I had one for a bit. Looked gorgeous but probably needed a service as it sounded rather flat and unengaging.
I also like the look of Luxman and 70’s amps and receivers in general. My wife not so much.
But what was the biggest surprise, after a complete clean, recap and what not, the sound quality of this r1500. It betters my previous amps( nait xs, hegel 200 and AN soro se). Maybe best match with my speakers. Also excellent double phono stage.
My wife agrees so out with the new and in with the old. And this for very litlle money.
Joth.
Sony ICF-7601.
here is my favorite photo of Big Boys which I used to have. I called it The Elephant Walk (as in HERE)
Philips “The Elephant” goes first
Sencor S-4800 was my all-time favorite
JVC “El Diablo” - name says it all, loved the Devil
Philips D8444 - wimpy sound but good-looking fella; was restored by the magic of 3-D printing
When at University I had a Techniques integrated amp with switches like that. They got pretty noisy and if I recall correctly they were sealed inside plastic cases that made it impossible to just squirt tuner cleaner into.
Tivoli Model One sounding gorgeous with R4 News in a sunny room here. (Same cannot be said about the news).
I know high price isn’t always an indicator of quality (as it is with Naim) but the Technics SA1000 usually sells for around the £2000 mark this and the fact they are pretty rare on the used market would suggest they are pretty good quality that isn’t to say I’d spend that on one. As for noisey switches there are quite a few specialist companies who will service these machines for you.
The Yamahas are the rare design that is both understated and over-the-top all in one design. Such a combination shouldn’t exist but it does. Yamaha has released new designs mimicking the old, they are nice, but nowheres near as desirable
Richard.Dane - I have just the same Panasonic cassette/radio in my workshop. My wife had it from new nearly 40 years ago and I put it into workshop 20 years ago when having a clearance. Just use the FM radio, still works well!
Those are awesome! I admire the very varied industrial designs.
Sony ICF-SW1S, together with the posh carry case and full accessories kit.
I mentioned this one a while back, which has prompted me to dig it out from the loft to give it a whirl … bought new in the late 80’s, this went with me all round the Middle East, Africa, Brasil, Canada and Northern Europe and was a great way of staying in touch with home.
Still works perfectly, and is singing away in the living room right now … ah, nostalgia. ![]()
Great radios but on most of the bigger construction sites health and safety have deemed these to be a risk.
Same here my guys use to have them on large sites all the time. They’re now all not allowed along with any in ear devices.
Thank you for this picture! I also have one of these Sony SW radios. I bought it retail at the Sony Store on Madison Avenue in NYC. I carried it all over the world. Mine shows a little more wear. I can’t believe they got out of this business. I would buy the upgrade if it were available,
What risk, Bob? My youngest is a sparks who does a fair amount of site work and he loves his new DeWalt version, which he uses daily with no issues.
DeWalt are very good I have a smaller than that one in the shed that uses the same battery as my drill etc. and works as a charger.
The risk accordng to HSE is not the radio itself but the distraction it causes maybe your son works on smaller sites where HSE rules are not implemented so vigorously. An electrician on the last big site I was on was first yellow carded and then red carded for using a radio.







