View Full Version : 1988/1989 HiFi Shop Retail Price List
Spectral Morn
26-04-2017, 12:20
I am a bit of a hoarder of HiFi related stuff, and I found this awhile back inside a program for a long defunct HiFi shop and the audio show they once hosted.
Anyway based on a comment elsewhere in the forum regarding the retail price of gear I thought it worthwhile publishing the price list, at least now you will know how much those items originally sold for.
Of course ultimately this means nothing as collectable audio values often don't relate anywhere near to what they once sold for when new - still this is interesting slice of audio history.
http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/001_zpspchffoh1.jpg (http://s549.photobucket.com/user/davros124/media/001_zpspchffoh1.jpg.html)
http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/002_zpss2sx7m9l.jpg (http://s549.photobucket.com/user/davros124/media/002_zpss2sx7m9l.jpg.html)
http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/003_zpsbc1z298u.jpg (http://s549.photobucket.com/user/davros124/media/003_zpsbc1z298u.jpg.html)
Some of those items have still kept their value. Nice find Neil.
The days when you could get a brand new Bryston power amp for under a grand.
Need to inflate by approx 150% to allow for 29 years of inflation I think that is still a lot cheaper than they actually are now.
The DAC prices are eye-watering though!
Spectral Morn
26-04-2017, 12:34
Some of those items have still kept their value. Nice find Neil.
I don't think I have any others Barry, not sure why I kept that one. At least folks can see what stuff actually cost now so unethical EBay sellers can't lie about original prices of that gear.
Spectral Morn
26-04-2017, 12:38
The days when you could get a brand new Bryston power amp for under a grand.
Need to inflate by approx 150% to allow for 29 years of inflation I think that is still a lot cheaper than they actually are now.
The DAC prices are eye-watering though!
At the time that Marantz DAC was their flagship model, as was the CD94, the dearer Marantz players came after with the CD12 and the CD11. The Cambridge Audio CD1 was £2500 and looked like it had been built in a garage.
I think the CD1 was built on Curtis's kitchen table, seem to recall him saying that in an interview. Only reason the DAC was separate was because he couldn't jam all the bits into one case.
Spectral Morn
26-04-2017, 13:19
I think the CD1 was built on Curtis's kitchen table, seem to recall him saying that in an interview. Only reason the DAC was separate was because he couldn't jam all the bits into one case.
That explains a great deal.
southall-1998
26-04-2017, 14:17
Jesus fecking wept! Over £2k for the Snell E's 30 years ago!!
S.
Spectral Morn
26-04-2017, 14:21
Jesus fecking wept! Over £2k for the Snell E's 30 years ago!!
S.
Its a typo as I can see E listed twice. Not sure which it was maybe A's. These were American speakers imported into the UK, I think by Audio Innovations but maybe not. Its a long time ago.
jollyfix
26-04-2017, 14:23
Jesus fecking wept! Over £2k for the Snell E's 30 years ago!!
S.
Same thought here Shane. I enjoyed reading the list, but didn't enjoy handing my cash over back in the late 80's for some of the items listed.
southall-1998
26-04-2017, 14:39
Its a typo as I can see E listed twice. Not sure which it was maybe A's. These were American speakers imported into the UK, I think by Audio Innovations but maybe not. Its a long time ago.
Yes, you are correct. The Snell E's was just over £1k. The A is a beast!
S.
Nice find, Neil :)
One other thing it ably demonstrates is the 'Belt-drive, British is Best Brainwash', so prevalent in those days, as not ONE single direct-drive or idler is listed amongst the turntables! CD players and T/T ancillaries aside, the virtual complete absence of anything Japanese on that list is also telling.
Fast forward now to 2017, and see how things have changed in that respect. I'd like to think that AoS has played some part in raising the awareness of enthusiasts, and in turn some manufacturers, of how good D/Ds and idlers can be, when properly designed.
