Mini Stereos and Cool Car Compo Ads

Before trying to find Dixons check the date

1989

 

This earlier post suggests that I do. Damn, my place is such a mess and these are so heavy to get downstairs to photograph. I have been meaning to create a post on the various S.P.A.N. systems though.

 

This era was the start of my Aiwa obsession, actually probably my obsession with stereo equipment full stop. In 1984 my Dad, buoyed by a new job in management, bought an Aiwa V300 system. Prior to that we only had one of those all in one, fake woodgrain systems branded as National or possibly National/Panasonic, so even the middle of the range Aiwa was a big step up. But this was also the time of function over form, so the sound quality was awesome and I made many recordings that I still have to this day. Fun fact, the V300 system was the one in the McFly household behind Marty after he came back to the future.

Fast forward a year and, as 80s boys do, we would ride down to the local Brashs to get the latest (printed) copy of the top 40 countdown, maybe buy a few records and gawk at the equipment we couldn't afford. When this was introduced, priced at $4,000...


Yes, this is the catalogue I picked up that day!

For some reason the cover photo shows the Japanese model which is slightly different to what was available in Australia, most notably (apart from the voltage difference) the Japanese writing on the cassette changer and "Craftsmanship" printed on the bottom left corner, the TV option for the tuner and the CD player available here was a completely different model that didn't match this unit, but suited the design of the 1986 models that were still 12 months away. I am not sure of the reason for this, various markets seemed to have either one or the other player. I had been brought up not to touch things I couldn't afford, but I just had to open that cassette changer at least once!

Another decade and at some stage in the 90s I found one of these beasts at an outer suburb Op Shop (like a second hand store, "Op" is for "opportunity") and just had to have it, although it unfortunately did not have its original speakers. I am not sure of the price anymore, possibly somewhere in the high hundreds to a thousand dollar range. I initially bought it without the CD player not really being able to afford it, but ended up returning for that as well. I used it for many years, although I feel the Aiwa "sound" is somewhat lost without matching speakers. Of course time then causes all sorts of issues, particularly with tape decks, and as parts started not working and the inevitable change to mini-disc rolled around, and an eventual move overseas, it was relegated to storage.


My 90s bedroom showing the Aiwa, a Sharp VC-488 VCR and Sony MDS-JE310 mini-disc recorder. Interestingly I am pretty sure I was using the Aiwa turntable on my main system at this time.

I think I have 3 of these systems now, one with an "ordinary" dual deck and one with a single deck and the elusive Japanese CD player, as well as an example of the model underneath that had a integrated amp rather than the pre and power amps from this model. As I mentioned I will probably do a bit of a history of the S.P.A.N. systems, which basically replaced the Series 50 components in the Aiwa line-up. It is hard work getting those decks out to replace the belts though! I can only be thankful for the digital tape counters which eliminates the dreaded need to desolder the actuators for the deck to replace the counter belt!

 

This is the 1986 model for comparison with the (now matching) CD player, which appears to be a cheaper Sony design as opposed to the original CD players which were apparently an in-house Aiwa design. They are notable for playing the disc upside-down and having a digital output for "future use". I am not sure if this includes the audio, or just the optional signals that were to be used for karaoke etc.



Through the dust you may be able to spot possibly the last improvement in Aiwa cassette decks for midi systems, dual record, which also carried through to the changer decks meaning you could record continuously on 5 (or perhaps 6) tapes in a row!

The other major change for this year was the S.P.A.N. ideology had at least partly disappeared, with these being separate components without any type of rack, although they retained the DIN connections.

 

Strangely in previous searches I have been able to find zero information about the BTTF stereo. Everyone loves the "Walkman", and even old flip clock radio, but the hi-fi system gets no love at all.




Note that the one in the movie has the tape deck and receiver reversed, which would mean the cable holes at the back of the rack would not line up. It also has SX-7 speakers, which this unit was sold with in some markets. This is the only system I know of that doesn't use the standard Aiwa 330mm width for the turntable (it is actually 352mm), which would be beneficial when we later bought a Sony CD player that fitted perfectly at 355mm.

 

If only you could go back in time! I will say this sellers description is highly accurate.
https://reverb.com/item/84199500-aiwa-v-1200-1985-top-of-the-line-stereo-system-beautifuly-restored

 

I like the slot for the remote, so you don't lose it.
But they did.

 

Interestingly the remotes also have "keyed" sides so you can join more than one together. AUDIO is prominently written on this one, so presumably there would be a VIDEO one as well.