View Full Version : Shelf sound systems now outmoded?
Anyone else encounter this? I feel like such a fogey---are CDs going the way of cassette tapes?
Recently my combo AM/FM tuner/CD player quit working. Well the CD changer part, anyway. It is quite old, maybe 18 years, but I use it every day listening to my favorite morning talk and music show, and often in the evenings and on weekends I listen to my CD collection while sewing and doing housework.
So, I started looking for a replacement.
It seems they "don't make them like that anymore." There are shelf systems with multi-CD changers with no radio; Or they have radios with iPod docks instead of CD changers (I do not own an iPod).
I wanted something better than a little boom box, but not as spendy as a Bose system.
Anyone else encounter this? I feel like such a fogey---are CDs going the way of cassette tapes?
Recently my combo AM/FM tuner/CD player quit working. Well the CD changer part, anyway. It is quite old, maybe 18 years, but I use it every day listening to my favorite morning talk and music show, and often in the evenings and on weekends I listen to my CD collection while sewing and doing housework.
So, I started looking for a replacement.
It seems they "don't make them like that anymore." There are shelf systems with multi-CD changers with no radio; Or they have radios with iPod docks instead of CD changers (I do not own an iPod).
I wanted something better than a little boom box, but not as spendy as a Bose system.
We are operating two old boom boxes used when we are out working the the gardens. DH found both of them in the alley and fixed one, the other one has to be turned on with a paper clip. I've already been shopping around for replacement boom boxes and what does exist in a store seems very weak in sound and is expensive. I'll probably shop eBay when the time comes to replace it. I tried the local pawn shops but they just laughed at me, apparently ghetto pawn shops have moved beyond boom boxes (although they are full of yellow gold jewelry which seems pretty retro to me.)
I have considered a Bose system but I fear it would not work well due to reception and that would just make me mad.
I think it's great, though, that wifi systems are cheap and available should I want to install one in my house. My neighbor had a fancy-schmancy wired system installed 20 years ago--now all of that wiring is outdated.
Gardenarian
4-1-14, 4:10pm
Most people I know have speakers hooked up to their computer - that's how they listen to music.
I think it's great, though, that wifi systems are cheap and available should I want to install one in my house. My neighbor had a fancy-schmancy wired system installed 20 years ago--now all of that wiring is outdated.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..
When we built our house, 19 years ago, I wired every room for network jacks, in-wall speakers in bedrooms, dining room and family room, and a monster surround sound system. My wireless router replaced the network jacks, the surround sound system has only been used once, that was when we discovered that the deep bass rumblings in the floor made our dog crazy, and the cd changer stopped working several years ago.
We were cutting edge for about a minute. Oh well...
cutting edge for about a minute
That seems to be the way of things now.
ToomuchStuff
4-1-14, 5:03pm
I've seen some shelf based systems at a damaged freight store, we have locally. They are bigger then a boom box though, but smaller then component systems. Component systems, one tends to have or not, either before children, or after they have grown up. (too loud when they are little, or don't want to hear their kids programs, tv themes in surround sound). But they do tend to be expensive (last one I saw was around $300).
Shelf systems have gone down to single cd, in part because of the ability to play MP3 cd's you can make,
Cd's have been going away. Do you have many (back in my day they were called record) stores? I only know of one locally now, and places like Best Buy have diminishing shelf stock. Even car stereo's now, are going mechless (no cd) and taking flash memory. In some ways, Steve Smith in his Red Green character was right (although his was said about cassette tapes). Now, you can find your favorite music, for bargain prices, with the best of, and not get songs you don't want.
I am not an Apple fan (to the best of my knowledge, they don't play OGG and open format). My brother has the Sandisk, click + and I would like one of those, with a microsd card (I can hear my music, without disturbing others), however most people just use their cell phones now. ("Smartphones" all in one devices, part of the reason they don't have great battery life) I prefer to buy a CD and rip it myself, while keeping it (getting rid of them, means you violated copyright if you keep the songs).
Remember your dvd/bluray player, can play them. So can your computer (and it can rip them to mp3/ogg/flac, etc). Or you could find an old CD player (think they still make a few of them) and run powered (computer) speakers off of them (computer speakers vary).
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..
When we built our house, 19 years ago, I wired every room for network jacks, in-wall speakers in bedrooms, dining room and family room, and a monster surround sound system. My wireless router replaced the network jacks, the surround sound system has only been used once, that was when we discovered that the deep bass rumblings in the floor made our dog crazy, and the cd changer stopped working several years ago.
We were cutting edge for about a minute. Oh well...
We had all of the walls in our house open to the studs. We debated installing cable wire even though we would not use it, it was more for resale value. In the end we didn't and that's just as well.
