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The post in which Darko basically tells anyone who isn't a rich rube to ignore him and audiophilia in general
- Thread starter Jimbob54
- Start date
watchnerd
Grand Contributor
Never seen that one. I remember Nakamichi from their cassette decks, which were quite dear. But by 1984 I had stopped looking at HiFi equipment, kids and mortgage obliging.Well, the Nakamichi TX-1000, while not the 1970s, is from 1984 and was/is pretty expensive. So there were definitely expensive TT's in the olden days.
The 80s is when a few super expensive units started appearing.Well, the Nakamichi TX-1000, while not the 1970s, is from 1984 and was/is pretty expensive. So there were definitely expensive TT's in the olden days.
At least this Nak had some justification for being pricier than usual!
PMFJI.
Neither Linn nor VPI are boutique brands IMO.
I would say any where marketing and styling have had more attention than genuine (as opposed to marketing BS) engineering for accurate transduction are boutique brands.
Robin L
Master Contributor
I'd say the 1980's marked the initiation of the "High-End", with the possible exception of a few SOTA loudspeakers of the 1970s, like Infinity's Servo-Statik. Back in 1970, Gordon Holt called it "appallingly expensive" at $3000. That would be $20,000 in modern dollars. Jim Austin or Mikey would call something with that kind of price "comparatively good value for money" these daysWell, the Nakamichi TX-1000, while not the 1970s, is from 1984 and was/is pretty expensive. So there were definitely expensive TT's in the olden days.
BTW, Gordon Holt is factoring the cost of two high-power amplifiers into that price. And this speaker was notable for including a big powered sub along with two giant electrostatic panels.Infinity Servo-Statik 1 loudspeaker | Stereophile.com
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How much is a Linn today? The successor to Dual in Sankt-Georgen still makes TTs which cost between €400 and €1500, which is probably too much for what they are, but not a king's ransom.
By volume, today almost all TTs could be called "boutique", but I was thinking of the $10,000+ thingamabobs. I have a feeling that such excessively expensive gear did not exist in the 1970ies, but without Internet and no access to American or English HiFi magazines that feeling is anything but reliable.
watchnerd
Grand Contributor
The problem is that I was living in Durban, South Africa, and we were lucky to have a shop (in the Workshop, for @Katji 's benefit) that sold a limited selection of Technics gear. Plus, I was paying a mortgage
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The Linn is like a Porsche today, build to your own spec from fairly reasonable to absurdly expensive depending on spec and extras.
Pardon me for jumping in.
Used when answering a question asked of somebody else.
watchnerd
Grand Contributor
Adjusted for inflation, using USD:
$10K USD in 2021 = ~$2K USD in 1975
How much did the Linn LP12 sell for in the mid 1970s?
A Porsche is still out of my reach
. But Linn used to be not cheap, but certainly not overly expensive when they started out.
watchnerd
Grand Contributor
For those who moan about how TT's in the past were better values:
The current Technics SL-1200GR's $1700 MSRP, inflation adjusted, would be equivalent to ~$400 in 1975.
I'm pretty sure the current SL-1200GR is a better TT than what you could get for $400 in 1975.
The current Technics SL-1200GR's $1700 MSRP, inflation adjusted, would be equivalent to ~$400 in 1975.
I'm pretty sure the current SL-1200GR is a better TT than what you could get for $400 in 1975.
around £300.
It was much more basic in design back then though.
Solid wood picture frame base with hardboard bottom, simple pressed steel sub-chassis with spot welded reinforcement, simple synchronous motor, one speed.
Probably, but $400 did get you a lot of gear in those days.
There were not many that expensive in 1975. The Linn hadn't started pricing based on what they could get away with, rather than cost plus back then.
As I wrote up thread, a Garrard 401 was £72 in 1975/6 when I worked there and I bought my SME 3009 mk2 Improved arm in 1972 new for £24
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I bought my Linn LP12 for £72 in 1976 albeit as chassis-only, no plinth. It replaced a Connoisseur BD1 which I'd built from a kit, costing £ 15 in 1971. Sadly no better!
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watchnerd
Grand Contributor
That would be $20,000 in modern dollars. Jim Austin or Mikey would call something with that kind of price "comparatively good value for money" these days
Well, compared to what $20K otherwise gets you today, it sort of would be a good value, relatively.
It would certainly offer capabilities that the $20K Technics and SME models available today don't.
