for those of "us" (it's not just me, is it?) interested in vintage literature, ads, etc.

Just last night, I realized that one can easily and pretty effectively search the
magnificent collections of hifi magazine scans (and much, much more) at https://www.americanradiohistory.com

Thus:

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see the 'search' button (magnifying glass)? :smiley:

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voila!

B)

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(needless to say, the 1950s references won't be to Polk Audio content. Note also that the results can be displayed by date, or limited by decade)

Stereo Review and High Fidelity PDF scan databases are likewise searchable.

These are marvelous times in which we live :)

Comments

  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 4,636
    I hope all this ardent reading is being accompanied by extraneous listening sessions. If not, you sir, need a vacation.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,952
    I think Dr. H’s retirement life is a vacation...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room 5.1.4:
    Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra

    Bedroom 2.1
    Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,009
    I spent about 1/2 hour perusing the 1978 High Fidelity (June?) issue.

    I feel around that time until 1988 was the BEST years for audio products.

    I have most of those audio magazines in magazine format. But looking through the well laid out format of that online link was GREAT and enjoyable too. I love the SALES HYPE from that era. There was a lot of cassette player and the individual cassette improvements ads.

    I still reread my extensive Stereophile and Sound & Vision mags almost daily. My wife thinks it's funny.

    She just asked while the power was down if I had already read my newest stereo magazines already. They came a couple of days before we lost power but I had already checked out most of both magazines. I like reading what people's concerns or observations and opinions are in "letters to the editor" section quite often.

    I did reread about some Triton speakers from some mags I gathered together that have reviews of each model, with a battery powered lantern the other night.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    edited September 2018
    Tony M wrote: »
    ...

    I feel around that time until 1988 was the BEST years for audio products.
    I thought kind of like that, myself (more like '75 to '80, in my case) -- until I got to hear top-quality hifi from the 1940s and 1950s. It is an ear-opening experience :)

    Some good stuff from the (early) 1960s, too -- until the manufacturers hopped on the transistor bandwagon and turned out some truly nasty sounding stuff until the industry (and semiconductor technology) caught up with the marketing hype and ss stuff finally started to sound decent.
    I have most of those audio magazines in magazine format. But looking through the well laid out format of that online link was GREAT and enjoyable too. I love the SALES HYPE from that era. There was a lot of cassette player and the individual cassette improvements ads.

    I still reread my extensive Stereophile and Sound & Vision mags almost daily. My wife thinks it's funny.

    She just asked while the power was down if I had already read my newest stereo magazines already. They came a couple of days before we lost power but I had already checked out most of both magazines. I like reading what people's concerns or observations and opinions are in "letters to the editor" section quite often.

    I did reread about some Triton speakers from some mags I gathered together that have reviews of each model, with a battery powered lantern the other night.

    I ditched almost all of my hifi magazines (there's only so much space in the house, you know?), but I concur -- although the PDF archives are a tremendous resource, for which I am profoundly grateful.

  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,330
    Most Excellent!
    Thank you
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 4,636
    Ok Doc. I confess I peered into the deep abyss and now on the lookout for a classic Pilot amp.
    Are you holding out on the first issue of Stereo Review hehe?2dgrxqjicbz3.png
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    The real Pilot stuff was very beautiful (including the ones in the scan above) and also pretty good hifi hardware. By the mid/late 1960s, the Pilot brand was in pretty steep decline, unfortunately, :(
  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,009
    I think my mom bought a pilot stereo from a yard sale once. I think I remember it being lightweight and cheap feeling.

    I could be wrong though. :#
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    another useful one from vintage times of about mid 80's
    http://www.hifi-classic.net/
  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,009
    K_M wrote: »
    another useful one from vintage times of about mid 80's
    http://www.hifi-classic.net/

    That site is a real trip down memory lane for sure.

    I like it a lot! The first page has a few things I owned or close to it or saw and passed it by cause I couldn't afford them at the time. Also, I read about them in my stereo magazines and the free flyers you could get just from x'ing out that post card and sending it in.

    I got audio related fliers about every other day back in the late 70's up till the mid eighties or later.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
  • aprazer402
    aprazer402 Posts: 3,087
    edited November 2018
    I had two very large boxes of hi-fi ad slicks and product catalogs from hi-fi salons that I gathered between the early 1970's to early 1980's, all the popular US and Japanese brands but many British, Scandinavian, Italian manufacturers as well. All very nice, I just chucked it all in the trash one week. Probably in the early 1990's. That was really stupid, I would have enjoyed looking through them again. I hadn't heard of the Internet in early 1990's.
    Forgot to add, a lot of the literature, brochures came in the mail from the reader service postcards in Stereo Review, High Fidelity and Audio magazines. I have saved a lot of the magazines probably from the mid 90's forward. I did discard those 1970's mags, the better ones (with the real classic ads, articles and Charles Rodrigues!) It's really nice to have web sites that have them scanned and free to view!
    Post edited by aprazer402 on