Compact Stereo Systems: R.I.P.

[PhilCohen]

It would appear that so-called "Compact Stereo Systems" (DVD/CD/Cassette/Radio) are now a defunct product catagory. No one would ever claim that these were audiophile products (how could they be, when they had flashing lights, and a disco booming mode....which I never turned on), but we would all agree that Sony & JVC made the very best ones.
But both of these manufacturers have ceased production on Compact Stereo Systems.
But all audio products have their proper place and usefullness. I've got large, more audiophile oriented equipment for serious listening, but a Compact Stereo System was useful if I want equipment to play while riding my exercise bike, or if i want to do some late night listening at quieter volume levels (so as not to disturb other family members).
My JVC HX-GD8 finally quit after more than 16 years (one of the trays in the disc changer got stuck in the open position, the nearest repair shop was 100 miles away, and there is probably no parts support), so i put it out on the curbside for disposal. There is no present-day equivalent model.
I still do have a Sony LBT-ZX66i next to my bed, and hopefully I'll get more years of use. Sony's nearest Florida repair shop is in Jacksonville (400 miles from where I live)
I question Sony & JVC's decsion to get out of the Compact Stereo system business. Yes, there are still a few unknown, brand X units ion the market, but they are smaller and far less powerful
I guess that I could buy a few separate components to give me the same playback capabilities, but this combination of components wouldn't have the fun factor of a Compact Stereo System. The Compact Stereo Systems may have looked weird, but they were cool.
I hope that someday, the Compact stereo system could reappear in a more modern form, perhaps deleteing the cassette deck and replacing it with an iPOD dock, or a USB input for computer audio, and replacing the CD/DVD player with a CD/DVD Blu-ray player.
I'll miss the Compact Stereo system.

 

[XEagleDriver]

It would appear that so-called "Compact Stereo Systems" (DVD/CD/Cassette/Radio) are now a defunct product catagory. . . .
Sony & JVC made the very best ones.
But both of these manufacturers have ceased production . . .
My JVC HX-GD8 finally quit after 16 years . . .
I still do have a Sony LBT-ZX66i next to my bed, . . .

I guess that I could buy a few separate components . . . but this combination wouldn't have the fun factor . . .

I hope that someday, the Compact stereo system could reappear . . . perhaps deleteing the cassette deck and replacing it with an iPOD dock, . . .
I'll miss the Compact Stereo system.

A couple ideas/options:
1) Assume you already checked eBay
2) Get lucky and find a Sony/JVC at Pawn Shop or flea market.
3) Check out Denon CEOL RCD-N10

Denon CEOL RCD-N10

Compact stereo receiver with built-in CD player, Bluetooth®, Apple® AirPlay® 2, and HEOS

www.crutchfield.com

4) Buy a slim line AVR with BT & Wifi, add a pair of bookshelf speakers, and you are in business.
5) Replace with Sonos or similar product.

Sad to say the "iPod dock" is as commercially dead as the CSS.

I too miss several aspects of "vintage" gear; VU meters, toggle switches, the tactical feel of analog FM tuning with the large, heavy aluminum knobs common in late 70s/80s, etc.
But I digress, good luck.
XEagleDriver

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[Kingnoob]

It would appear that so-called "Compact Stereo Systems" (DVD/CD/Cassette/Radio) are now a defunct product catagory. No one would ever claim that these were audiophile products (how could they be, when they had flashing lights, and a disco booming mode....which I never turned on), but we would all agree that Sony & JVC made the very best ones.
But both of these manufacturers have ceased production on Compact Stereo Systems.
But all audio products have their proper place and usefullness. I've got large, more audiophile oriented equipment for serious listening, but a Compact Stereo System was useful if I want equipment to play while riding my exercise bike, or if i want to do some late night listening at quieter volume levels (so as not to disturb other family members).
My JVC HX-GD8 finally quit after more than 16 years (one of the trays in the disc changer got stuck in the open position, the nearest repair shop was 100 miles away, and there is probably no parts support), so i put it out on the curbside for disposal. There is no present-day equivalent model.
I still do have a Sony LBT-ZX66i next to my bed, and hopefully I'll get more years of use. Sony's nearest Florida repair shop is in Jacksonville (400 miles from where I live)
I question Sony & JVC's decsion to get out of the Compact Stereo system business. Yes, there are still a few unknown, brand X units ion the market, but they are smaller and far less powerful
I guess that I could buy a few separate components to give me the same playback capabilities, but this combination of components wouldn't have the fun factor of a Compact Stereo System. The Compact Stereo Systems may have looked weird, but they were cool.
I hope that someday, the Compact stereo system could reappear in a more modern form, perhaps deleteing the cassette deck and replacing it with an iPOD dock, or a USB input for computer audio, and replacing the CD/DVD player with a CD/DVD Blu-ray player.
I'll miss the Compact Stereo system.

