1968 Philips Console Hi-Fi Stereo Restoration

My brother and I restored this 1968 home stereo. It was destined for the dump by original owner. It was no longer working. We pulled the chassis and inspected. I changed electrolytic caps. We built custom adaptor plates for smaller modern caps. Some failed resistors. We repaired the record player. Everything but the cassette player works very well the sound quality is very good. We’re quite impressed.

[@garygrant.5311]

I wish they still made console stereos

[@markeaton24thethings]

That is working very well.. Amazing the tt works. Clean the idler.

[@DoroteoVilla]

I’m blown away by the incredible job you guys have done. It’s gorgeous.

[@keithsgarage5831]

DoroteoVilla thanks. It sounds crazy good. I bet it rocked a lot of folks back in 1968.

[@regalt1987]

the depth of sound from these consoles are something everyone should experience.

[@EdgardoValentinoDOlaes]

I’m so fascinated with this PHILIPS Console Stereo system that you refurbished, Keith. Kudos to your extraordinary work. My uncle Ernesto once brought home in Noveleta Cavite, Philippines, the PHILIPS Radio Phonograph Hi-Fi, yr mod: 1959, together with separate triangular speakers, made in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Whenever I watch you playing your Philips stereo console, it brings back precious memories. It’s so nostalgic.

[@xaenon]

Console stereos are awesome! They were built as a set of 'matched' components (the good ones, at any rate) and sounded great! Their Achilles' heel, of course, was their considerable size and the fact that you had to carefully choose where you put them if you wanted to take best advantage of their sound - the all-in-one 'music centers' and component stereo systems did not have these limitations because of their separate speakers. I'll never let go of my 1967 Magnavox Astro-Sonic. I repaired it, did some maintenance to the changer, and recently added Bluetooth to it, and it sounds just wonderful. Yes, it's an antique, but not quite the monument to obsolescence some people might think it is. My granddaughter was fascinated with the automatic changer, and she's going to inherit it one day.

[@broederbond60]

That beautiful console deserves a proper space.

[@keithsgarage5831]

It has a nice home and gets used regularly.

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

Neat. This is an attractive unit, unlike many of the consoles that are pretty silly looking with lots of fake doors, drawers, knobs, handles, gold and brass do-dads, etc, mostly made from molded plastic. The cassette player in this is unique because during these years the 8-track was the big whoop. Most the the audio manufacturers produced these long and low consoles and the big department stores of the sixties and seventies all competed in selling these five foot long beauties, constantly changing styles and features every six months. Check the online Sears, Wards, and Penney's catalogs to see the progression of these, especially in the glory years 1965 to 1975. The move to component and the all-in-one compact systems with separate speakers replaced these in the mid to late seventies and by 1979 these consoles were history in the audio departments. Hope you got the turntable "up to speed". Thanks for the video.

[@OutlawToys]

I dig a good console. I like the styling on this one.

[@paulomontero12]

Great sounding speakers.

[@a075923]

My folks had a Magnavox console, great music maker

[@JacGoudsmit]

The cassette recorder looks the same as Philips' first cassette recorder EL3300. Sounds like the record player needs some work but that's a great treasure you got there.

[@keithsgarage5831]

Jac Goudsmit we found that once given ample warm up time, the records turn at proper speed and sound right.

[@FumariVI]

What a beautiful treasure you have here. Looks and sounds great! There used to be a guy on KZbin who had a rare Dumont console stereo of sixties vintage. I don't know what happened to him. I can't find him on KZbin anymore. If you ever want to sell this contact me. By the way, you have a great voice for narrating videos.

[@sslabanowicz]

Hey are you interested in buying mine ?

[@FumariVI]

@@sslabanowicz Tell me about it, including price and location.

[@AudioElectronicsChicago]

Beautiful!!! It looks great!

[@dnamusic8275]

My aunt has one a bit different from this model. The sound is amazing. It doesn't have cassette slot. It is not faulty now. DireDawa Ethiopia.

[@luisantoniomarrega1120]

Este aparelho é espetacular além do móvel ser bem acabado parece ter uma boa potencia😊👍

[@pcallas66]

I will say that just through my phone it sounds beautiful. However, the record player is playing way too slow. I'm thinking the platter shaft may have grease that's getting really gummed up (that's a really common problem for record changers) or the motor itself may be gummed up. Also check how freely the idler wheel underneath is turning. If you clean and lubricate the parts. It will be working optimally. That's very nice and you did a fantastic job replacing capacitors. I'm sure it's powerful and nice and boomy with the woofers. Thank you for sharing.

[@keithsgarage5831]

Paul Callas we discovered that the record player warms up in a minute or so and then plays at the proper speed.

[@lindathompson3982]

Well, just as u say. However, this is not normal. I believe the commenter's suggestions r valid, & u can either fix the problem now, while it's fairly simple, or u can fix it later. Exquisite stereo console!

[@michalmokrohajsky5740]

Beautiful! Brawo 👍

[@lkmsl]

Real nice voice !

[@heyjohnnypark5703]

I have the same cabinet I saved after next door neighbour died and their daughter just put it out for garbage. Takes a while for it to warm up to speed and the string for the tuner snapped right away oops. Cassette deck powers on but I can see inside the belt is snapped as well. Haven’t figured out how to access the insides of the cabinet to replace.

[@TheDuckseason]

WOW , Beautiful!!

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Not bad for a 1960s sound system with a cassette player.

