19 December 2017

PHILIPS Black Tulip - The Rack Systems

PHILIPS BLACK TULIP

The first rack system for the PHILIPS Black Tulip components was the PHILIPS LFD 4819 metal rack from 1979. For this version there was a small LFD 4803 rack module where all the components were mounted then the whole rack module was inserted into the LFD 4819 metal rack. Soon after this rack system was replaced by the 800 Series Metal Rack built in 4 different versions. These were modules specifically designed for components or various component and vinyl archiving modules with glass door. The 800 Series had the following components: AH 008/00 - AH 008/01 - AH 008/02 - AH 008/03.

PHILIPS LFD 4819
PHILIPS LFD 4819 

PHILIPS BLACK TULIP
PHILIPS LFD 4803 module

PHILIPS AH 008/00
 PHILIPS AH 008/00

PHILIPS AH 008/00
PHILIPS AH 008/00 + AH 008/01

PHILIPS AH 008/00 + AH 008/01

PHILIPS AH 008/00
PHILIPS AH 008/00

PHILIPS AH 008/00 + AH 008/01
PHILIPS AH 008/00 + AH 008/01

PHILIPS BLACK TULIP
PHILIPS BLACK TULIP


More PHILIPS Black Tulip components.......in Silver, here and here.




12 December 2017

15 Designer Racks - More Then Audio.

KODO by Joachim B. Stanitzek for BLAUPUNKT 1988
KODO by Joachim B. Stanitzek for BLAUPUNKT 1988

Normally when we say audio rack we think of a simple piece of furniture with shelves and wheels or a more "profesional" system holding components via front panel mounting screws. There were however some exceptions as well, with manufacturers asking artists or designers to come up with unique concepts for audio storage. Below you can see a selection of such concepts initiated by manufacturers like BLAUPUNKT or PHILIPS. 

BLAUPUNKT had collaborated with Joachim B. Stanitzek, Susanne Neubohn, Christian Schneider-Moll and furniture manufacturer interlübke. PHILIPS had collaborated with world famous designers like Ettore Sottsass (founder Memphis Group) or Andrée Putman.

In some cases there were in house creations as well like the ones from PHILIPS, SONY or by Jakob Jensen as Bang&Olufsen designer.

Joachim Stanitzek, Media Component Holder BG-1, 1988-1989
Joachim Stanitzek, Media Component Holder BG-1, 1988-1989

Vis-ä-Vis by Susanne Neubohn for BLAUPUNKT 1987
Vis-ä-Vis by Susanne Neubohn for BLAUPUNKT 1987

Baobab by Christian Scnaider-Moll for BLAUPUNKT 1988
Baobab by Christian Scnaider-Moll for BLAUPUNKT 1988

interlübke Caddy RO 63 for BLAUPUNKT 1988
interlübke Caddy RO 63 for BLAUPUNKT 1988

interlübke for BLAUPUNKT 1988
interlübke for BLAUPUNKT 1988

PHILIPS 1998
PHILIPS 1998

Ettore Sottsass PHILIPS Design Edtion No.2 1994
Ettore Sottsass PHILIPS Design Edtion No.2 1994

Mediathek Andrée Putman PHILIPS 1994
Mediathek by Andrée Putman PHILIPS 1994

PHILIPS R 900 for Series 900 components 1994
PHILIPS R 900 for Series 900 components 1994

sony 1998
SONY 1998

sony 1998
SONY 1998

Sony 1993
SONY 1993

ATTYCA 1 by Jakob Jensen  Bang&Olufsen 1986
ATTYCA 1 by Jakob Jensen  Bang&Olufsen 1986

Studio Metamorfosi office by Studio Alchimia  1984
Studio Metamorfosi office by Studio Alchimia  1984


05 December 2017

7 Cassette Decks....Then They Were Vertical

akai
AKAI on the wall - 1974

When we say Cassette deck we normally think of a square box of a component that can be stacked one on each other. This was not however always the case. In the 70's some manufacturers tried a different approach by promoting vertical standing models that can be wall mounted or simply standing next to a tape recorder - like the big boys. Here is a selection of vertical standing cassette decks by various manufacturers.


akai gxc-510d 1974
AKAI GXC-510D 1974

aurex pc-6030 1976
Aurex (TOSHIBA) PC-6030 1976

denon dr750 1977
DENON DR750 1977

nakamichi 700 1973
Nakamichi 700 1973

PHILIPS N2521 1977
PHILIPS N2521 1977

teac a-860 1976
TEAC A-860 1976

tandberg TCD 330 1977
TANDBERG TCD 330 (right) 1977

For More Cassette Deck click here.

21 November 2017

Classic Amplifiers - Big, Bigger, Biggest.

This is an (incomplete) selection of some of the biggest amplifiers built. These models are either unusually large or unusually powerful thus taking us by surprise.

AKAI DA-A9500 (1989)
AKAI DA-A9500 (1989)

DENON POA-1000B (1976)
DENON POA-1000B (1976)

JVC JM-S1000 (1975)
JVC JM-S1000 (1975)

ONKYO Grand Integra M-510 (1984)
ONKYO Grand Integra M-510 (1984)

ROTEL RB-5000 (1978)
ROTEL RB-5000 (1978)

Technics SE-A1 (1977)
Technics SE-A1 (1977)

YAMAHA MX-10000 (1987)
YAMAHA MX-10000 (1987)


21 October 2017

The PIONEER JA-R2S Professional Rack - 1977

PIONEER JA-R2S
PIONEER Professional Metal Rack System

In 1977 PIONEER introduced two metalic rack systems, the JA-R2S and the smaller JA-R1A. These two beautiful mobile audio rack systems were designed to conform to EIA standards. EIA stands for Electronic Industries Association of America and its standards are recognized all over the world. Most PIONEER components built up to 1981 could be fitted in these mobile audio racks. Various components were built with front panel integrated rack mounting ears like pre-power amplifier combinations Spec 1, Spec 2, Spec 3, Spec4 and tape recorder models RT-701, RT-707 and RT-909. PIONEER audio components with panels that do not conform to EIA standards could still be mounted using various adapters like the JA-R101, JA-R102 and JA-R104. Rack dimensions are (mm): JA-R2S 514(W) x 1140(H) x 534(D) - JA-R1A 514(W) x 1006(H) x 534(D) 

PIONEER JA-R2S
PIONEER JA-R2S

PIONEER JA-R2S
PIONEER JA-R1A

PIONEER JA-R2S
PIONEER SPEC1 SPEC2

PIONEER JA-R2S

PIONEER JA-R2S

PIONEER JA-R2S
PIONEER rack ears
In the end you can say that an audio dream comes true with a superb system like this.

PIONEER JA-R2S
PIONEER Dream





07 October 2017

JAMO ORIEL - The Sound of Excellence

jamo oriel
JAMO ORIEL

Jacobsen + Mortensen = JAMO. The famous loudspeaker manufacturer was founded in 1968 in Denmark by Preben Jacobsen and Julius Mortensen. In 1992 they have introduced the JAMO ORIEL, a monumental 1.78 m high and 72 kg loudspeaker. Each pair was handmade to order with an engraved plate of the owner. The JAMO ORIEL is a 3 way bass reflex loudpeaker with two 8" (205 mm) woofer sitting inside of the cabinet, a 6 1/2" (165 mm) KEVLAR cone midrange and a 28 mm dome tweeter. The frequency range is 20-22000 Hz while the recommended amplifier rating is 70 - 300 W. The whole "stucture" was placed on a concrete base plate with spikes included. 

jamo oriel
JAMO ORIEL internals

jamo oriel
JAMO ORIEL components