Yeah and mini hifi shelf system which were much better then today’s sound bars also got discontinued around the same time .
Guess only tiny Bluetooth speakers and soundbars dominate anymore as receiver prices keep shooting up to the stars ️.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[slipperybidness]

DENON D-M41 CD/FM Micro Desktop Stereo System w/Bluetooth

Denon Factory Refurbished

www.accessories4less.com

 

[nathan_h]

Compact Stereo Systems aren't dead.

But: Physical media is dead in the context of most people that want a Compact Stereo System.

Some popular compact stereo systems on the market these days include:

Sonos, HEOS, PlayFi, Amazon Dot and Echo, Apple HomePod, Google Home Mini and Nest Speaker, etc.

They just call them Smart Speakers these days, but they fill a similar niche, and some are quite good (eg, Wireless LS50).

I ended up digitizing all my media, and transitioned to these solutions over the past ten years, and it has really increased the usability and convenience factor, without harming audio quality.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I agree with @nathan_h on this one.

Are you still using physical media? It's dead! We all know it exists, blah, blah, blah... But really, there are tons of active speakers on the market which have stereo and mono speakers. Some are loud, some are quiet. They come in tons of shapes and sizes. Some are just Bluetooth speakers. Many have 1/8" input connections so you can hard wire in a physical (GASP!!!) player if you wanted to.

But, most just rely on Bluetooth for their sound and do exactly what most people need at a reasonable price point. I know that I have one of the 'pill' type players that are a few inches wide and 8 or so inches long. It does fine for a single room at low volume while I'm working/painting. I also have a big one (mono) for playback while I'm outside at a remote location working.

I have a boombox, and I honestly haven't turned it on in years. An old Aiwa unit. Wonder if it even works?

 

[FutureAudiophile.com]

I am using more and more streaming but I have 1500 Compact Discs in my collection that I just found when cleaning out ALL of the contents of my house post Palisades Fire.

I had the T+A Caurso all-in-one on my desk about a month ago and it had a CD player in it. I was able to play Yes Fragile during my review which hasn't posted yet.

Jerry

 

[MrBoat]

I am using more and more streaming but I have 1500 Compact Discs in my collection that I just found when cleaning out ALL of the contents of my house post Palisades Fire.

I had the T+A Caurso all-in-one on my desk about a month ago and it had a CD player in it. I was able to play Yes Fragile during my review which hasn't posted yet.

Jerry

At work, all I have is my phone plugged directly into my JBL LSR305 active speakers. It's so nice listening to music without any ads, or fumbling with CDs. Put the phone on charger and DnD mode and never touch the thing for the rest of the day.

 

[FutureAudiophile.com]

At work, all I have is my phone plugged directly into my JBL LSR305 active speakers. It's so nice listening to music without any ads, or fumbling with CDs. Put the phone on charger and DnD mode and never touch the thing for the rest of the day.

CDs at work were a big deal in my career.

We used to get most major label releases at our old offices in the AVRev.com days. Jezz - I used to travel with 20 CD and a player and a ton of batteries. Then Apple sent me an iPod 2 weeks before it launched. MIND BLOWN.

Jerry

 

[lovinthehd]

Never saw the value in one myself. Altho as "audiophile" as the user.

 

[MrBoat]

CDs at work were a big deal in my career.

