GRUNDIG RPC-450 (1978) | HiFi Studio

 

The Grundig HiFi Studio RPC 450 was one of the flagship all-in-one hi-fi music systems of its era, combining premium audio performance with advanced features and elegant styling. Designed as a true high-end integrated system, it brought together a powerful stereo receiver, automatic direct-drive turntable, Dolby-equipped cassette deck, and matching three-way speakers, delivering performance comparable to separate hi-fi components. A standout feature was its digital frequency display, which precisely indicated the tuned radio frequency and, on FM, could also display the selected station channel for exceptionally accurate tuning. At the heart of the system is a powerful receiver and amplifier section rated at 2 x 50 watts music power (2 x 30 watts RMS), featuring 18 touch-sensitive controls for convenient operation and reception across FM, MW, and LW wavebands. The integrated Dual 491 A automatic turntable is equipped with a direct-drive motor, an S-shaped tonearm, anti-skating adjustment, cueing lever, illuminated stroboscope, and a Shure DM 95 G magnetic cartridge, providing outstanding tracking accuracy and stable playback. The built-in hi-fi cassette deck complements the system with Dolby Noise Reduction, Variable Fade Technology (VAT), automatic stereo recording, a three-position tape selector for all cassette formulations, and a memory tape counter for added convenience. Completing the package are the Grundig HiFi Speaker 850, professional three-way loudspeakers featuring a woofer, dome midrange, and dome tweeter housed in stylish cabinets with removable grilles. Rated at 80 watts music power (50 watts nominal) with a frequency response extending down to 35 Hz and up to 26 kHz, they provide dynamic, full-range sound. Available in walnut, graphite metallic, or metallic light finishes, these speakers perfectly complement the sophisticated design and exceptional performance of the Grundig HiFi Studio RPC 450.

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Bang&Olufsen Beocenter 2002 (1983)

 

From the 1001 Hi-Fi Collection here's another iconic music center. The Beocenter 2002 presented here was introduced in 1983 as an upgraded model (Metal tape compatibility) of the previous Beocenter 2000 from 1979. The Beocenter 2002 consists of a 2x25 watt RMS stereo amplifier, an FM receiver with 5 preset stations, an AM/LW receiver, an automatic turntable, and a hi-fi cassette deck. Despite its many features and functions, the Beocenter 2002 is an extremely compact music system and therefore poses no space problem even in the smallest room. This was also...Read More Here

SALORA Hi-Fi Stereo 6600 (1979)

 

A big music center from Finland. The Salora was introduced in 1979 and it was the best music center Salora built. Hi-fi-class performance values ​​in all parts. Compared to a stereo system of the same level assembled from separate units, it has overwhelming advantages: the different units of the device fit together in the best possible way (there is no weak link). The music center saves space and is very affordable for its quality. Powerful amplifier: 2 x 50 W music (2 x 35 W sine), wide playback range, low distortion values ​​and high signal-to-noise ratio. Tuner has FM and medium wavelengths, accurate in quick selections. Excellent sensitivity and selectivity. Protection against external interference. The turntable section is direct-drive and features a damped tonearm lifting and lowering mechanism, an illuminated strobe for adjusting the speed, and an elliptical diamond stylus. Cassette recorder features the latest technology: two motors, electronic control system, excellent hi-fi values, playback range 30-18,000 Hz, logic control that prevents malfunctions, switch for three tape types (normal, FeCr, chrome) and remote control option. Matching speaker are the KS-430 (woofer 245mm, midrange and tweeter are dome type, power handling 90W music/55W sinus). The design team for the SALORA HIFI STEREO 6600 was lead by chief designer Erkka Sointula while the exterior was designed by Jorma Pitkonen. Aproximately 6.000 units are known to be manufactured. Size: 65x20x37 cm (W/H/D) | Weight: 16kg

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SHARP SC-8000 (1979) | Computer Controlled

 

