Design icons in the hi-fi and audio sector

[Audionaut]

A thread on design icons in the hi-fi and audio sector.

A thread about devices that stand out due to their visual uniqueness or their long-term influence on the design of hi-fi products—icons, in other words.

I came up with this idea because today we talked about the Technics RS 1500, among other things, which for me is a design icon among tape recorders.

Which hi-fi products do you consider iconic in this sense — whether speakers, amplifiers, turntables, studio equipment, or digital devices, vintage or modern?

It would be nice, if you could include a brief explanation of what exactly makes the design special to you.

 

[Audionaut]

For me, the Technics RS-1500 is a true design icon because its design not only makes its technical function visible, but also really showcases it. The design and presentation of the tape deck is technically sophisticated and visually unique.

At the same time, the device combines a professional studio look with an almost timeless practicality that is strongly reminiscent of functionalist industrial design. For me, the RS-1500 is the most beautiful tape deck and a hi-fi design icon.

 

[mhardy6647]

marantz 7, 9, and 10(B) - preamp, power amp, and tuner (early 1960s)

The AR Amplifier and/or the AR Receiver (ca. 1967)

JBL Paragon (1957)

All are elegantly simple vis-a-vis their intended function.
The marantz components were of redoubtable electronic design and performance, too.
The AR components and the Paragon, sadly, not so much.

 

[Audionaut]

When I think of record players and design, I automatically think of Clockwork Orange and the Transcriptor, which then became the Transrotor.

 

[tineared]

I don't know if this will be iconic to anyone else, but it is to me. The first "pretty" Parasound amp I bought and still use.
The rest are quite industrial...

 

[Audionaut]

The 'Wandanlage' from Braun and Dieter Rams

New interpreted by Virgil Abloh

 

[mhardy6647]

speaking of tape decks... I'd include the Ampex 350 fine family of pro/studio decks, starting in the early 1950s.
They had it all.
Longtime Polk Audio employee (now retired) Ken Swauger lovingly restored a 351-2 a few years back, beautifully documenting the process in photographs.
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/170164/ampex-351-2-restoration-project/p1
He closed his Polk-era account on the forum but is still fairly active under the name Selenium Falcon

Electronically, operationally, and aesthetically very fine.

 

[AA63]

THE audio design icon

 

[Apesbrain]

Any number of components from B&O:

 

[LTig]

This Sansui Tuner (TU217). Looks much better in real life.

 

[mhardy6647]

This Sansui Tuner (TU217). Looks much better in real life.

That whole line of Sansui components was (is) quite attractive, although (EDIT: sadly!) such aesthetics have largely died out at this late date (other than deliberate retro-evocations, cf. the current NAD integrated amps that vigorously evoke their ancestors of nearly four decades ago).

 

[mhardy6647]

Any number of components from B&O:

View attachment 512471

 

[LTig]

Kenwood KA-80 integrated stereo amplifier- I bought one in 1983 and sold it to a friend some 15 years later, where it still works fine.

Most controls are hidden behind the front:

Spoiler

 

[Mr. Widget]

For me, the RS-1500 is the most beautiful tape deck and a hi-fi design icon.

I think there are many Studers that are more beautiful, but the RS1500 is badass just as the JBL 4350 is badass... not the most beautiful, but just looking at them, you know they mean business.

 

[mhardy6647]

Kenwood KA-80 integrated stereo amplifier- I bought one in 1983 and sold it to a friend some 15 years later, where it still works fine.

View attachment 512478

Most controls are hidden behind the front:

Spoiler

View attachment 512479

I convinced my good friend Ron to buy one of those at a very low "clearance" price many years ago at the once-famous (at least in the US "mid-Atlantic" region) Stereo Discounters annual show and sale in Timonium, MD. It served him well for decades, other than the hinges breaking on the door. It was a pretty nice amplifier.

He only retired it when he decided to get a big (by my standards) home theater system anchored by a Yamaha AVR.

Kenwood had a few pretty faces over the years. Not sure they rise (rose) to the level of iconic, but you've still given me an excuse to post a couple of photos.


KA-7100


KT-9900 (essentially identical to the KT-8300, but with an unusual, for the US market, 'gunmetal' or bronze finish)
1) I really should take a better photo of the KT-9900 some day.
2) The influence of the aforementioned marantz 10B on the aesthetics of this mid 1970s tuner is pretty obvious.

 

[JeffS7444]

Advent 300 stereo receiver.

 

[mhardy6647]

JBL Hartsfield

Of course, Altec actually made (nominally) Iconic loudspeakers
Altec 820C Iconic

I am a big fan of the Altec sound, although by and large JBL blew 'em away vis-a-vis enclosure aesthetics.

 

[mhardy6647]

Denon DL-103 moving-coil cartridge.
In continuous production since 1961.
Bullet-proof performance.
Simple but effective aesthetics.

 

[mhardy6647]

Apropos of earlier mention of Studer/ReVox and Technics... I am a sucker for tape decks of all kinds.

I am not sure I can defend iconic status for the Pioneer CT-F1000 cassette (!?!) deck, but it certainly has a clean "fit for purpose" and purposeful look.

 

[JeffS7444]

McIntosh MR71 FM tuner.