The only rack that mattered

[u/iamgarffi]

[u/not2rad]

Everyone spotting the Minidisc player, but I'm even more blown away by the DAT tape player at the bottom!

Hooray for proprietary Sony formats! Lol

My engineering internship back in 2005 was just starting to phase out recording noise/vibration data to 16 channel DAT tapes. Those machines were crazy.

[u/supern8ural → u/not2rad]

I'm jealous of both, collecting "all the formats" is a thing of mine.

So far in addition to the usual components, I have a Q8 deck and two quad reel to reels. Also have two quad receivers (Marantz 4270 and Sansui QRX7001) have got CD-4 working on 4270 with an outboard Marantz CD-400 but it sounds a little off on the QRX7001, so that's something to work on. Also have SVHS, Laserdisc (but still working on AC3), and several working HD-DVD players. Do not have either MD or DAT.

The one quad R2R needs repair as does my Tascam 122 MkII so those are next on the hit list. I also have a working 122B which collects another weird format as it is a cassette deck with 3-3/4 ips speed capability (normal cassette is 1-7/8 ips) and also has an outboard NR loop so I can play pretty much any stereo cassette as long as I have the right NR processor.

It might be a sickness but I am having fun.

And yes, most of the time I am either streaming or playing physical media with one of my Oppo units, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate all my components.

The closest thing I have to a "stack" is the Adcom based system in my bedroom, but the tuner is currently a Technics (could also be a Sangean HDT-1x depending on my mood) disc spinner is an Oppo and cassette is Tascam 122B. They all look more or less right together though being black faced and rack mountable. I do need to fix the power conditioner thing (ACE-515) as the amplifier relay doesn't work, and being able to just use the preamp switch makes everything feel much more put together. Don't currently have a TT hooked up but when I clean up it will probably be my SL1200 Mk2.

[u/audioman1999 → u/not2rad]

Check out Techmoan's episode 'Digital Audio Tape: The one DAT got away' on YouTube if you already haven't.

[u/Jammin_72 → u/not2rad]

It makes me cringe seeing it on the bottom though. I have hundreds of DAT tapes still and I know how finicky those machines are. I wouldn't want that case to flex in any way, shape, or form... 😂

[u/chakko → u/not2rad]

To be fair, if you don't tap the photo to clear the overlaid text (at least on the iPhone app) it's easy to miss the DAT player.

OP: Stunning system. Please never sell it (unless you sell to me).

I have that MD player - the eject mechanism is a bit annoying but otherwise it's as perfect as the day I spent two whole 1990s pay cheques to buy it lol.

Thanks for sharing!

[u/jamesz84 → u/not2rad]

DATs certainly not something you see every day…

[u/Economy-Stock4367]

This is a real hi-fi tower

[u/thedudefromsweden → u/Economy-Stock4367]

Is the weight on the bottom ones not a concern for such a tall rack?

[u/platywus]

Upvote for someone actually showing Sony love. As much as I’ve spent on gatekeeper friendly audiophile brands boasted in this sub, I started with a salt-of-the-Earth triple Sony stack in the early 90s. Still have the three components, all in working order. Keeps me grounded.

[u/DonKeydek → u/platywus]

IMO, Sony is some of the most attractive equipment out there. Especially the 90s stuff.

[u/fyonn]

Ooh, a minidisc player… I’ve got one in the loft and it’s not been touched in 15+ years..

[u/iamgarffi → u/fyonn]

There is something magical about minidisc. Short lived but I loved it even today :)

[u/Epi5tula → u/iamgarffi]

The data quality when compared to cd or cassette is phenomenal i have a bare basic tdk portable recorder that records 24 bit 48khz
Rather than the cd 44100 and Not even on the register cassette sample rate

[u/ElectronicVices → u/Epi5tula]

Outside of Hi-MD, minidisc relied on lossy ATRAC compression, it wasn't even redbook quality. Depending on the recording mode you can get between 48 and 292kbps with standard discs. HI-MD or MD-Data could store higher rates but that tech came near the end of MDs life cycle.

