In 1980…
This is what approximately $2000 worth of stereo equipment looked like:
Sure, it doesn’t look like much now, but at the time (with the exception of the speakers) it was state-of-the-art stuff.
- Stax SR-40 electrostatic headphones ($120)
- Technics SE-C01 power amp ($360)
- Technics SU-C01 control amp ($260)
- Technics ST-C01 tuner ($260)
- Technics SL-1300Mk2 turntable ($490)
- ADC ZLM phono cartridge ($135)
- Infinity 1001A Loudspeakers (not shown) ($149 ea.)
The only items I still have are—amazingly—the speakers (woofers refoamed and cabinets resurfaced several years ago), although I did pick up another 1300Mk2 off eBay about a decade ago and still use it to spin my vinyl. I’ve also had several sets of the Micro Series components over the years, but always end up selling them because their general lack of inputs and outputs make them impractical for use as a main setup in this age of DVRs, DVDs, and the multitude of other tech that you might want to attach to your stereo.
When I Was In High School…
…I wanted one of these in the worst way. The Advent “Video Beam” projection television:
I had all but forgotten about this piece of engineering until I ran across this image on another website a few days ago and the memories came flooding back. It was another one of the wonders I saw at Jerry’s Audio all those many years ago.
Funny thing is, now I own a flat screen that’s bigger and hangs on the wall. Amazing. How quickly we lose sight of the incredible technological advances of the last 30 years.
To Be Filed Under Cool
I’ve often wondered why this hadn’t been done…
From I New Idea:
LG Display has developed a 14.1 inch LCD panel for notebook PCs that are illuminated by sunlight instead of the backlight unit (a backlight unit is an illumination source used in LCDs. It is usually made up of several fluorescent lamps, a light guide reflectors, and brightness enhancing films) when used outdoors. This is the first LCD panel to allow users to easily switch from backlight use (transmissive mode) to outdoor reflective mode with the touch of a button. The display’s outdoor energy consumption falls to one fourth the level of indoor energy consumption, providing a significant increase in battery life.
In addition, this new product resolves visibility issues with a contrast ratio exceeding 9:1 when used outdoors in reflective mode. The display’s contrast ratio ranges from just 2:1 to 3:1 for conventional notebook PCs when used outdoors, implying difficulty in viewing the screen. During CES 2009, LG Display will showcase its new 14.1 inch sunlight Illuminated LCD for notebook PCs, as well as its newest cutting-edge display technologies featuring improved motion picture response time (MPRT), eco-friendly displays and more at the Bellagio Hotel.