A bit of Y2K-era stereo system appreciation on LGR
Added 2025-08-11 17:18:13 +0000 UTChttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kou7K93iEw
Something a little different this time!
I've had an eye out for a nice example of my first "real" stereo system from when I was a teenager for quite a while. And recently one came up for sale still sealed in its original packaging from 25 years ago! So there was no way I could pass up the opportunity to not only revisit that setup but relive the unboxing experience I first had at the turn of the millennium.
Unfortunately, I also got to experience the entirely expected disappointments of doing such a thing a quarter century later. The things that one anticipated perishing by now have very much done so and require some attention and parts. But hey, overall this is a fantastic place to start and should be entirely fixable once I get what I need. And in the meantime I had a ton of fun with this episode.
Hope you do too! Lemme know your thoughts, both on this video and any memories from this era of "XTREME BASS" mini-systems from the early aughts.
$5+ supporters can expect the next LGR Wrap Up episode in the next day or so! And the next main episode is already in the works, or really a couple of them. The Analogue 3D console being one of them, which is exciting considering I have yet to cover one of their FPGA things at all. Thank you as always for your support!
Comments
Where did the video go?
Ronan Scanlon
2025-11-08 11:29:14 +0000 UTCLoved this! Back in the day my preference was for the understated I think, although the first proper stereo I got would have been a few years earlier around the mid-90s so the range of things on offer would have been different I guess - it was the Sony MHC-EX5 (https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/photo_audio_video/2910245423). I loved how it was separated out into individual components although they all relied on the amp and bus connection to work. I added a mini-disc deck in 1998 (MDS-S38). I loved that system and it really sounded good too. In the end I allowed myself to be forced to retire it for something smaller since it took up too much space in the bedroom, I wish I still had it! Later I got some proper separates that I still have now and use to listen to my PC audio :-) EDIT: oh wow, there is a nice looking one on eBay.... must.... resist.... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156801425008
Gareth P
2025-08-13 22:24:42 +0000 UTCAlso check the laser potentiometer as it could be out of whack. It should be around 1,000 Ohms. If it isn’t then adjust it accordingly.
Jasonfractic
2025-08-13 15:12:49 +0000 UTCJeez, someone is delusional!
LGR
2025-08-13 01:18:43 +0000 UTCSo you inspired me to go find the Aiwa model I had after seeing it in one of those catalog pages. Yikes! https://www.ebay.com/itm/174241151757?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1irsz5LUTTUyJGy81ESnCPw20&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=174241151757&targetid=4580771614098646&device=m&mktype=&googleloc=83070&poi=&campaignid=603247547&mkgroupid=1234752552191001&rlsatarget=pla-4580771614098646&abcId=9316119&merchantid=51291&msclkid=6f3b34da870b112ee1665c41587b4e0b
John Covil
2025-08-13 01:10:12 +0000 UTCWatching this with an almost 20 year old X-530 plugged to my MBP in my tiny home office. I had my bass fix filled with re-purposing my Z-5500 after it spent 15 or so years on home theatre duty. Was great until its control pod died last month when I thought to plug headphones into its headphone jack. In both cases, the speaker sets reverted to a 2.1 setup. With the X-530, for a week or so I couldn't figure out why the subwoofer was rattling with super bassy stuff. Opened up the subwoofer, tightened screws, sticky tacked down the wires, nothing. The cause? The RCA jacks for the rear and centre speakers weren't connected so they rattled. Go figure! On the topic of these 2000's systems, I don't recall if it was a JVC or Sharp and I've never had one of these, but I saw one sold in the electronics store that gave a fun animated 'Zzz' display on the LCD when it turned off.
Denis Wong
2025-08-12 20:10:32 +0000 UTCNICE
LGR
2025-08-12 16:30:01 +0000 UTCAh yeah that's a lil iffy. Will re-record the line!
LGR
2025-08-12 16:29:46 +0000 UTCAt 6:36 when you say the word "around" it does something very, very weird in terms of a stereo phase glitch of some sort... It's very prevalent on my headphones though admittedly, I think the average person isn't going to notice it watching on speakers. Wanted to point it out all the same! :B
Kris Asick
2025-08-12 16:14:08 +0000 UTCI thought for a minute this was a Techmoan video. What an ice trip down memory lane for you. I get my original stereo, which was a cheap Steepletone record player I got for Christmas, would require considerably more searching but I have been looking.
Chris Horry
2025-08-12 15:14:35 +0000 UTCI smell a rather strong wiff of Techmoan indeed. Fun! Reminds me of your comment years ago "I'm not quite Techmoan yet". Well, you are closer now.
