The Hidden Legacy of AudioSonic: A Dutch Audio Toys Supplier

Believe it or not, Philips was not the only audio company in the Netherlands. The firm Electronics Nederland BV (Amsterdam), which was established in 1972, built audio equipment successfully for a long time under its own AudioSonic brand on its sites using a variety of components and also placed orders for manufacture using this brand all over the world.

These were primarily low-cost gadgets that were offered by grocery chains. In HI-FI stores, the AudioSonic brand was hard to find. The cassette decks, on the other hand, were quite good and were made in Japan at the factories of the famous Rotel Electronics Co., Ltd. Some of their cassette recorders were custom-made by the GDR manufacturer RFT for AudioSonic.



As for the model AudioSonic TBS-8200, it was manufactured in South Korea in 1984. This model is fully identical to the Korean HELIX HX-4670. For its size, the model is incredibly sturdy and weighty. The 14 W power usage is sufficient to play music loudly enough for a small group to dance or listen to their favorite band. As you can see, it has a selector to use even a metal-type cassette tape. Finally, it is a tape recorder that is incredibly lovely and appealing!

Additionally, AudioSonic created compact cassettes under its own name from materials it purchased from different suppliers, including TDK, ORWO, and Agfa.

In 1984, TBS-8200 could be purchased for 259 Dutch gouldens at a grocery store. The design was so well-liked that Vendomatic, a different supermarket chain, continued to sell this cassette recorder to consumers under the Vendomatic PCS-100 name until 1986. It was possible to choose it in three colors: red, white, and dark grey.

As for the AudioSonic company, at least their website was operational up until 2017. However, only the registered legal address in Amsterdam is still in existence today.

 

Interesting that the Dutch would collaborate with ORWO and RFT (East Germany) on certain products

 

The budget Dutch

 

259 Dutch gouldens in 1984 to US dollars in 1984 would be what? I'll take a Vendomatic PCS-100 in dark grey please

 

My AudioSonic TBS-7050, from 1979-1980. I believe it was made in Japan by Coney-Onkyo or one of their partners, because its chassis and switchgear was shared by some Conion models.

 

If you had 259 Dutch guilders in 1984, it would be approximately 111.37 USD. This is a rough conversion based on the average rate in 1984.

 

i have an AudioSonic Cloneman:

https://stereo2go.com/forums/threads/the-cloneman-mission.331/page-9