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I wondered what the deal was with these 3000-in-1 retro consoles...so I bought one.
With these Bluetooth headphones you can be aware of your surroundings and listen to your audio at the same time.
A look at the Bone Fone. The 'bone conduction' AM/FM Radio from 1979.
Another look back at one of the tape recorders frequently used in the Mission Impossible TV Series - The Craig 212
Video Studio Lights have improved significantly since I bought my last set - so it's high time I replace my bulky CFLs with affordable compact LED Panels
A look at a HiFi component TV - a category that reached its brief zenith in the late 1970s
REGARDING THE RE-UPLOAD OF THIS VIDEO
My apologies for the re-up - For some bizarre reason Youtube decided to de-sync the audio from the video after the original upload had been working fine for three days. This meant that viewers using Chrome experienced a 6 second delay between the audio and the video after 5:35 into the video.
A two-in-one video in which I buy the Ruark R4 Mk3, an expensive all-in-one HiFi to see if it's worth the price and in the process I lament about the current state of Digital Radio (DAB) in the UK.
A quick extra video about something that arrived in the post.
A review of a WENA Wrist Pro Smart Watch Band imported From Japan. The connected watch strap that turns a standard watch into a smartwatch. Gain some smartwatch functionality while still being able to wear a traditional watch.
Today I'm taking a look at a beautiful piece of late 1950's miniaturisation. A record player you could fit in a (big) pocket, The Wondergram.
A few people requested that I post this segment as as a stand-alone video, it was originally part of this Hi-Fi review: https://youtu.be/UaIFy4uvyfA
Trying a few different vinyl record cleaning solutions - including pressure-washing a particularly troublesome disc.
A look at the new range of Mini Showa Retro Consumer Electronic toys from T-ARTS in Japan
When is a cassette not a Cassette? When it's a DC International Cassette. The odd tale of a Philips' project that turned against them.
A couple of Hi-Fi upgrades/side-grades - The Goldring E3 MM Turntable Cartridge & Cambridge Audio Alva Duo Phono Stage
This video is split into two sections: Review @ 00:00 Settings @ 23:11
The DJI Osmo pocket is a very niche camera
The Pioneer PL-88FS (circa 1984) was supposed to be one of the better quality drawer loading record players. However that was 35 years ago and this turntable has had a hard life.
A look at some Digital Compact Cassette rarities and more information about those non-existent lyrics.
VHD was a home videodisc format never launched to the public outside of Japan. However it was funded by a UK company and was due to come out here in 1982. This is the story of VHD in the UK featuring early demo footage and rare PAL discs.
A look at three audio level meters - one old, two new.
An eye-catching display that looks like something out of Blade Runner.
Testing new speakers with a built in phono preamp & taking a good look at a classic Technics SL6 turntable.
In 1982 the US nearly got a third video disc system - nearly.
A single cassette tape might not be your first choice for playing hours of background music - but it was possible.
If you like to see your music - here are some more options.
If something is broken there’s little to lose but much to gain by attempting a repair - even when I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.
The first and the last of Technics' 1980s compact track-selector linear-tracking turntables. Side by side and head to head.
The trouble with triples.
The Schaub Lorenz 5001 Music Centres were ahead of their time, expensive and a failure. Fifty years on, surviving examples often hold a unique piece of the past
A dash-cam built in to a traditional rear view mirror could be a good idea, but when it replaces the mirror with a video display, it just doesn’t work with my eyes. In the video I explain the issues. If you don’t agree then buy one - that’s fine, you be you, but I’ll be steering clear.
The Tanashin-originated cassette deck mechanism is used in both the most expensive new cassette decks and junk like this Aldi boombox. It is a low end mechanism, a hangover from budget boomboxes of the past, but for better or worse its also the last mech standing and with a bit of care can be implemented far better than this.
The Apollo 11 moon landing encounters the Philips UFO.
Depending upon what source you read, the date for the introduction of the Philips UFO turntable might vary. Multiple sources indicate that the design was done by Patrice Dupont in 1969 - these include https://sound-of-design.de/en/node/188 - and the book “L'utopie du tout plastique : 1960-1973”. However other online sources state the GF303 was manufactured from 1972-1974. Irrespective of which one is correct, it’s irrefutably a classic space-age design.
July 1969 Man landed on the moon.
July 1979 Sony released the Walkman.
Sony’s TC-50 from 1968 connects these events.
Deja-vu time with the return of the triple deck boombox.
Testing a Nobsound Tone mini amplifier with a new EQ and some old ball speakers. The good(ish) the bad and the ugly (not necessarily in that order).
A look at a prototype of the new IN-9 Nixie tube spectrum analyzer from Mr Nixie.
