homebrew-n: La Stereola - a home-made Stereo Console

 

La Stereola - a home-made Stereo Console

The first consoles appearing here in Canada were rather pricy and not large enough, in my opinion, to fully appreciate stereo sound.

That gave rise in 1962 to the thought of creating my own, and many different designes followed, sketched onto transparent paper. The result was an enclosure featuring a speaker separation of about 6 ft and a total length of 7 ft.

At this time, the Körting radio receiver 22516; the DUAL LP changer 1006/A; the pre-amp TVV43; pickup system DMS900 and the Isophon loudspeakers were purchased from a sales agent dealing in German-made sound equipment.

The acquisition of the equipment accelerated now the project. Drawings with precise dimensions would now be made on the drafting board.  

The drawings, showing the final design, were then presented to a dealer for furniture-quality woods, for the purpose of calculating the the amount needed. Two sheets, each measuring 3/4 in x 48 in x 96 in, good one side of walnut veneer would cover the requirements.

As it would have been impossible to do the cutting of all the pieces in my, at that time rather small apartment, the firm's owner offered to do it in his shop.

This now required drawings for all the pieces showing dimensions as well as the grain direction. The pieces would now be cut out of the sheets.

Speaker baffles, after the openings were cut, would now be covered with speaker type cloth.

All the various parts would now be assembled, using dowels and glue, the raw edges veneered and the entire enclosure finely sanded.

After a few days the cabinet would now receive a Danish oil finish.

It was now time to install radio reveiver, LP changer, pre-amp and loudspeakers.

My place of work at that time allowed me to obtain the electric motor drive and gear spindle, designed to open and close the panel with the receiver mounted, as well as some items needed for the internal power wiring. Some elecronic items were obtained from local elecronic supply sources.

Finally the back panels were made and sound dampaning material installed into the speaker compartments. Installation of all remaining items.

As the four speakers turned out to be be too great a load for the receiver, a second amplifier (ELPICO AC 77) was added so as to equally devide the load between the Körting and ELPICO units. The added amplifier and two speakers may be separately operated and controlled as desired.

Total construction time approximately one year.

Due to the timeless design, nice finish as well as great sound quality, the set is still very much admired.

Rolf Franke

 

To thank the Author because you find the post helpful or well done.