The most galling thing, however, is that around that time so much 'cost-no-object', truly amazing kit, was being produced in Japan (such my Sony DAS-R1 and its bigger brother), which we saw virtually zilch of on these shores (but somehow found its way to other parts of Europe and the States)! :rolleyes:
Marco.
Nice find, Neil :)
One other thing it ably demonstrates is the 'Belt-drive, British is Best Brainwash', so prevalent in those days, as not ONE single direct-drive or idler is listed amongst the turntables! CD players and T/T ancillaries aside, the virtual complete absence of anything Japanese on that list is also telling.
Fast forward now to 2017, and see how things have changed in that respect. I'd like to think that AoS has played some part in raising the awareness of enthusiasts, and in turn some manufacturers, of how good D/Ds and idlers can be, when properly designed.
The most galling thing, however, is that around that time so much 'cost-no-object', truly amazing kit, was being produced in Japan (such my Sony DAS-R1 and its bigger brother), which we saw virtually zilch of on these shores (but somehow found its way to other parts of Europe and the States)! :rolleyes:
Marco.
True, Surprisingly they do have the Akai AM93 integrated which is still rated now. IIRC there is a member here who has one.
You can't blame the dealer though, you stock what people think they want or go out of business. We always had that problem when I was in sales, the models everyone wanted we didn't stock, which meant convincing the punter to change their mind then selling them something we did stock. Obviously in the time that took you could have sold 5 of the desirable brand/model, and with a lot less effort.
That's very interesting Neil, thanks for posting.
Look at the price of the Pink Triangle PIP!
You could have an EAR 802 pre AND a pair of 509 monoblocks AND a Manticore Mantra M1 turntable AND a fiver change (which would probably buy 3 or 4 pints)!!
Bet they sold well :)
Spectral Morn
26-04-2017, 18:27
That's very interesting Neil, thanks for posting.
Look at the price of the Pink Triangle PIP!
You could have an EAR 802 pre AND a pair of 509 monoblocks AND a Manticore Mantra M1 turntable AND a fiver change (which would probably buy 3 or 4 pints)!!
Bet they sold well :)
Actually they didn't. The Pink turntables sold but the electronics.... not so much. I think maybe one, maybe two was sold and that was it, best as I can recall.
I worked as a Saturday boy in that shop.
Spectral Morn
26-04-2017, 18:37
Nice find, Neil :)
One other thing it ably demonstrates is the 'Belt-drive, British is Best Brainwash', so prevalent in those days, as not ONE single direct-drive or idler is listed amongst the turntables! CD players and T/T ancillaries aside, the virtual complete absence of anything Japanese on that list is also telling.
Fast forward now to 2017, and see how things have changed in that respect. I'd like to think that AoS has played some part in raising the awareness of enthusiasts, and in turn some manufacturers, of how good D/Ds and idlers can be, when properly designed.
The most galling thing, however, is that around that time so much 'cost-no-object', truly amazing kit, was being produced in Japan (such my Sony DAS-R1 and its bigger brother), which we saw virtually zilch of on these shores (but somehow found its way to other parts of Europe and the States)! :rolleyes:
Marco.
Far as I know Marco back then there were no idlers in production and direct drives well maybe Technics but that was it. That shop didn't deal with Technics and as best I can recall the other brands didn't have them on their books, though they were available in Japan.
Regarding the turntables sold bar the Roksan and flakey Pink build quality they were all very good, with some fabulous decks Alphason, Oracle, Oxford, Michell, Voyd etc. Another business up the road did Linn and Rega.
During the whole time I worked there I never saw any type of idler, and I was the main turntable set up guy. And I don't recall ever seeing a Technics either.
What a great thread. I've taken some screenshots for nostalgia. Man, if I could only go back in time and snap up a few things on that list!
Spectral Morn
26-04-2017, 18:58
What a great thread. I've taken some screenshots for nostalgia. Man, if I could only go back in time and snap up a few things on that list!
