Thrifted Hi-Fi

Last time, the Altec 753Cs were driven by my Resto-mod Magnavox 8601 amp. In the spirit of my Vintage Japanese Drivers page from my old website, the same amp will now be used in the context of audio components and speakers I found in flea markets, thrift stores and yard sales + some DIY added to the mix.

Sonic 8" 

The ported cabinet measures 18.5" H x 11.5" W x 8.25" D or approximately 0.6 cf internal volume.

Although not quite as special as the Lafayette SK98/Pioneer PIM8L, these 8" wide range drivers are quite efficient and don't exhibit upper midrange harshness. All they needed was some added snap and top end shimmer.

Jensen P35 VAH

Inspired by my Fulton FMI 80 adventures, the Sonic 8" wide range drivers were augmented on top via 0.47µf paper in oil caps connected in series to a pair of Jensen P35 paper cone/alnico tweeters pulled out of an old Heath AS10 cabinet.

A Wes Montgomery track scanned by the JVC XL V-75 CD player, DIY 10K ALPs passive preamp, Resto-mod Magnavox 8601 and the Sonic 8" + P35VAH 

Lafayette Criterion 222

The Criterion 222 is a late 70s Japanese OEM 2-way paper cone/ferrite magnet speaker for Lafayette Radio.

Since this was intended as an entry-level model, cost cutting was achieved by stuffing decent quality drivers in a sealed Lilliputian cabinet.

That 2" paper cone tweeter reminds me of a Peerless MT225. The 8" pleated paper cone/ferrite magnet woofer was wired in wide range mode and with the help of the aforementioned tweeter, the combo sounds quite snappy! 

These drivers should be rescued from their miserable cabinet and mounted in an open baffle or the Silbatone box to maximize their potential.

Aside from an ensemble of acoustic instruments, I also include vocal tracks to assess midrange reproduction. The perceptible lack of bass is due to a cabinet specified by bean counters. However, the Criterion 222's potential, especially in the midrange, is still evident in this Adam Levine soundtrack spinning on an 80s multi-bit Fisher AD970 CD player, DIY 10K ALPs passive preamp + Resto-mod Magnavox 8601.

Lafayette 2001+

A vented cabinet + horn tweeter are usually telltale signs of high efficiency so I just had to take this pair home after spotting them at a nearby thrift store. This picture was taken as soon as I unloaded them from my car. I wanted to make sure the drivers weren't fried before I invested more precious time cleaning all that vintage dust and mildew.

Removing the potentiometer panel revealed a simple first order crossover for both high frequency drivers, while the 10" woofer is configured to function in wide range mode. I typically don't endorse wholesale capacitor replacement but the non-polarized electrolytic caps were dry according to my capacitance meter, so I replaced them. I cleaned the pots with DeoxIT so I could play around with using just the woofer + horn, woofer + cone tweet or woofer + both HF drivers. This speaker system can also be utilized as a test bed for capacitor rollers.😉

After pulling out the drivers for cleaning, I saw a rather elaborate bass ducting scheme, which produced better low frequency extension than my Altec Madera and is easier to drive. Even if these Japanese drivers are almost 50 years old, the foam surround on the 10" woofer showed no signs of deterioration. Although the 10" woofer/mid isn't a threat to the Altec 406Z or 406-8Y, the Foster horn gives the Heppner horn used in the Altec Bolero and Madera a good run for the money.  OTOH, despite the lack of annoying spit and sizzle, the ring tweeter isn't as sweet and airy as the Jensen P35VAH or the Peerless MT225 in the FMI 80.

from page 20 of the Lafayette 1977 Catalog 

This Japanese design is a musically proficient and very affordable stepping stone into high sensitivity speakers for those who have just become enamored by flea powered triode amps.

This video was taken before I handed over the TDA 1543A DAC chip'd Sony CDP291 featured in this clip to my buddy John P. who's starting to build a CD collection. It's very similar to the CDP190 I featured in my thrift store CD player article years ago.

Adcom GFT-1

It's been a while since I posted about FM tuners. Back in the 80s, the cheapest way to hifi software was via airwaves because it was FREE! Meanwhile, quality FM programming and broadcasting has been deteriorating since and used tuner prices are on a free fall. Fortunately, using a garage attic-mounted Winegard HD-6010 antenna, I can still pull four quality stations in my area - WPRB, WRTI, WWFM and WXPN. Hence, I can justify skipping a value meal to get a taste of this early 80s Adcom GFT-1.

The GFT-1 tuned to WPRB!

Realistic LAB 2200

By the time this turntable was introduced by Radio Shack in 1987, I was proudly spinning a modified AR turntable with Merrill components + a Sumiko FT-3 tonearm fitted with a Grado Signature 8MR cartridge for my audio buddies. Meanwhile, I also had just discovered the sonic superiority of the Thorens TD124-II hidden in the closet. So upon seeing this linear tracker relic, I parted with 40 bucks + tax to find out what mere mortals were hearing during that era.

Before playing an LP, I inspected the cartridge - cantilever is perfectly aligned. Then I took out my USB microscope to check the condition of the stylus. As the picture shows, it's in good shape. It's also my favorite conical profile that's gentler on the grooves and ideal on a linear tracker wherein there's absolutely no adjustment available to the user.

from page 20 of the 1987 Radio Shack Catalog

Precision, it ain't...as a DIYer, I derive more pleasure from the minimalist AR-XA or any of my refurbished Japanese idler drives + vintage 9-10" tonearm. But for people who aren't DIY inclined and require plug 'n play, this 80s turntable innovation is well worth considering!

Here's the Realistic LAB-2200 + P-mount Audio-Technica magnetic cartridge tracking an 80s New Wave tune, Realistic 42-2109 phono preamp, 42-2112 audio source selector, DIY 10K volume control, Resto-mod Magnavox 8601 driving Lafayette 2001+ speakers!

None of these components will ever attain the legendary status of a WE/Altec 755A, Garrard 301 or even a Philips TDA1541-based CD player but it's still a path to enjoy music on a budget.😊