your grail and why?

[systemaddict]

Ok guys thought id'e start a thread on why your personal grail is so?
Not sure if we've ever had this thread here but anyhow Il'e start.
Ok my personal grail which most of you guys already know is the Philips d8614 sound machine. most of you will already be familiar with this model so not really any need for me to go into too much detail on it.
the story behind your grail and a pic or 2 would be great if possible.
Ok the 8614 is my personal grail for the following reasons.....Firstly it was my very first score after hunting high and low back in 2005 for a first box after seeing a vz 2000 on a cd cover. The fact that it was sat just a couple of mile down the road from me in a junk shop was really irritating after scouring half of England before I even bothered to look in there lol. Anyway I scored it in ex con and fully working con for £15.
The joy and happiness I felt inside after finally finding a nice box was inconcieveable. Not only was it my first find but it's been my personal fave ever since and believe me iv'e had a ton of top notch boxes in between but nothing compares to it on a personal level. there's just so much attatchment in the nostalgia for me on that very first score that I can't ever imagine feeling that way ever again about any box. After 8 years of faithful service and tbh a bit of a hammering, it developed a good few issues which irritated me and I made the decision to part with her.
Anyway after regretting my decision I have been on the hunt ever since for a minty fully working one. that search came to an end just last week after a member of the family bought me a minty fully working one, which I posted up already in general chat area. So guys, your story and pics please, (Icons out again) here she is my all time fave sounding and looking box....

 

[oldskool69]

My personal grail is the Sansui CP-7 in black. (A close second is the Hitachi J-6) I first saw this bad boy back in 1983 at the Post Exchange while in Vaihingen (Germany) at Patch Barracks where my parents were stationed. My dad refused to get me something so expensive and got me a lousy Samsung (I know my dad meant well...but it was sucktastic...) box that...never mind.

I always would go and listen to it and the Hitachi J-6 sitting next to it. It was basically the kickstart for my love of component boxes which my affinity lies with today.

I did get a silver before the black and I got the black one box and all thanks to the members here on Boomboxery. Here is the thread...

https://boomboxery.com/forum/index.php?/topic/6077-finally-in-picturesthe-sansui-cp-7in-black/?hl=%2Bfinally+%2Bsansui

It was a long journey with ups and downs. But when you finally get there it is one of the most wonderful feelings you can have.

Here is a pic from the thread:

 

[redbenjoe]

sorry to bore you hip dudes -with predictable items .............

but my grail is an m90 --because it sounds so expansive and so balanced and so good and so pleasurable

or a real discolite -- because they are thrilling to watch

or about 30 other grails for their looks and sound and uniqeness

 

[Beosystem10]

Must be my Technics SAC 05-L. I've owned it from new, it was an 18th birthday present from my parents back in 1982.
When it's working, the sound quality - in spite of its piezo tweeters - is phenomenal and there's the thing; it's been the single most unreliable piece of equipment that I've ever encountered, it had a fresh pair of audio chips under warranty, and a clutch, a new FM tuner head and some random caps. It then behaved itself for almost a whole year before that wretched clutch failed in spite of being the very one replaced under warranty. Then the replacement audio chips failed and took the driver chip with them. Then the capstan motor died suddenly and spectacularly which resulted in the destruction of a then very dear (£4 for one, ISTR) TDK Metal tape that had some irreplaceable recordings on it.
Still I forgave the beast and still I never fail to be amazed at how good it sounds, especially when it's connected to my Technics SLQ 202 turntable and some high quality record or other is played through it.

At this moment in time, it had just managed about twenty years of reliability when, last week, that f***in' clutch failed again.
There has to be something special about a box that can be so naughty yet still not have been consigned to landfill!


Seen here with another of my personal grails, the JVC is utterly dependable (really, should I have written that? ) and apart from its bass performance on its original speakers being on the light side, it too is something I couldn't part with any time soon. I'd sell a kidney before I'd sell either of these:

Kidney, anyone? I have a spare, straight swap for a JVC M70......

 

[systemaddict]

firstly great story OS69, really nice to see you finally got your grail, and she is a beauty too (thumbs up)
secondly Beosystem that technics sure does look quality no question, no wonder you won't let her go lol, great read ups guys thanks for posting. (thumbs up)

 

[Northerner]

I don't really have a personal grail...my teenage box I already have but it's a piece of junk. Don't get me wrong, I was pleased to find it but its not been powered up since...it's a crappy Sharp GF4646.

