SHARP XL-1000 (2001)

 

Pure Elegance, this is the XL-1000H compact audio system from Sharp, introduced in 2001. It features a top loading CD player (1-bit D/A converter) with motorized door, AM-FM tuner with 30 presets and a 2x10W amplifier section. The amplifier section has bass and treble controls while at the back there is provision for...

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SONY HMK-9000 (1980) - The Commander

For those who wanted hi-fi sound without the inconvenience of having three or four separate units to be connected toghether, there was the HMK-9000 from Sony. The HMK-9000 was the top-of-the-range model with features that really do qualify it as top-quality hi-fi. The receiver section of the unit features LW, AM and FM Stereo radio with preset station memory, while the amplifier section features a 2x40 W (sinus DIN 8ohm) amplifier with bass, treble, Loudness and volume preset controls that can be used with two pairs of loudspeakers. The turntable section is no less impressive. A Direct Drive unit that is powered by Sony's revolutionary new "BSL", brushless and slotless DC motor. It's not only extremely accurate but also exceptionally reliable. Coupled with the quartz lock system, this ensures that the record platter rotates at constant speed and distortions like wow and flutter are kept to a minimum. The turntable also features stroboscope for accurate speed adjustment (when quartz control is off), touch controls located on the top panel, and is equipped with a VL-34 G cartridge. The cassette recorder section can handle all 4 tape types, it's equipped with BSL-motor, S&F (Sendust and Ferrite) head, 2x12 segment LED level meter, Music search system with LED display, Dolby noise reduction, all in a slide-out tray mechanism. There is also a built-in Digital clock that can perform timer operation of the unit. The whole system can be remote controlled with a infra-red "commander" that clips neatly into place on the front of the machine when not in use and automatically recharges, ready for the next commands. The recommended speakers for HMK-9000 are the Sony SS E50 or SS E70. Dimensions: 688x160x500 mm. | Weight: 24 kg.

WEGA Concept 51K (1978) - Compact High Fidelity

WEGA (Wuerttembergische Radio-Gesellschaft mbh) was a prestigious German company founded in 1923 that was acquired by SONY Corporation in 1975. It was in these early years that Sony had plans on launching unique "WEGA styled" hifi systems based on Sony electronics. The WEGA Concept 51K seen here was one of their more ambitious projects of this kind. Responsible for the unique design of this music centre was long time WEGA designer Hartmut Esslinger. Early designs created by Esslinger Design (later frog Design inc.) in 1976 show a prototype named "Skywalker" that featured needle type VU meters and slider controls that later developed into the final product known as the Concept 51K. 

While earlier WEGA music centers featured DUAL turntable this time it was used a SONY turntable with BSL Direct-Drive motor and S-shaped tonearm fitted with a Sony XL-15 cartridge. To the right of the fully covered turntable (featuring only an arch shaped window) we can find distinct "vertical segments" for the cassette recorder, digital tuner and amplifier. The cassette recorder section features Ferrite&Ferrite heads, normal, Fe-Cr and Chrome tape compatibility, Dolby noise reduction and LED VU meters. The tuner section is an analog tuner with digital grafic display, FM, AM and LW wavelength and 7 FM presets. On the amplifier section we will find the usual controls such as: input selector, two pairs of loudspeakers, bass, mid and treble control, low and high filter and loudness control. The power rating is 50 W/ch sinus DIN 4 ohm. There was a dedicated stand designed for this system (incorporating loudspeakers), as well as visually matching loudspeakers, the WEGA Direct model range. The system was available in black and white (in German this was called light grey). Size: 845xx133x401 mm | Original sale price: 2198 DM (Germany)

Skywalker sketch 1976

Skywalker Design Study 1976

Final Design (Hartmut Esslinger, Andreas Haug, Georg Spreng)

TOSHIBA SM-4750 (1979) - Precision Engineering

At the heart of the SM-4750 music centre from Toshiba there is a digital synthesizer tuner which guarantees absolutely accurate, drift-free tuning every time. Once you've tuned in to your favourite radio station the quartz crystal locks the tuner into the signal until you're ready for a change. No interference, and no drifting. It offers you instant pushbutton tuning on any of 4 wavebands, and the computerised memory control means you can automatically preset up to 32 of your favourite stations. The LED readout display shows you the frequency you're listening to, then reverts to a time display 5 seconds later. Toshiba claims that this kind of accurate tuning was invented by them and offered for the first time in a music centre. The SM-4750 features a 37 watts per channel at 8 ohms amplifier, and incorporates all the features you'd expect from a music reproduction centre that competes with some of the best hi-fi. The cassette recorder section can handle normal, Fe-Cr and Chrome tapes, it features Dolby nise reduction circuit and manual recording level with LED level meters. The turntable is a Direct Drive full automatic model with S-shaped tonearm and Toshiba C-290M cartridge. Dimensions:m692x210x430 mm | Weight: 20,5 kg.

ITT HC 9071, one of the biggest music center ever

One of the biggest ever music center was made by ITT in 1979.
It was a completely "feather-touch" controlled music center where everything can be remote controlled using the big "HIFI PROCESSOR" (the remote).
The picture below shows the original ITT HC 9071 that was rebadged as Graetz HMC 400 and INGELEN HMC 400.
Our museum owns the INGELEN HMC 400 that you can see HERE.

ITT HC 9071

PHILIPS arround the world.

One of our readers at 1001hifi.com asked me about this PHILIPS 22 AH 867/83 Music sytem that has no info on the web, if you make a Google search.

The story is that PHILIPS, as the largest european manufacturer of electronics in order to enter different markets with it's products bought smaller electronics companies from different countries to assemble PHILIPS products.
That's what happened with this PHILIPS 22 AH 867/83 music system that was made in Finland exclusively for northern Europe. (the /83 reffers to the country of manufacturing)

This one has an original design that was based on the PHILIPS 847 TAP music center that was marketed in western Europe in 1976.

Visit 1001hifi.com for more exclusive PHILIPS products Made in Finland.

PHILIPS 22 AH 867 / 83

PHILIPS 847 from 1976.