[@perrymckinney6146]

The cassette player looks like a GE model i had. It had the same looking knob and looked a lot like it.

[@MontrealNorth]

Beautiful🥂

[@alanpaola5266]

Sounds way better with the new digital audio technology thanks to the internet ...of course digital everything !

[@hawkeyepierce3199]

Very sweet! Record player is a bit off time , sounds slow. Beautiful piece

[@keithsgarage5831]

After about 1 minute of warm up time, the record player rotates at the proper speed.

[@sslabanowicz]

Hey i just picked this same console up, can you post a link to the manual? Thank you

[@penny6843]

A schematic link would be fantastic!!

[@theonlywaytofly]

Turntable sounds like its running a tad slow. Pitch control on the unit?

[@keithsgarage5831]

The drive motor needs a minute to warm up. Then the proper speed ensues. I suspect the motor is overdue for some lube.

[@9496TULL]

Very nice

[@keithsgarage5831]

Thanks

[@mauromazzoncini5711]

Dont forget Philips invented the cassette tape system ,thats why its in this console

[@keithsgarage5831]

Very cool. Thank you.

[@keithsgarage5831]

Actually I was just reviewing the original brochure for this console after reading your message. The previous original owner provided it when we acquired the stereo. It states the “all new cassette option, created by Philips”.

[@mauromazzoncini5711]

Very nice system ,thanks for sharing

[@musicnupe]

Sir my mother has this exact unit, and I do have all the schematics if you still are interested in obtaining copies

[@force311999]

Is the cassete stereo. It lokes like the shoe box decks yhe put in organs or used in school

[@angelaevans1636]

AWESOME!!!

[@dspence8086]

Don't know how I missed this video. Sounds great. I always thought cassettes came out in the mid '70's. What's a Canadian doing listening to Born in the USA?

[@keithsgarage5831]

Lol. Still a good song, no matter where you are from! I too was surprised to see a cassette deck in a 1968 stereo. I do like to tiinker on a few things.

[@joshfanler6574]

very cool

[@paulgreen6302]

Turntable running a bit slow great sound.

[@keithsgarage5831]

After about 30 seconds the turntable motor warms up. Then normal speed is achieved again.

[@nightmareman78]

Very cool

[@shopwornbear1171]

Great sound, but the turntable is playing really slow. Idler wheel could be dried out or the motor might need an oiling.

[@bengallo6504]

Hi, I am in the midst of trying to restore a similar Philips console. I noticed you had changed the same caps I have in my chassis. Where did you get your new caps from?

[@keithsgarage5831]

@@bengallo6504 It’s been a fews but I think it was Mouser USA.

[@bengallo6504]

​@@keithsgarage5831I've heard of them. By any chance would you still have your order list?

[@bengallo6504]

​@@keithsgarage5831thanks for replying, I'll try them. Do you still have a list of the caps you ordered?

[@keithsgarage5831]

@bengallo6504 sorry, I don’t.

[@ronichris]

Very nice. The reason why it is a cassette and not an 8-track, is because this is european.

[@dougg1075]

Nice

[@billmalarski2756]

Gretta Van Fleet!

[@joannamccloud]

I have plenty casetts 🤣

[@mitchevans4597]

Thanks for playing Greta Van Fleet

[@chrishinnant3924]

Turntable still plays a little too slow.

[@keithsgarage5831]

After about 1 minute of warm up time, it turns at proper speed.

[@chrishinnant3924]

@@keithsgarage5831 I had a turntable like that once. I had to let it run for about 2 minutes before I could play it.

[@jeffreyhaynes5774]

All the components on your console should work.If you don't know how to repair the cassette,send it to me i will repair it for a small fee.Iphone is ok,but not the same sound as a cassette.

[@edwincancelii2917]

Mainly, the record player needs to be repaired, because it sounds too slow. Nice stereo console, though.

[@keithsgarage5831]

@@edwincancelii2917 after about 1 minutes the motor warms up. It plays at proper speed.

[@edwincancelii2917]

@@keithsgarage5831 Oh. No problem, buddy. I still like that old school stereo console.

[@keithsgarage5831]

@@edwincancelii2917 it sounds fantastic.

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

Subs? Woofers perhaps, but not Subs

[@davidbrown8303]

Fifty years old. a lot of people don't live to be fifty.

[@sauluribe7082]

I believe Phillips is an Austrian company but would have their products build in other countries including United States. I'm not doubting it but that housing hardly looks European.

[@psrjbr]

Philips is Dutch. They had factories all over the world. Here in Brazil they were great in the 50's 60's 70's 80's. They invented the cassette system, that's why it's in there.

[@sauluribe7082]

@@psrjbr Although theirs that debate weather Phillips or Sony invented the compact disc player or both.

[@PauloSantos-zj9jo]

@@sauluribe7082 sorry, but I said the compact cassette system, the tape in a shell. And the compact disc, I've read, they invented too, but at that time, there were a lot of different system being created, so they made a joint venture with Sony so the CD would have a better chance to show up, what happened. More, the vídeo cassette invented by Philips was better than the others, but the VHS was creted before, I think by JVC, and there were already a lot a great companies producing VHS, that's why philips vídeo cassette was forgotten. In time, the CD was based in vídeo disc laser created entirely and solely by Philips and was a huge succes.

[@sauluribe7082]

@@PauloSantos-zj9jo Quite an amazing format the compact disc. From digital audio CD, computer data, photos, videos and reinventing for DVD. Oh! I forgot, video games.