There are plenty of boxes I'd like and some I'd really like but not a grail as such

 

[Northerner]

A kidney for an M70?...seems a fair swap

 

[hemiguy2006]

My personal grail is the Rising Src 2015.
I had one back in the mid eighties.
My best buddy had the Lasonic 931and we brought our boxes everywhere we went!
Those boxes were the party starters for sure.
Unfortunately one night on my way home I was jumped and it was destroyed.
I was nearly left for dead but lucky for me i pulled through way better than my electronic counterpart.
Fast forward to the present and I now have them both and will cherish them forever.View attachment 1155

 

[Beosystem10]

A kidney for an M70?...seems a fair swap

I thought so. Come to think of it, I'd swap several kidneys, some steak and a crust for my Technics' bigger brother the SAC-07.

....Unfortunately one night on my way home I was jumped and it was destroyed.
I was nearly left for dead but lucky for me i pulled through way better than my electronic counterpart....

That's terrible but at least you're here to tell us about it. I can't imagine how I'd react if someone tried to do that to me. Probably tell them to take as many kidneys as they wanted but please, not the boombox!

 

[Ken]

JVC M-90. Really, is there any other?

Just one.

Please?

 

[baddboybill]

I pretty much have the same story as Frank. Had my CEC OL7540 back in mid 80's and my best friend Matt had his Marantz Superscope CRS4000. We went everywhere with them jamming the tunes until one day my handle broke and box fell to its death :-(. But now I'm happy to say I have both units and hopefully one day I can get a mint or even NIB CEC which will make me very happy

 

[Eddy]

Very simple , the M 90 because it's an icon .

 

[Scotty_M]

 

[systemaddict]

Cheers guys nice to see diversity here some real classy boxes, would be very boring if we all had the same choice great story's too although Hemiguy yours is quiet sad but glad to hear you pulled through strong buddy, nice one

 

[MONOLITHIC]

Tho it's not the box I originally wanted - which was a Lasonic TRC-920 - and not a box I use that much nowadays, it's still the box I have the most personal connection with since late 1986: the Lasonic TRC-931.

 

[superlew]

^What a cool pair of pics.
Love the LeSabre with the rally wheels, BTW. Late '70's - early '80's Buicks had the coolest nautical-style dashes. My buddy's grandfather still drives his mint 1980 Regal - DIESEL!
But he doesn't have any Lasonics, as far as I know.

 

[JustCruisin]

Tho it's not the box I originally wanted - which was a Lasonic TRC-920 - and not a box I use that much nowadays, it's still the box I have the most personal connection with since late 1986: the Lasonic TRC-931.

Dang! That LeSabre looks just like the 77' Electra 225 I just picked up...
View attachment 1158

 

[hollyrockets]

As much as the M70 is my personal grail, I don't think you should give up a kidney for one. You'll get one. Don't WORRY!!!

I wasn't sure I would get one, now I have THREE!!!

Must be my Technics SAC 05-L. I've owned it from new, it was an 18th birthday present from my parents back in 1982.
When it's working, the sound quality - in spite of its piezo tweeters - is phenomenal and there's the thing; it's been the single most unreliable piece of equipment that I've ever encountered, it had a fresh pair of audio chips under warranty, and a clutch, a new FM tuner head and some random caps. It then behaved itself for almost a whole year before that wretched clutch failed in spite of being the very one replaced under warranty. Then the replacement audio chips failed and took the driver chip with them. Then the capstan motor died suddenly and spectacularly which resulted in the destruction of a then very dear (£4 for one, ISTR) TDK Metal tape that had some irreplaceable recordings on it.
Still I forgave the beast and still I never fail to be amazed at how good it sounds, especially when it's connected to my Technics SLQ 202 turntable and some high quality record or other is played through it.

At this moment in time, it had just managed about twenty years of reliability when, last week, that f***in' clutch failed again.
There has to be something special about a box that can be so naughty yet still not have been consigned to landfill!


Seen here with another of my personal grails, the JVC is utterly dependable (really, should I have written that? ) and apart from its bass performance on its original speakers being on the light side, it too is something I couldn't part with any time soon. I'd sell a kidney before I'd sell either of these:

Kidney, anyone? I have a spare, straight swap for a JVC M70......

 

[Brutus442]

Great question Aaron! I have all but one of my grails. I have the M90, the PC 55, a PC5 550 but my collection will only be complete once I have a minty Pioneer SK-95......

 

[baddboybill]

Tho it's not the box I originally wanted - which was a Lasonic TRC-920 - and not a box I use that much nowadays, it's still the box I have the most personal connection with since late 1986: the Lasonic TRC-931.

Mono My first car was a 1978 Buick LeSabre just like one your leaning on but in silver