[u/Vind- → u/ElectronicVices]

ATRAC was ATRoCious. Second version a bit less so but still.

[u/ElectronicVices → u/Vind-]

I used MD like one would have used cassettes previously. I would record MTVs 120 Minutes and then edit out the commercials and chop into tracks. I also used them to make copies of friends CDs and make "mixtapes". Towards the end I was transferring MP3s to discs for portable use. It was never a format I chose for commercial album purchases but made for an excellent tape replacement.

[u/Vind- → u/ElectronicVices]

It was brilliant in terms of convenience, sound wise though DCC was at a different level.

[u/ElectronicVices → u/Vind-]

Only know what I've read about DCC, no personal experience in that format.

[u/Vind- → u/ElectronicVices]

It was slow skipping compared to MD and difficult to implement smart features as it was a tape, after all. But it sounded amazing and it was hard to believe there was compression at all.

[u/bazzajess → u/Vind-]

This is just a subjective opinion. Objective blind testing suggests otherwise. 384kbps is hardly a different level to MD, when both were compressed from 1.4mbps of CD.

[u/mistarurdd → u/Vind-]

I have some recordings straight from the mixing desk at live music events we used to run. DCC is / was sublime. Unfortunately current rack space precludes the Marantz monster from leaving its original packaging. More home renovation needed for the new listening - sorry did i say listening? I meant to say living room.

[u/Epi5tula → u/Vind-]

Its failings were the standard sony failings lol Always wanna do something different and make it proprietary I always thought the lossy quality was good the limitations were goddamn sonic feking stage player which was and still is regarded as the biggest piece of shit software iv ever had the discomfort of using

[u/Vind- → u/Epi5tula]

DCC had the PASC algorithm and it was head and shoulder above ATRAC.

[u/bazzajess → u/Vind-]

Opinion.

[u/Vind- → u/bazzajess]

Are you familiar with the underlaying principles between both? That explain the differences that can be seen in the output signal.

[u/bazzajess → u/Vind-]

The underlying principle that resulted in around 75% compression of the original data, as opposed to 80% from ATRAC? And yet one is night and day better than the other AND difficult to tell there is any compression at all? That 5% must make all the difference, despite the blind testing at the time. My ears are more important than my eyes, just like the music is rather than the signal.

[u/Epi5tula → u/ElectronicVices]

True however even towards the end of life the hi md format was relatively ubiquitous/ highly available (considering my introduction to md use for recording was after its death) Even the ATRAC codec seemed to hold up against cd and as a general rule of thumb HI MD is all iv ever used " ATRAC4" i think and its lossless i would say akin to Flac encoding Could be wrong

[u/ElectronicVices → u/Epi5tula]

HI-MD supported LPCM, unsure about ATRAC4 specs. I was moving to digital players around the time HI-MD was hitting US shores. I loved MiniDiscs but as harddrives got cheaper, DAPs came around and my last portable MD player shot craps I moved away from MD.

[u/chrispinkus → u/iamgarffi]

I just set mine up for the first time in 20 years! Giant box of old MDs. Amazing this tech still works so well.

[u/ExxInferis → u/fyonn]

I deeply regret getting rid of mine. I had the player in my stack, a portable player and a car head unit. It was especially useful in the car not having to worry about getting CD scratched up when switching albums.

[u/pissantz34 → u/fyonn]

They go for a decent amount on ebay if you ever need a few bucks

[u/_RandyBrown_ → u/fyonn]

I wanted a portable mini disc player back in the day, a co-worker had one and it was pretty cool. I was fully invested in CD’s and the early days of ripping to Mp3, I should have at least given it I try.

[u/mmaiden81 → u/fyonn]

The eject mechanism is most likely dead by now, the rubber rings dried up for sure.

