For sale, a true gem in Dieter Ram\'s amazing body of design work for Braun, this stereo center consisting of the fantastic PS500SX turntable, TC550X cassette player and a 2x60W amplifier.
Let me first briefly explain why this is an amazing machine (it cost around $5200 adjusted to current rates):
- The turntable is belt driven and features a magnedisc-like system for ensuring speed accuracy- Theturntablearm is moved electronically by a special motor in the base of the arm. It can be moved by a joystick-like controller that reacts to your touch: when the finger hits it, the arm is lifted, when your finger releases it, the arm is slowly dropped- The turntable arm is lifted by an amazing system based on a special wire that expands and contracts electronically
- The cassette deck is driven by a direct-drive motor, a very high-end feature at that time- All controls are touch-based, also on the cassette deck- The tuner allows for manual tuning, yet presets can also be made
It has been a lot of work to get this beauty to where it is now: fully functional, great sounding, and great looking!
This has been repaired:
- New mains capacitor (the famous Knallfrosch)- New power supply capacitors, audio grade, over-dimensioned- Repaired relay circuit in cassette player- New, more resiliant CMOS ICs in cassette player and turntable control section- New turntable belt- New lamp for arm position detection- Newly fitted, repaired and reinforced tonearm base assembly (this part is easily broken on old machines)- New stylus on Shure MD95 cartridge
- Hours, hours and hours of work to get all that done...
The sound is superb. Interaction with this machine is pure joy. If only all electronics were so much fun to use. No wonder Apple stole so many ideas from Braun :)
The only issue remaining is that one of the hinges was broken (invisible because hidden by cabinet), I tried to glue it but it\'s one of the most-stressed points of the assembly. So I increased the force on the other hinge, and now the dust cover remains open correctly. Depending on use, you might need to re-adjust force on the hinge every once in a while (an easy job). It is also quite possible to find a new dustcover in Germany, I can help you with that. Later iterations of this machine had a better hinge system made of metal (that, in my humble opinion, doesn\'t look as good). Meanwhile, this one will serve you just fine.
Country: GermanyManufacturer / Brand: Braun; FrankfurtYear: 1977/1978 Type: Broadcast Receiver - or past WW2 TunerSemiconductors (the count is only for transistors) 71:Principle Super-Heterodyne (Super in general); ZF/IF 455/10700 kHzTuned circuits 7 AM circuit(s) 14 FM circuit(s)Wave bands Broadcast, Long Wave, Short Wave plus FM.Details Other Combination - see NotesPower type and voltage Alternating Current supply (AC) / 220 VoltLoudspeaker - For headphones or amp.Power out 120 W (max.)from Radiomuseum.org Model: Audio-System PC4000 - Braun; FrankfurtMaterial Various materialsShape Tablemodel, with any shape - general.Dimensions (WHD) 865 x 120 x 337 mm / 34.1 x 4.7 x 13.3 inch

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