Retro-engineering consoles is most of what we do. We take the time these beautiful homages to music demand to make things right. Here’s a showcase of a few of the 50+ consoles we’ve done over the past few years.
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Photo Credit: Vintage Source RCA Annapolis
One of our favorite consoles, which we continuously try to get more of, is certainly the RCA Annapolis. With its curved front and slatted speaker grilles, this console’s design bleeds MidCentury Modern. No console have we restored and retro-engineered more of than the Annapolis. At one point, we were working on three of them at the same time and discovered that no matter how similar they look, they all sound different and therefore require just as much individual attention.
Built and sold over the course of a few generations, through which the main cabinet remained unchanged, with just a couple of tweaks and two different amplifiers (as well as a larger model — dubbed “The Manhattanite”, that has somehow eluded our attempts to restore one), it is still one of the most iconic stereo console designs of the 1960’s.
Photo Credit: Vintage Source By the time we’re done with this piece, it’ll have our usual stack of components and features:
- Wi-Fi, fully compatible with Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay and more.
- Bluetooth
- TV-Ready Optical Input
- Audiophile-grade Record Player
- Custom tuned amplifier & speakers
Check out what this looked and felt like in our last Annapolis!
Acvstica Audio Youtube Channel Most RCA Annapolis’ we’ve retro-engineered were built between 1965 and 1969.
All of our consoles, speakers and radios go through an extensive bespoke tunning using a professional calibration microphone and computer software, which then gets written into the amplifiers DSP (Digital Signal Processor) firmware. This is done in order to achieve outstanding fidelity and performance.
Any more questions you may have feel free to call us at (913) 243 5913 or visit our shop at Vintage Source where we’re always happy to talk audio and show you around.
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Photo credit: Dan Posch Zenith Y960
Few consoles capture the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic quite like Zenith’s Louvered Door consoles. We’ve restored several over time and always admire the timeless elegance of these designs. Though not particularly rare due to their long production run, a well-preserved example remains a true statement piece.
Over roughly a decade of production, Zenith continually refined its models while maintaining the signature look and feel—wider, deeper cabinets, with or without open-reel tape decks, and Danish or Modern-style bases.
We currently have three different cabinets, including two of the larger Y960s. One is a YT960, displayed unrestored at Vintage Source‘s showroom. Unfortunately, its lifting R2R tape deck was removed long before it came to us, so we’ll repurpose the space as a storage cubby. The third console is a more compact model that keeps the same overall aesthetic.
Photo credit: Dan Posch Once restoration is complete, this console will feature our custom selection of premium components, including:
- Wi-Fi, fully compatible with Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay and more.
- Bluetooth connectivity
- TV-ready optical input
- Audiophile-grade record player
- Custom tuned amplifier and speakers
The console pictured here is a retrofit we had refinished by what is now Vintage Source, back in 2022.
The Zenith X930, built in 1966 specifically.
Zenith provided little documentation regarding model variations and production dates for this design style, but we’ll continue updating this page as we uncover more. We aim to be a reliable resource for verified information on these consoles.
Currently, our collection includes a YT960 (sans tape deck), a Y960, and a smaller unidentified model, all boasting Zenith’s iconic louvered doorsEvery console, speaker, and radio we restore undergoes extensive bespoke tuning using a professional calibration microphone and advanced software. The resulting data is programmed into the DSP (Digital Signal Processor) firmware, ensuring exceptional fidelity and performance.
Any more questions you may have feel free to call us at (913) 243 5913 or visit our shop at Vintage Source where we’re always happy to talk audio and show you around.