Bill Gates ex-girlfriend's HiFi?

[restorer-john]

So, I was reading the news and decided to search this Ann Winblad (Bill's ex apparently)

And here's a few pics from back in the day.

Immediately noticed the RTR speakers and the Apple Macintosh in the background!

Another shot, and the Macintosh has disappeared and she's leaning on the speakers. She must have been a HiFi nut.

Extra points if you can ID the reciever and the turntable.

 

[Mart68]

computer, telephone and a hi-fi.

Furniture? No need for that, complete waste of money.

 

[Andysu]

Snob toffs and no a single JBL 4675A THX? This was mid 80's and no JBL 4675A I guess poor gates is really poor after all.

 

[restorer-john]

The receiver is a mystery to me. It has angled metal end cheeks like Accuphase or early Kenwood, but a Sansui-like large dial height. Not sure what it is.

edit here it is, a 771:

 

[restorer-john]

With a dustcover that tall, it's likely a changer/stacker turntable. Could be anything in that case.

 

[DSJR]

The deck may be a Dual in US made base, but not sure with cover on an dno means of 'enhancing' the pic..

 

[boswell]

Good work on the Sansui

Once Bill found out she had a Mac it was all over!!

Macintoshes were out mid 80s and were there for a long time, keyboard looks really early though, clunky

i doubt you can identify TT

 

[Bart]

This one looks quite a bit like it, also the cover (about the right height, little spot with possibly the Dual logo in the middle).

 

[Jmsent]

This one looks quite a bit like it, also the cover (about the right height, little spot with possibly the Dual logo in the middle).

It is a Dual turntable for sure. Which one is anyone's guess. The straight sides on the wood base, instead of inward slanted, indicate either a higher end unit like the 1219, or an older unit, like the 1019. The receiver is definitely a Sansui, anything from a 661 to an 881.

 

[restorer-john]

This one looks quite a bit like it, also the cover (about the right height, little spot with possibly the Dual logo in the middle).

I reckon you have got it. Maybe the same base with a changer or the cover was used for both changers and "normal" arm/mech TTs.

You get the bonus points!

 

[Bart]

I reckon you have got it. Maybe the same base with a changer or the cover was used for both changers and "normal" arm/mech TTs.

You get the bonus points!

Cheers
Similar models didn't have the dark stripe in the plinth also running through at the sides.
But I know nothing about turntables, let that be clear.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

The receiver is a mystery to me. It has angled metal end cheeks like Accuphase or early Kenwood, but a Sansui-like large dial height. Not sure what it is.

edit here it is, a 771:

View attachment 130199

Actually it looks like a Kenwood to me. With all that money, dontcha think he coulda at least paid to fix her teeth?

 

[GGroch]

Dual 1218 with a United Audio branded base I think.

Retailers made a good bit more profit on the cartridge/base/cover than they did on the table in those days.

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

computer, telephone and a hi-fi.

Furniture? No need for that, complete waste of money.

And some books and other reading material too apparently.

 

[charleski]

computer, telephone and a hi-fi.

Furniture? No need for that, complete waste of money.

I think most people will be familiar with this example of Zen purity:

Best guess is that the speakers were Acoustat Model 3s with a custom white grill cloth

 

[RayDunzl]

My house in The Woodlands had

A stuffed chair and stereo in the living room

A dinette in the dining room

A picnic table in the kitchen

A TV and a couple of Lawn Chairs in the family room

A bed

A desk and computer

That's it.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Snob toffs and no a single JBL 4675A THX? This was mid 80's and no JBL 4675A I guess poor gates is really poor after all.

Me, I would have expected an Infinity IRS, big Jadis tube monoblocks, and SP 11, and a Goldmund Reference TT with linear traacking arm with Koetsu Rosewood cardridge. Being Bill Gates' GF should have had its perks.

 

[Mart68]

He's not even bought her a chair to sit in the poor girl, I think a high end hi-fi might have been fairly far down her wish list.

'Bill please! Just give me twenty bucks I'll buy a sofa from the charity shop!'

'Sorry love, I've left my wallet in my other coat.'

 

[JeffS7444]

Pretty sure the Winblad photos depict exactly what she wanted to depict, and although casual, someone took the time to bring in decent lighting.

 

[Soniclife]

Clint Eastwood in 59. I'm starting to wonder when sitting in chairs to listen to music was invented.