Balanced / Unbalanced / Phono MM – 102dB / 79db (@200W x 4ch)

Output Impedance

• Speaker Output – 40mΩ (200W x 4ch)

Subsonic Filter with On/Off Switch

• -3dB – 50Hz (1W x 4ch)

Tone Control with On / Off Switch

• Bass (100Hz) / Treble (10KHz) – +/- 15dB (1w x 2ch)

X-Over with On/Off Switch

 

[coaltrain]

@aeroash
I saw this on YT a few weeks ago and completely lost my mind. Love the steampunk aesthetic.

 

[Subbu68]

HIFI ROSE RA180 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER

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View attachment 69625




SPECIFICATIONS
Amplifier Output

• 4Ω – 200 W x 4 Ch (800 W)
• 8Ω – 200 W x 4 Ch (800 W)
• BTL Mode On – 400 W x 2 Ch (800 W)

Input Sensitivity

• Balanced Inputs – 500mV (200 W x 4 Ch)
• Unbalanced (Line 1,2,3) Inputs – 500mV (200 W x 4 Ch)
• Phono (MM / MC) Input – 5mV / 0.5mV (200 W x 4 Ch)

Input Impedance

• Balanced Inputs – 44kΩ
• Unbalanced (Line 1,2,3) Inputs – 47kΩ
• Phono (MM / MC) Input – 47kΩ

Bandwidth (0dBr + / – | 8Ω)

• Speaker Output – 12Hz – 100Khz (@1W x 2Ch)
• H/F Speaker Output – 12Hz – 100Khz (@1W x 2Ch)

Frequency Response (1W, +/- 1dB | 8Ω)

• Speaker Output – 12Hz – 100Khz (@1W x 2Ch)
• H/F Speaker Output – 12Hz – 100Khz (@1W x 2Ch)

Total Harmonic Distortion

• Balanced & Unbalanced (Line 1,2,3) Inputs – 0.005% (100W) (@200W x 4Ch)

Damping Factor

• Speaker & H/F Speaker Outputs – >150 (@200W x 2Ch)

Signal-to-noise-Ratio (S/N)

• Balanced / Unbalanced / Phono MM – 102dB / 79db (@200W x 4ch)

Output Impedance

• Speaker Output – 40mΩ (200W x 4ch)

Subsonic Filter with On/Off Switch

• -3dB – 50Hz (1W x 4ch)

Tone Control with On / Off Switch

• Bass (100Hz) / Treble (10KHz) – +/- 15dB (1w x 2ch)

X-Over with On/Off Switch

This pops-up quite often on my mobile. Some local store in Dubai is selling it. A Korean company

 

[aeroash]

@aeroash
I saw this on YT a few weeks ago and completely lost my mind. Love the steampunk aesthetic.

Steam punk is appropriate. Well thought out, aesthetically. I would be playing with that volume control just to watch those gears do their business.

This pops-up quite often on my mobile. Some local store in Dubai is selling it. A Korean company

Ah! This is a sign. Should we expect this to be in your abode soon?
we could live and enjoy this crazy good design vicariously!

 

[Subbu68]

Ah! This is a sign. Should we expect this to be in your abode soon?
we could live and enjoy this crazy good design vicariously!

No..... busted my wallet with a pair of Amp Camp Amp. For next few years have to keep quiet

RA180 Integrated Amplifier

The HiFi Rose RA180 Integrated Amplifier is a state-of-the-art Integrated Amplifier that goes beyond the limits of traditional amplifiers ...

dubaiaudio.com

Whew.... 5-6 lac for it .

 

[mbhangui]

HIFI ROSE RA180 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER

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Love the gears

 

[Subbu68]

Love the gears

INR 5 lac for it

 

[coaltrain]

Here’s an entire video of unconventional hifi

 

[Subbu68]

This is from my collection, Bought in 2015, still working well.

Harmon Kardon Nova 2x50W per speaker, 0.75" dome and 3" woofer.


now see the back

That vortex shaped thingy connects the driver to a passive radiator behind

excellent sound for it's size. it is a 2014 design I think.