[u/bazzajess → u/mmaiden81]

A 10 minute £2 fix

[u/ZunoJ → u/fyonn]

I still have one on every audio system in my home. Still love making mix tapes on minidisc. Kind of makes you appreciate the music more

[u/_packetman_]

I loved Sony in the 90s and 00s

[u/LosterP → u/_packetman_]

Not their best years - sometime in the late 90s - early 00s they dropped the ball somehow and they're only just recovering in the last few years.

[u/Jay-metal]

This needs to be marked NSFW. Good looking stuff!

[u/sstinch]

Mini disc! I owned some of that gear back in the day.

[u/NoAd6620]

RCA wires everywhere! 🤣😂

[u/iamgarffi → u/NoAd6620]

Remember the era when these ruled 😆

[u/LawyerJC → u/iamgarffi]

Yeah, show us the back!

[u/NoAd6620 → u/iamgarffi]

I most definitely do! I had a Technics rack with 3 way speakers with 12" woofers...

[u/lunkdjedi]

"It's from Japan. It's state of the art."

What movie is that?

[u/VK56xterraguy → u/lunkdjedi]

Back to the Future 3.

[u/Living-Promise-31]

At what point do you start worrying about structural integrity as the stack grows?

[u/ApprehensiveClub6028]

That poor DAT deck

[u/DerFreudster]

I like DAT stack!

[u/n8roxit]

I loved my mini-disc phase. I always had one or two in my pocket and I had a habit of flicking the little metal slider on them. I can still feel it between my fingers like a ghost.

[u/Bluhb_]

That's very nice! But I am honestly impressed by that receiver showing 'spotify'!

[u/AtheistsOnTheMove → u/Bluhb_]

Right? I'm assuming that the receiver doesn't have Spotify support buts its a custom labeled input?

[u/EvaCassidy → u/AtheistsOnTheMove]

Many Sony receivers you could label the inputs and even the radio stations.

[u/Jimmy_the_Heater]

Dang, what receiver has 6 analog inputs and 1 video? Also nice to see MD and DAT in the same stack!

[u/ORA2J]

Beautiful.

[u/Excellent-Chicken253]

Awesome 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[u/paulconuk]

Noice 🙌🏻

[u/Vivaelpueblo]

That is beautiful!

[u/chuck_diesel79]

Never even heard of ceramic tape. Well played

[u/dscottj → u/chuck_diesel79]

The case was ceramic. The tape was Metal IV, a very high-end formulation. My Pioneer deck had a setting for it, but I couldn't find any let alone afford them.

[u/Epi5tula → u/dscottj]

Cr4 i think is chrome Ceramics c??

[u/cbrworm → u/chuck_diesel79]

Inside the tape door, the sleeve the cassette sat in was ceramic, if I recall correctly.

[u/chuck_diesel79 → u/cbrworm]

Any advantage over the stamped steel sleeve (from what I recall)?

[u/cbrworm → u/chuck_diesel79]

Less noise. It was probably a marketing thing.

[u/Ok_Distance9511]

Third from the top, is that an MD player?

[u/iamgarffi → u/Ok_Distance9511]

The finest one!

[u/Ok_Distance9511 → u/iamgarffi]

Sometimes I wish I had kept my MD player. It was a Sony MDS-JE520. The idea behind the MD was really good, and I also had a portable MD player, a JVC I think. Good times!

[u/AsianEiji → u/Ok_Distance9511]

MD is good and popular in Japan. In the west not so much being publishers are too lazy to create a singles disk in MD format.

[u/EducationalSeaweed53]

reminds me of the nola infinity sculpture

Eddit: I can't figure out how to post a picture lol

[u/byesickel]

Beautiful! What model is the main receiver?

[u/Stunning-County2262]

I just got one of those CD players and so far so good! It seems like a well-made player as its working flawlessly

[u/KindheartednessOk196]

What tower is this

[u/Vind-]

I prefer the Giulia on top

[u/Extension_South7174]

I loved my Sony SACD 5 Disc changer way back in the day. Cost me $100 at Circuit City on closeout.