J Ruonti
2025-08-12 08:15:32 +0000 UTCHated those. Not this one specifically but we had two from awai and both broke. Never liked the astethic anyway. And usually the speaker didn't sounded like much. Trough when I was young that wasn't a problem for me. I mean I connected our old Sterradiorecorder to my pc until I upgraded to pretty expensive bookshelf speakers. I also had some old Philips lying around from an broken system like that and the difference was night and day. But than again one was a complete system for probably under 100€ and the other where 400€ speaker. Considering this those speakers did a pretty decent job. I think the worst part about those 2000 systems is that the amplifier broke that often.
Ezydenias
2025-08-12 07:45:06 +0000 UTCAs a teen in 00, these compact stereos were my entry into the budget "audiophile world" as well. My dad had a massive Yamaha hi-fi setup from the 70s that was off-limits to me. So, in 2000, I received my own Aiwa compact system. It was decent, but it allowed me to convert old mono TVs into "high quality" stereo by splitting my gaming console AV outputs to the aux input. I thought I was tech-savvy back then 😎. Didn't have a lot of CDs back then other than WWF intros and Creed's Weathered CD. I still have that unit, thanks to Dad never throwing anything audio-related away; it mostly works as an FM radio now. So seeing that first sharp unit in it's condition is par for the course. Speaking of Dad, he often brings home these 00s audio systems from the dump all the time, believing they're high-quality due to remembering their original prices and wattage claims. Most are beyond repair, but he keeps the speakers, creating mismatched setups similar to what you filmed with your large subs. Or more accurate the wall of sound kiosk. He's thinking is quantity can be a form of quality.
PiraTed
2025-08-12 06:19:16 +0000 UTCWatched this with my monitor headphones and I FELT that frequency sweep.
Alyxx the Rat
2025-08-12 04:10:47 +0000 UTCIt might be as simple as cleaning the CD player’s laser lens. If it’s hard to reach it by hand with a q-tip try a cd laser lens cleaning disc with IPA.
Jasonfractic
2025-08-11 23:35:06 +0000 UTCWell *THAT* was a walk down memory lane. After my mom & dad split in 99, Dad unexpectedly gave me an upgrade Panasonic system for birthday/Christmas (December kids...) I looked to see if any of your b-roll ads had the one I have, some were very similar. Mine had 2 aux inputs and a 6-channel input which I never used. I used one aux for the TV setup and one for the computer. IIRC, I had a set of Logitech speakers for the PC *and* that system for extra sound :D I still have it sitting on the shelf here in the office. Last time I tried to fire it up, it didn't do much. I used it in the living room for the TV until ironically, I replaced it with my dad's AVR after he died in 2010 :P
Jason Wellband
2025-08-11 23:10:04 +0000 UTCHope the CD player mechanism is working on the other system and you can switch over parts to make it work. Looking forward to the follow up video(s)!
Dukefazon
2025-08-11 19:59:43 +0000 UTCAhh that's fantastic! Sounds very familiar indeed, what a thrilling feeling 😃
LGR
2025-08-11 19:47:46 +0000 UTCI'm so happy for your joy right now :) I think you are probably feeling the way I felt when I finally got my hand on a Panasonic RQ-S33. When I was about 13 years old (around 1998) I found an abandoned portable cassette player at school. Took it home for the weekend but my parents didn't let me keep it, I had to take it back and drop it at the lost and found. The owner showed up pretty fast so they didn't give it to me (if they didn't find the owner, the finder could keep it at the end of the year I think). I remembered wanting that beautiful slick design so much! Many years later I was finally able to identify the model number just from memory and looking around on the internet for hours. I think this is a Japanese only model, I only find listings from Japan to this model. I bougth one last year through a Japanese auction proxy site, changed the belt and I was so happy that I was able to find one at a realtively affordable price and I was able to fix! I kept listening to my old tapes for 3 weeks straight :) I think that's how you might be feeling right now.
Dukefazon
2025-08-11 19:46:54 +0000 UTCOoh hope you can uncover those pics! Video/AUX is simply its way of labeling the RCA audio input around back :)
LGR
2025-08-11 19:10:35 +0000 UTCI had some stereo sets in my room as a child/teenager, but I don't know if it was as big as your Sharp system. Can only remember a micro HiFi system with glossy black finish. Must do a little photo archive research to find these things. Another inspiration triggered by LGR. :D Hope you get this Sharp system recovered. I'm curious about the "Video" function. Sounds like you could see something on a TV from this stereo system.
kepuexe
2025-08-11 18:10:00 +0000 UTCThe Meijer in Clinton Township is about 10 minutes away from me. I never had one of these, I always had discreet components. I remember blowing out my el cheapo speakers one time and replacing the innards with parts from Radio Shack - they sounded better than the originals (but that was a low bar to clear). Later I saved enough money to get some Bose 301 speakers, they were pretty good for the money.
Jack Beckman
2025-08-11 18:00:35 +0000 UTC