Yes, Oxford Crystal Reference :D would be nice.
No worries I posted it so folks have a point of reference for that kit at that time. De bull shits the unethical EBayers.
Actually they didn't. The Pink turntables sold but the electronics.... not so much. I think maybe one, maybe two was sold and that was it, best as I can recall.
I worked as a Saturday boy in that shop.
I was being sarcastic :D must work on that :)
May have been in there a few times myself as a young cub!
Spectral Morn
26-04-2017, 19:46
I was being sarcastic :D must work on that :)
May have been in there a few times myself as a young cub!
Didn't transfer as that, one of the problems with written only no tone, or face. Use emoticons more.
southall-1998
26-04-2017, 21:14
Just don't bloody sneeze next to a PT turntable. Before the thing falls apart ;)
S.
the_doc735
26-04-2017, 21:19
I am a bit of a hoarder of HiFi related stuff, and I found this awhile back inside a program for a long defunct HiFi shop and the audio show they once hosted.
Anyway based on a comment elsewhere in the forum regarding the retail price of gear I thought it worthwhile publishing the price list, at least now you will know how much those items originally sold for.
Of course ultimately this means nothing as collectable audio values often don't relate anywhere near to what they once sold for when new - still this is interesting slice of audio history.
http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/001_zpspchffoh1.jpg (http://s549.photobucket.com/user/davros124/media/001_zpspchffoh1.jpg.html)
http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/002_zpss2sx7m9l.jpg (http://s549.photobucket.com/user/davros124/media/002_zpss2sx7m9l.jpg.html)
http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii364/davros124/003_zpsbc1z298u.jpg (http://s549.photobucket.com/user/davros124/media/003_zpsbc1z298u.jpg.html)
can't see the Croft series 3 'R' OTL?
Spectral Morn
26-04-2017, 21:49
can't see the Croft series 3 'R' OTL?
I didn't say it was there. I decided to post this so EBay sellers could not hoodwink anyone with this sort of kit, as the Croft listing on Ebay (I assume) was trying to. Sorry if you thought Croft was going to be there.
Dynamics
26-04-2017, 21:55
I like all the akai tape decks. Nice. I remember I had an akai vhs and akai Walkman. Lovely.
Was trying to see if I could find any cyrus stuff on your list, I wonder what they had then maybe original cyrus one.
I found a'computing with amstrad' magazine in my dads loft from 1984. It's quite funny reading all the articles about what a modem is and dot matrix printers etc. Lol.
Dynamics
26-04-2017, 21:58
Ps I wonder if this hi fi dealer sold some of that stuff. Love this sketch (and the Mel smith sansui one)
https://youtu.be/TxQqWSnsHoA
Spectral Morn
26-04-2017, 22:17
I like all the akai tape decks. Nice. I remember I had an akai vhs and akai Walkman. Lovely.
Was trying to see if I could find any cyrus stuff on your list, I wonder what they had then maybe original cyrus one.
I found a'computing with amstrad' magazine in my dads loft from 1984. It's quite funny reading all the articles about what a modem is and dot matrix printers etc. Lol.
Yes in the integrated amps section Cyrus 2 listed for £299
The shop did sell Cyrus but if I recall right cherry picked from what they did as some items sounded better than others.
This is a real walk down in the past for me, I remember some of this time well, some of it not so well. It was a long time ago.
the_doc735
27-04-2017, 00:27
I didn't say it was there. I decided to post this so EBay sellers could not hoodwink anyone with this sort of kit, as the Croft listing on Ebay (I assume) was trying to. Sorry if you thought Croft was going to be there.
That's OK mate! no problem. The list is very useful in 'genning' people up on these prices. I dare say I will be referring to it a fair bit, many thanks!
Spectral Morn
27-04-2017, 07:12
That's OK mate! no problem. The list is very useful in 'genning' people up on these prices. I dare say I will be referring to it a fair bit, many thanks!
No worries Paul.
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