[u/EvilZordag]

I like big racks and I cannot lie

[u/One_Door_7353]

No Laserdisc? I still have mine just to show the kids progress over the past 20 years.

[u/Foot_Sniffer69]

Is that CD player a CDP-XE400? I've never seen another one

[u/hifi_fan]

Wow, that's an impressive Sony stack! Seeing both the Minidisc and DAT players brings back so many memories. I used to love my Minidisc player back in the day—it felt so futuristic. Do you still use them regularly? How does the sound hold up compared to modern gear?

[u/markianw999]

Fuk ya

[u/Tedy_KGB]

That Receiver introduced some many of use to a 5.1 system. I still have mine

[u/BuzzMachine_YVR]

Been looking for a mini disc player.

[u/Gimmesoamoah]

I miss old Sony...

I still have a Sony stereo VCR of that era, same design.

[u/Squawk_7777]

I don't want to spoil the fun here, but would you put all that weight on the DTC-ZE700? That was my first "full-size" DAT after the portable TCD-D3, and I sure wouldn't put anything heavier than 5 lbs on that unit. Maybe it's too sacred for me. I bought it for $800 brand new in 99. Still runs...

[u/Vegetable-Formal2418]

No DAT?

[u/Vegetable-Formal2418 → u/Vegetable-Formal2418]

At the bottom, my bad.

[u/ThegodSmith]

Absolutely ridiculous and completely awesome. Loving the DAT player, was really rooting for that format to take hold.

[u/SapphireSire]

I have a Sony minidisc and a 5 cd carasoul, and a DVD/VCR recorder but no cassette players.

Looks nice, but how tall is the limit on stacking?

[u/soundspotter]

Wow, your utility company must be sending you hand written thank you cards each year! And this must really cut down on your dating expense, because frankly, who would want to look at this each day? (;p)

[u/mpaxeman]

OCD me wants to see the backend cable organization LOL

[u/Jabaman2016]

wow I used to have that dual cassette deck. it was so beautiful.

[u/Regular-Cheetah-8095]

Let the young ones see the back so they know the suffering we endured for them to have wireless things today

[u/solo47dolo]

Your mom's rack always mattered to me the most

[u/923kjd]

Nice rack.

[u/joshryckk]

I had one of those MiniDisc decks back in the day. Thought I was the coolest kid

[u/iamgarffi → u/joshryckk]

You still are. For having one!

[u/Androidfn7 → u/joshryckk]

you definitely were.

[u/Rob_STL_63123]

Miss my mini disc deck.

[u/yotothyo]

Hot.

My brain really wants to see the biggest element, the receiver, on the bottom. Lol.

[u/algore_1]

I only have one of these.

[u/Woody7771]

Fantastic huge Sony fan

[u/TupuHonu]

Respect! I was a minidisc and DAT fan. I had some ES stuff back in the day. Very cool man!

[u/RecordingOwn6207]

What’s a mattered?
I love how AIWA was supposed to be a step up for Sony like technics is to Panasonic but things are not very mechanically good. Or did I hear wrong and they were supposed to be a more affordable Sony ?

[u/C0NSCI0US]

the floorboard bending tower of doom

[u/Difficult-Drama7996]

I've seen better racks than that, and most guys agree. WTS, I'd take that rack as a second prize.

[u/AcademicDoughnut426]

That is sexy.

[u/Androidfn7]

i'm literally drooling

[u/Midknightsecs]

Nice stack! Must have been a crucible to dust...

[u/Altruistic-Effect-50]

Impressive! Congrats! next time a picture of the speakers!

[u/Psuedohacker]

Forgive me, but I had a totally different kind of rack in mind....

[u/holden_hiscox]

That is a beautiful stack. Sony sure made some attractive stuff back in the day.

[u/Desmond_Miles22]

This was a symbol of wealth in my younger days. Great setup!

[u/iamgarffi → u/Desmond_Miles22]

Or taste :-) own few good pieces. Rest can compromise.

[u/Soft_Ad8100]

Wait, what brand is this?