hifi in the 1980's

[frikkie]

you've got another one lying around - same model?

Yep, exactly the same. Been in storage for many years, and is by now covered in a thick layer of dust, but likely to be working just fine after a clean-up.

[Steerpike]

Their advertising tagline on that was: "The music centre that can honestly call itself hi-fi".

A stereo tuner would have been pointless, since there was no stereo broadcasting in SA at that time.

[Shonver]

A stereo tuner would have been pointless, since there was no stereo broadcasting in SA at that time.

True, but I could swear that that was just when stereo tuners were coming onto the market. When did we go stereo?

[alphabet]

True, but I could swear that that was just when stereo tuners were coming onto the market. When did we go stereo?

Around 1983 and first in JHB. It was just after my eldest daughter was born and we had a "ghettoblaster" with a stereo tuner. I remember how excited I was when one morning the green stereo light came on

[frikkie]

Their advertising tagline on that was: "The music centre that can honestly call itself hi-fi".

A stereo tuner would have been pointless, since there was no stereo broadcasting in SA at that time.

Sure, but in the same era you could buy Sanyo and Blaupaunkt music centres with stereo tuners, Dolby cassette decks etc. And they were often cheaper than the Rondo.

The Rondo was miles better than any of the others though, despite its shortcomings. Had they added in those features (and supplied decent speakers), it would have been unbeatable!

[alphabet]

The Rondo was miles better than any of the others though, despite its shortcomings.

Not too sure about that. Blaaupunkt had a seperates setup at that time which was pretty good for the price. Can't remember the model, but the speakers had passive radiators - Shaun should remember the model as I think he had such a set.

[frikkie]

Not too sure about that. Blaaupunkt had a seperates setup at that time which was pretty good for the price. Can't remember the model, but the speakers had passive radiators - Shaun should remember the model as I think he had such a set.

I'm referring specifically to music centres - all-in-one's. The Blaupunkt I think you're referring to was the "1000" range - black face units IIRC. They were pretty decent actually, yes!

[JacoP]

Not too sure about that. Blaaupunkt had a seperates setup at that time which was pretty good for the price. Can't remember the model, but the speakers had passive radiators - Shaun should remember the model as I think he had such a set.

I remember those. It had an array of ten red LED's (5 per channel), which lit up and indicated the dB level. They lit up from the middle outwards, to the left and right on the face-plate. My stepfather had one. I think it was the "1000" system. A-1000 on the Amp if I remember correctly.
You bought it in a custom made rack, where each component had their own space and a compartment where you could store about 50 LP's at the bottom.
The speakers were passive radiators, with a white trim around the woofers.
It sounded excellent for its time and I remember the advert on TV as well, where they had an "interview" with this system. The system "told" the interviewer that you must hear the system to appreciate it, as playing something on TV will not reflect the true quality of sound.

Man I remember like it was yesterday... 

[alphabet]

I remember those. It had an array of ten red LED's (5 per channel), which lit up and indicated the dB level. They lit up from the middle outwards, to the left and right on the face-plate. My stepfather had one. I think it was the "1000" system. A-1000 on the Amp if I remember correctly.
You bought it in a custom made rack, where each component had their own space and a compartment where you could store about 50 LP's at the bottom.
The speakers were passive radiators, with a white trim around the woofers.
It sounded excellent for its time and I remember the advert on TV as well, where they had an "interview" with this system. The system "told" the interviewer that you must hear the system to appreciate it, as playing something on TV will not reflect the true quality of sound.

Man I remember like it was yesterday... 

Yip, that one! As I said earlier, it sounded quite impressive at the time(circa 1981-82)

[Shonver]

Not too sure about that. Blaaupunkt had a seperates setup at that time which was pretty good for the price. Can't remember the model, but the speakers had passive radiators - Shaun should remember the model as I think he had such a set.

Yes and no! 

On audition, the Blaaupunkt 1000 (black and beautiful) beat the competing Pioneer (Avante?... Rondo 2000?... don't remember). I had gone there specifically to buy (read select) the Pioneer, but had to yield to the sounds of the Blaaupunkt. Recordings done on this system were very good, with a bass authority that my friend's Rondo 3000 could not replicate. I discovered much later, when I substituted a well-reviewed Kenwood KA-70 amp into the system, that this was in fact an anomally, and that the Blaaupunkt's amp was not neutral, because the system with the Kenwood amp sounded very bright, and all that lovely bass was gone. It (B'1000) did sound good, though!

[alphabet]

and all that lovely bass was gone. It (B'1000) did sound good, though!

And at that time bass was the thing that counted I know, I could never have enough bass

[frikkie]

And at that time bass was the thing that counted I know, I could never have enough bass

Yip! My speakers at the the time were huge Pioneer CS929's - 3-ways with a 12" woofer. Those things could shake house foundations...

[Shonver]

And at that time bass was the thing that counted I know, I could never have enough bass

Amen, Bru! Where has all the bass gone? It has been replaced by detail, imaging, soundstage, dynamics  

[naughty]

i also had 2 of those rondo 3000's back in the day - terrific stuff at that time

[Neil]

yes my cousin had a blaupunkt which was identical to the pioneer kh-4455.  those were also very good, the switches were very well oiled - felt expensive and it worked like  a bomb.  who knows what the model number / s are or were?  i would also like to find that one...