The computer that revolutionized tape decks is now about to revolutionize stereo systems. With Sharp's SC-8000. The world's most complete music center. With computer control of the most dazzling collection of features and functions of any other system on the market. Sharp's SC-8000 is a computerized receiver/cassette deck that you can actually program to suit your musical preferences. Take control of your music with Sharp's exclusive computer. The mastermind of the system is Sharp's famous computer, built right into the deck. It controls Sharp's exclusive Auto Program Locate Device. With it you can program the SC-8000 to skip ahead or back to any song you prefer (up to 19 songs) and play or replay them automatically. You can even set any point on the cassette as the "beginning." Specs and features that will impress your ears-and your friends. Electronic Tape and Second Counting tell you how much tape or time you have left. And a built-in digital quartz clock displays timed-programming operations and acts as a timing device. Allowing you to program the SC-8000 for automatic record-ing from any source at any pre-selected time and then switch itself off. Sharp's SC-8000 also insures that you won't miss any of the highs, lows or anything in between. The deck touts a low 0.06% wow and flutter, frequency response of 40-14,000Hz (±3dB) for ferrichrome tape and 62dB signal-to-noise ratio (Dolby on). Sharp completes the ultimate music center. The SC-8000 is available as a total music system with the addition of a highly reliable belt-driven automatic turntable with a low mass "S" shaped tonearm and two Sharp Tri-Bass Accelerator speakers. So you can bring all this wonderful music vibrantly to life. 

DUAL KA-380 (1979) | Compact Hi-Fi

The KA-380 is a compact Hi-Fi system made by Dual in Germany, 1979. This was the top model of the range and it features a modular construction. This means that the built-in cassette recorder is the same as the Dual 819 cassette deck featuring LED level indicators and separate level adjustment for microphone and source components. It can handle Normal, Chrome and FeCr tapes being factory optimised for BASF Super LH, BASF Chrom-Super and BASF Ferrochrom. The built-in turntable is the Dual 622. This is a fully automatic direct drive model with Dual's unique U.L.M. (Ultra Low Mass) tonearm and Ortofon 55E cartridge with elliptical needle. The tuner section is a Quartz-stabilized digital tuner with 4 wavebands and 7 FM memories with touch-sensor program selector. Power rating of the amplifier section is 2x40 Watt Sinus DIN. The recommended HiFi speakers were: Dual CL 720, CL 710 or CL 271. Dimensions: 650 x 205 x 400 mm (W x H x D). Original sale price without loudspeakers: 2.298 DM in Germany.

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Music Center

 

TELEFUNKEN studio center 5030 hifi (1977)

 

In terms of sound quality and electronic ingenuity, Telefunken's Studio Center 5030 HiFi offers just about everything a critical listener could wish for. An output power of 2 x 50 Watt (music power). A frequency range of 20-20,000 Hertz. A distortion factor of at most 0.5%. The belt-drive record player, with 16-pole synchronous motor, is fully automatic. The cassette unit with IC Dolby processor and many interesting recording options can be operated at the touch of a button. The 5030 was advertised as The World's First totally modular construction system with hundreds of components and circuit elements combined in a few plug-in modules. Each of them forms a closed functional unit. The result: HiFi technology has never been so reliable, easy to service and future-proof. Display instruments feature new LED technology. The 7 FM preset stations can be selected via touch sensors. Size (WxHxD) 706x193x396mm. Original sale price: 1847 DM in Germany.

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Music Center

YAMAHA MS-8 (1979) | All in One

All in one? Okay! But it has to be perfect, thought Yamaha, and developed a revolutionary music centre. The Yamaha MS-8 music centre consist of a cassette deck, turntable and tuner/amplifier. All in one. Can be used independently, but also in combination with each other. Let's review the key features of this combination. The Cassette deck: Masterful recording in an easy way. You can record radio programs and your favorite LPs directly. Without complicated tricks. A push of a button is enough. You just have to pay attention to the type of cassette you are using. Because for that you have to push a separate button. Not to make it complicated but to get the best possible recording. The Record player: Fully automatic. A four-pole synchronized motor drives the aluminum platter and ensures a consistently correct speed. The Tuner: The use of advanced electronics provides an amazing reception. There is provision for quick and easy tuning to the usual FM stations by means of a push-button. The Amplifier: The MS-8 delivers 28 watts/ch (40W/ch DIN 4ohm) with a harmonic distortion of only 0.1%. Original sale price was 2398 DM in Germany.

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Classic Music Centre

 

 

SABA ULTRA HiFi-Center 9940 electronic (1978)

A popular format among German manufacturers, the ULTRA HiFi-Center 9940 electronic music center by SABA was introduced in 1978. As usual with this type of systems the turntable was sourced from Dual. This is a Dual 491 A Direct Drive model with S-shape tonearm and Audio-Technica AT 12E cartridge with elliptical stylus. The cassette recorder is a 2-motor mechanism with Direct Capstan Drive and Sendust head that can handle Normal-Chrome-FeCr tapes. Manual and automatic recording level and SNL (Saba Noise Limiter) circuit are also included. The amplifier section is specified at 55W/ch music power and 33W/ch sinus power while the radio section can receive FM-Stereo, AM, LW and SW broadcasts. Size: 745x195x435mm | Weight 18kg.

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.