"Lo-fi" appreciation thread

oliverstoned wrote: Wikipedia: "In 1973 Nakamichi created stereo cassette decks with such high quality that eventually made reel-to-reel tape recorders obsolete for consumers.

Back in the second half of the 1960s we used to have a miniature portable record player at home that was even smaller than the Sound Burger (see first three photos below) released in later years (in the 1980s, I believe). It was a clamshell design but opened differently to the Sound Burger, enabling it to be more compact. It looked more like the AIWA micro portable record player shown in last three photos below. Now these record players were 'lo-fi'. Sounded OK, though.


Sound Burger promo:


Sound Burger showing storage position of the arm, and the folding lid.


Sound Burger playing an LP:


AIWA micro-portable playing a single:


AIWA micro-portable playing an LP:


AIWA micro-portable compared to an LP:

Wikipedia:

"In 1973 Nakamichi created stereo cassette decks with such high quality that eventually made reel-to-reel tape recorders obsolete for consumers. The Nakamichi 1000 and 700 were regarded as two of the finest cassette recorders made in the mid-1970s. They had three heads, dual capstan drive that reduced wow and flutter to new low levels, and Dolby-B noise reduction to improve the signal to noise ratio. The feature that really set them apart was the adjustable record head azimuth and Dolby calibration that could be optimized for each cassette tape. Many audiophiles aspired to but could not afford a Nakamichi 1000 or 700 (whose model number was derived from the list price), so Nakamichi came out with more economical two-head models such as the Nakamichi 500 and the silver wedge-shaped 600.

Nakamichi pushed live recording with their Nakamichi 550, a portable cassette recorder that had three microphone inputs: one for left channel, one for right channel, and one for a center blend channel. This recorder could run from batteries or AC and was used to make very high quality recordings in the field. All of these products were known for top-notch engineering and sound quality.

In the late 1970s Nakamichi updated their machines with the Nakamichi 1000 II, the 700 II, and other midrange and low-end models, but overall they became more complex and less reliable, and prices were raised as well. They branched out into other audio components such as amplifiers and eventually speakers, but these products were never as highly regarded by the audio community as their cassette decks were.

In the early 1980s Nakamichi came out with further refinements in a successor top-of-the-line machine, the Nakamichi 1000ZXL. Prices pushed upward again, with this machine being $3,800 at the time. The updated 700ZXL was a mere $3,000. Low-end cassette decks sold new for under $200, with the Nakamichi name on them. This time period stands as the pinnacle for cassette recorders, as from that time onwards digital recording methods began to make inroads."

Gold improves sound ... a simple rule for simple minds!

Seriously, I think the designers of these devices watched Goldfinger one time too often!

There is a huge difference between lo-fi sounds and vintage sounds.

I can quote many more, that was just an example.  An awful lot of rock vinyls sound awful as well.  Take most of the seventies Blue Oyster Cult recordings; they all seem to have been recorded through a wet sock.  Must have been using some worn out old 8 track tape.

I'm not sure that "all" of them do.  I expect that the producer puts far too much compression and low frequency and high frequency emphasis on to make them sound louder.  You know how rock musicians like everything turned to 11.  It might work ok with your instrument amp but never with the PA or mixing desk.

As a sound engineer, you can maybe explain me why all "rock" Cds sound so bad?

Well vinyl sits well in this thread.

Edited by Heavyfreight - October 13 2006 at 11:14

oliverstoned wrote: "Your brain adapts to the sound and fills in the gaps for you" Yes, but you can end up with a headache. That's the case with (poor) digital. "You don't need perfect audio to appreciate music." Yes, fortunatly, cause there's always better. High fidelity has virtually no limit.