Available as a kit or pre-assembled via Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nt-smd-rgb/audio-spectrum-analyzer-with-in-9-tubes-called-nixielyzer
1984's smartest phone - The STC 3910 Executel. A desktop information device that looks straight out of Blade Runner. Futuristic in concept, yet very much a product of its time.
When is a cassette not a cassette?
Looking at a couple of music releases on Computer/Game Cartridges
Against the odds Nixie tubes are being manufactured again. In this video I look at the new ZIN18 tubes and clock from Millclock.
Square Off - the app-connected computer chess board that moves its own pieces.
Thanks to a helpful viewer I now own the machine that plays some background music cartridges I bought years ago.
I needed a new Digital Audio Player (DAP) so imported an Activo CT10 from Japan - here's a review.
A few of the Sega Saturn themed versions might still be available on Amazon Japan -
For thirty years I’ve wondered what this ‘80s laser music visualiser looked like in action. Now I finally get to find out - and also discover the surprising secrets of the ingenious internals.
Sansui made some brilliant HiFi components - this wasn't one of them.
Also featuring a final word on the Laser Turntable and the fate of Sansui in the 21st century.
A look at the Handi-Cassette II a specialised machine for playing magazines and books from tape - and possibly creating Vaporwave.
See the new review of a re-engineered Gixie clock here: https://youtu.be/IuOxfHF-azs
Remember the Cronixie clock kit I assembled a while ago? - https://youtu.be/miqN2gR1Zns Here’s the Gixie clock - It's similar but ready-made and this one encloses its edge-lit acrylic digit panels inside tubes. Whilst the idea definitely has merit, the implementation on this early production version has more than a few issues.
Once upon a time the 45 and the LP were rival formats.
This video tells the story how RCAs beef with Columbia ended up shaping the future of popular music.
This is a video about the Format War of 1949. Things like 12" 45s, 45 RPM Albums, EPs, 16rpm records, styrene singles and 45s with a raised stepped ridge around the centre that aids grip when stacked don't feature in this story because they were introduced after the conclusion of this particular story.
Regarding the question posed at the end - a few people have mentioned that the record players in their country had single adaptors. This was not unusual. I've demonstrated a few turntables on this channel with the built-in 45 adaptors. If your turntable didn't have a built in adaptor - you could buy one. However that's the result - not the cause. The records came first - the players accommodated the type of records sold in that country. A country could have chosen to go with small or large holes - the decision on which way they went was the thing of interest - what was the common denominator? Why was a large spindle hole chosen in Germany, but a small one in the UK?
We think we have an answer - it seems that Commonwealth countries went with the small hole and countries with a US armed forces presence after the war were more inclined towards the large hole. However if you know any other info on this - please share.
I've received the all-new re-engineered replacement for my Gixie Clock - here's a full review.
The Gixie is a digital clock that displays time using six removable glass tubes containing etched acrylic panels edge-lit by multicolour LEDs.
A review of the 2019 Digital Media Player from Sony.
The 40th Anniversary Walkman which comes with a retro carrying case and sports a fun cassette visualiser. It's the Walkman reimagined for a Streaming Music generation.
If you need bone conducting headphones, the new Aftershokz Aeropex are the ones to get.
Sony occasionally repurposed the Walkman cassette mechanisms for devices like this impressive do-it-all travel companion for the international (walk)man of mystery. Suitable for carrying in a briefcase, recording meetings and voice memos, working as an alarm clock, catching up on news from back home and listening to stereo music cassettes on the plane.
UPDATE: I noticed in the closeups that a few parts of the Walkman needed another clean - so after the video was edited I’ve gone back and done this. Specifically there’s a bit of belt residue that you can see on the tape door in some shots. That stuff gets everywhere - you’ll also see it on my fingers in the review of the 40th Anniversary Walkman.
It seems I have a bit of a dinking problem.
I guess I’m just not cut out to be a professional dinker. We can’t all live the dinking dream. It’ll no doubt leave a big hole in my life.
I was sent the new Kodak Smile Classic Instant Digital camera - here's my video about it.
A look at some of 2019’s interesting and unusual music releases on physical formats. A physical release might not be necessary - but it's often being used as a way to promote music to a wider audience.
Links to things shown in the video:
Eye catching records by Richard Houghten
https://bloomypetal.bandcamp.com
Bytes of Sound by Rob Dimeo
https://www.robdimeomusic.com/market
DCC - Run Girl Run by Angela Lashley
https://www.dccmuseum.com/cassettes
DCC Documentary
https://youtu.be/TIzU5K76gBA
Minidisc Duplication & UV Printing
https://www.bandcds.co.uk
Tapeline - custom wound tapes
https://tapeline.info/v2/
Recordable ‘Laserdisc’ wasn’t sold to the public but really did exist and I've got one to show you.
This video features Sony CRVdisc - a 12" Recordable Laser Videodisc system designed for professional use. Destined to be thrown away in a skip* but rescued for one last job.