We used to get most major label releases at our old offices in the AVRev.com days. Jezz - I used to travel with 20 CD and a player and a ton of batteries. Then Apple sent me an iPod 2 weeks before it launched. MIND BLOWN.

Jerry

I carried CDs in my truck up until about a year ago. That really used to perplex younger people that rode with me to work.

 

[MrBoat]

Never saw the value in one myself. Altho as "audiophile" as the user.

That's what I had at work until it died, which is how the JBLs ended up in it's place. Was about $150 RCA/5 CD changer around 2004 from Kmart, with detachable speakers. It lasted 12 years of pretty much continuous use. It was fun and certainly loud enough with reasonably low distortion for popular/rock music. I'd do it again.

 

[Happy Joe]

Never saw the value in one myself. Altho as "audiophile" as the user.

I personally have found "value" in so called compact systems; mostly as a "tent stereo" for use when Base Camping in very remote places. they were eventually replaced by Bluetoot speakers (the transistor radio of the 21st century).

Existing (trying to live, enjoyably) in remote places for somewhat extended periods gives you a real appreciation for so called "civilization"; flush toilets, heated showers, washing machines and audiophile quality equipment...

(No need for most to even try to get there; hiking in or a very capable modified four wheel drive are the only ways to get close!). If you know of these places ' Keep them secret, keep them safe". ..Take only pictures and don't even leave tracks".

Enjoy!

 

[Eppie]

Our Ford Freestyle has a 6 disc CD changer which we did use a lot when we first purchased the vehicle. I use it on occasion with new CD purchases. At home I rip the CDs to FLAC and use Plex or Roon for streaming. I still like to buy physical media because I tend to purchase albums from niche bands and they rely on CD sales for income. Latest purchase was from Laura Kidd (Penfriend) in the UK.

Our Jeep has a hard disk drive and no streaming, so I downloaded MP3 files onto the HDD. It can hold a couple of thousand tracks or more so even on long road trips it won't go through the entire collection.

Next vehicle has Apple Carplay and Android-Auto which seems to be the direction most car manufacturers are going. Guess I'll have to fill my phone with MP3s for that. I don't pay for any streaming services since we have a number of good local radio stations and lots of song files.

 

[Happy Joe]

The cd changer in the Explorer (my DD; Daily Driver) gave up years ago, now tunes are stored on my phone and played through a Bluetooth to FM adapter (it also works for camping with a "bluetoot" speaker).

Enjoy!

 

[FutureAudiophile.com]

The cd changer in the Explorer (my DD; Daily Driver) gave up years ago, now tunes are stored on my phone and played through a Bluetooth to FM adapter (it also works for camping with a "bluetoot" speaker).

Enjoy!

I had to fish mine out of my Mercedes which still has a CD player in the dash!!!

 

[Mark of Cenla]

I like shelf stereos. That is the only sound system that will fit in our kitchen. We have a Philips main unit to play CD's, and the speakers are Pioneer S-BS22LR. That sounds good to me and gets used often. Peace and goodwill.

 

[FutureAudiophile.com]

That is totally COOL!

 

[j_garcia]

I use a bookshelf system in the bedroom too. Sony box with Micca MB42Xs.

 

[lovinthehd]

I personally have found "value" in so called compact systems; mostly as a "tent stereo" for use when Base Camping in very remote places. they were eventually replaced by Bluetoot speakers (the transistor radio of the 21st century).

Existing (trying to live, enjoyably) in remote places for somewhat extended periods gives you a real appreciation for so called "civilization"; flush toilets, heated showers, washing machines and audiophile quality equipment...

(No need for most to even try to get there; hiking in or a very capable modified four wheel drive are the only ways to get close!). If you know of these places ' Keep them secret, keep them safe". ..Take only pictures and don't even leave tracks".

Enjoy!

I use a Cambridge Soundworks Model 12 when I go car camping these days (was a boom box once upon a time). Tent stereo would be a phone and headphones/iems. What I was thinking of as a compact system wasn't suitable for camping, tho....I was thinking of the smallish components that stacked neatly rather than a boom box....