I was dusting Saturday morning (in preparation for the decorating extravaganza) and I opened a cabinet tucked into the corner of our billiards room (or, more accurately, our living room that contains a pool table). The cabinet contains (along with a six-CD player added later) what was in 1981, a state-of-the-art Kenwood stereo system—including an EQUALIZER! We seem to have replaced the 6-foot tall (I may be exaggerating by half) stereo speakers along the way, but I can assure you they were able to handle the bass.
In 1981, when my husband was a high school senior and my best friend, buying a “system” was not a purchase undertaken lightly. First of all, it was super-expensive—next to his Ford Pinto it would be the most expensive purchase he’d made. I remember the trips to the various stereo stores around town, “test-driving” all combination of components and manufacturers.
It is a testament to how much I enjoyed his company that I was happy to accompany him on these expeditions because my ability to differentiate between, or my interest in, sound systems is less than negligible. I’m assuming it’s a testament to how much he enjoyed my company that he invited me along—I’m pretty sure he’d already picked up on the fact that his judgment in this arena was far superior to mine.
I don’t really need the storage space in that cabinet, so the system will probably stay for a while longer. One of the nice things about being married to someone you knew when he was just a kid is the ability to picture him as that kid—which is just what happened while I dusted that obsolete Kenwood equalizer!
Hey, that's a pretty sweet set up!
Posted by: mrs. g. | December 11, 2011 at 10:57 PM
You just brought back memories of me buying my first stereo (yes, with equalizer).
This one goes to ELEVEN!
Posted by: Karen (formerly kcinnova) | December 11, 2011 at 10:59 PM
Obsolete? Not at my house, baby! High fidelity music is the best kind. iPods are for the car.
Posted by: unmitigated me | December 12, 2011 at 07:08 AM
This is a really cute post!!!! I remember those days too...sweet memories.
Posted by: Busy Bee Suz | December 12, 2011 at 09:51 AM
My husband was one of those guys. And he had the 6 foot tall speakers, too.
Posted by: Smalltown Me | December 12, 2011 at 10:23 AM
We still have lot of that stuff in the house, the rest is in the garage along with probably thousands of dollars worth of guitar, amplifier and other musical equipment. Two years ago he finally found a turntable he wanted then bought, without consulting me, a cabinet for it, the records we have kept and some other stuff that is so complicated that I never use it because I can't even find the on button.
Oh, and the speakers in our living room are about 4 feet tall.
Posted by: Brightside-Susan | December 12, 2011 at 12:25 PM
And you've just reminded me that I don't know what an equalizer is or does. I'm sure I MIGHT have had one in NY, but your remembering is my forgetting!!
Posted by: Suzy | December 12, 2011 at 02:49 PM
Mr. Fix-It had a Ford Pinto? So did I! I loved that car and it saw so many crazy experiences through college (and even up to when we got married)that if it could have talked...well, you know... I finally junked it because what we got for it for scrap was more than the cost of parking tickets attached to it - ha!
:-)
Posted by: Becky | December 12, 2011 at 08:01 PM
We are so sad we got rid of our Marantz turntable:(
My boyfriend/fiancee/now husband of 30 years had a red Datsun 180b with a sunroof he installed himself, 6 speakers, orange shag pile on the dash and a mini disco ball hanging from the mirror.
Yes he did.
...but that's ok, because he remembers the gold lamé knickerbockers I wore to my 21st.
Those were the days.
Posted by: Deborah J | December 13, 2011 at 03:31 AM
We were living parallel lives! When we were engaged we often went on "dates" to the stereo store, listening to all the equipment, trying to decide what he would buy.
We had a Ford Mustang.
Posted by: Little Miss Sunshine State | December 13, 2011 at 07:16 AM
I remember the days of big speakers...
Posted by: Green Girl In Wisconsin | December 13, 2011 at 02:30 PM
I have those 6 foot speakers in my living room and the receiver and equalizer have been relegated to the basement, but I can guarantee they will NEVER be thrown out. I think our husband's may be related :)
Posted by: Lurker | December 16, 2011 at 02:01 PM
I couldn't even fathom what was happening or why. All I knew was that a plane flew into the tower. I didn't know details.
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