Touch control for Power, Input selection (see 3rd Photo) and Bass Boost
Volume - slide your finder on the top (see + sign in 3rd photo)
Auto power off
Sad no remote control

• True Bi-amped 2 x 50W per channel
• Bluetooth with NFC
• Aux in
• AND Optical IN

Now 7 years old used at times, still going strong. Was the mainstay when using my Mac Mini. With Optical Out from Mac plugged to HK NOVA.

 

[mbhangui]

Till now my favourite has been this. How could someone put so much engineering in a walkman. Beats me. Just looking at it makes me wonder the passon Sony engineers had during those times. Sony now is a very sorry figure compared to those times. This is far beyond what apple does today. It saddens me.

Unconventional Audio Designs!

SONY PS-F9 (1983) This is as close as Sony ever got to producing a Walkman for LP records and 45 rpm singles. The bulk and sensitivity to shock made the medium unsuitable for mobile use but the PS-F9 was nevertheless battery operated and played through stereo headphones, making it a clear member...

www.hifivision.com

 

[aeroash]

Till now my favourite has been this. How could someone put so much engineering in a walkman. Beats me. Just looking at it makes me wonder the passon Sony engineers had during those times. Sony now is a very sorry figure compared to those times. This is far beyond what apple does today. It saddens me.

Excerpt from the original article:

“One would expect that some fairly specialised technology would be required to produce a twin-tape Walkman, so it comes as a slight disappointment that the WM-W800 was constructed fairly simply, by mounting two WM-10 type mechanisms back to back. The extra electronics required for recording meant that the sub-cassette sized folding casework was discarded, but otherwise the mechanism was remarkably unaltered. The recording deck obviously required an erase head, and this was accommodated by making the record/playback head half the normal length and mounting a small permanent magnet in the space ahead of it. This magnet only hinged down during recording mode. Other additions included a mechanical interlock to sense the erase-protection tabs of cassettes and a simple pause control for the recording deck (B). This worked electrically by switching off the motor.

The recording circuits required more power than those for playback only, and so two “AA” batteries were used instead of the usual one for the other WM-10 based models. Each battery was housed in the usual place next to the heads, with one on each side of the machine. They were accessed by unclipping the trim around the tape transport buttons.

The playback deck (A) was fully featured, as one would expect. It could use normal, chrome and metal tapes and included Dolby B noise reduction. Deck B, which could play back as well as record, was more basic and could use only ferric tape. In addition, there was no noise reduction. This was not as limiting as it would at first appear, for it was in theory possible to copy a Dolby encoded tape with the noise reduction characteristic relatively intact by replaying and recording without Dolby. Providing that that heads were well adjusted and that the tape suited the recorder, this would result in a very similar copy, which would play correctly when the Dolby B NR system was used. This may seem an odd scheme, but it was used successfully even in larger Sony tape decks and music centres.
The WM-W800 could make reasonably good tape copies and worked well given its very compact size. It was however very expensive when compared to normal Walkmans or double-cassette stereo radio recorders and did not work as well as a double cassette deck, as so was of specialist interest only and not a large seller. There were no further double cassette models in the Walkman range.”

 

[Subbu68]

Till now my favourite has been this. How could someone put so much engineering in a walkman. Beats me. Just looking at it makes me wonder the passon Sony engineers had during those times. Sony now is a very sorry figure compared to those times. This is far beyond what apple does today. It saddens me.

Unconventional Audio Designs!

SONY PS-F9 (1983) This is as close as Sony ever got to producing a Walkman for LP records and 45 rpm singles. The bulk and sensitivity to shock made the medium unsuitable for mobile use but the PS-F9 was nevertheless battery operated and played through stereo headphones, making it a clear member...

www.hifivision.com

View attachment 69672

+1 ... Was sitting with open mouth for a moment. It is nearly my whole Yamaha deck that is occupying a whole compartment of my TV stand and more... Portable, inbuilt mic, battery.

 

[Hiten]

Till now my favourite has been this. How could someone put so much engineering in a walkman.

If you like walkmans the go to model is Sony WM-D6. Imagine walkman having Headphone, Mic, Recording, Recordinglevel, Level Meters (LEDs), Chrome Metal Normal cassettes settings, Quartz motor control and dolby noise reduction.
Details LINK
Regards
Addition : It has mechanical tape counter too.