Running coax throughout a house still has value. Wireless Internet has limitations and always will. MoCA makes a home's coax into wired Internet. It's fantastic. Of course, if you've got the studs opened, running GigE CAT5e cable throughout would be even better. :)
I bought a replacement tuner/radio/amp a couple of years ago, and new speakers. The DVD player is running to it so I can play CD's, but I don't have many any more. I also have my Roku box running to it and I have all the music on my computer available through that, although I usually just use Pandora.
I am trying to load all my music onto my Ipod which I can then play through my computer or Panasonic CD player. I have to load all the LP music that I love onto the computer to load onto the Ipod. I love the old LP's that we accumulated over the years and they have a lot of memories associated with them that I don't want to lose.
I suppose Ipods will come to the end of their life cycle as well but hopefully I can transfer the stored music to the new gadget in time.
I've been offered many of these systems free over the years, and have always passed because we still have a working one that we use. The folks at MMM helped advise on how to hook up my iPhone to run it through that system so I stream Pandora occasionally through the nice 20 year old speakers. Anyway, my point: check out CL! I bet there are a lot of these floating around that people would be more than happy to know are going to a good home where they'd still be used, but are off their shelf because they have upgraded.
I have/had a couple 100 CDs and am currently ripping them onto my computer. It's just a hassle to stick them in and out and I like to be surprised with the computer's shuffle feature too. Soon of course, all the music will be up in the clouds and someone somewhere (hello NSA/CSIS) will know what we play and when, all in the name of national security (and copyright "protection").
My "sound system" is all street-reclaimed stuff - works fine with a few kludges.
We recently bought and renovated an older home. While it was down to studs I ran coax and cat5e everywhere. Also wired in wall and in ceiling speakers in a nod to antiquated technology. I like the way the new speakers I bought sound (as opposed to previous generations of built in speakers) and there are really very few choices of sensible places to put them so it was easy to lay out. Plus DW put down the ultimatum of no more exposed wiring, ever, or else... No surround because we don't use it, but I did build a sub into the bench of a banquette that projects sound out to both the kitchen and living rooms. Its fun. Especially if someone sits there unknowingly and I crank it. The last piece of the puzzle will be a new receiver that is Bluetooth compatible so DW can control everything from her iPad. That, and getting the mountain of gear that really is antiquated out of the garage. Anyone need a 5.1 or some giant towers?
To the OP, what about a Bose wave radio? Less than their full systems, available with CD players and they sound great.
ToomuchStuff
4-3-14, 10:58am
Since it is the changer part (not a single cd) that your missing, does your stereo have any inputs? (can still get stand alone changers)
We recently bought and renovated an older home. While it was down to studs I ran coax and cat5e everywhere. Also wired in wall and in ceiling speakers in a nod to antiquated technology. I like the way the new speakers I bought sound (as opposed to previous generations of built in speakers) and there are really very few choices of sensible places to put them so it was easy to lay out. Plus DW put down the ultimatum of no more exposed wiring, ever, or else... No surround because we don't use it, but I did build a sub into the bench of a banquette that projects sound out to both the kitchen and living rooms. Its fun. Especially if someone sits there unknowingly and I crank it. The last piece of the puzzle will be a new receiver that is Bluetooth compatible so DW can control everything from her iPad. That, and getting the mountain of gear that really is antiquated out of the garage. Anyone need a 5.1 or some giant towers?
For me, this is not simple.
To the OP, what about a Bose wave radio? Less than their full systems, available with CD players and they sound great.
As I stated in my OP, I didn't really want to spend that kind of money.
As it turns out, I took fidgiegirl's advice and looked on Craigslist---met a guy after work who had an almost-new Sony system just like I was looking for. It has the ability to rip CD's and save as mp3s, as well, which was something I didn't know a shelf system could do. Just haven't been in the market for so long, the options weren't familiar. Anyway, only $75 and I'm back in business.
May it last another 18 years.
For me, this is not simple.
As I stated in my OP, I didn't really want to spend that kind of money.
As it turns out, I took fidgiegirl's advice and looked on Craigslist---met a guy after work who had an almost-new Sony system just like I was looking for. It has the ability to rip CD's and save as mp3s, as well, which was something I didn't know a shelf system could do. Just haven't been in the market for so long, the options weren't familiar. Anyway, only $75 and I'm back in business.
May it last another 18 years.
Well done!!
... Plus DW put down the ultimatum of no more exposed wiring, ever, or else...
Wait, stop the presses.
You mean, that is possible? To issue that ultimatum?
The only thing I hate worse than carpet is wires wires everywhere. And then of course the electronics morgue that is related. Without that stuff my house would be cleaner.
Hey, so glad it worked out!
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