Figured you guys would probably know a bit about this topic. We picked up a 70's radio console to turn into a home bar, but after we got it home we actually enjoyed having the radio and record player around. However we we're hoping to update it so we could use Bluetooth as well. I've been doing some research and it looks like there's a simple solution, but I don't know enough about audio equipment to be sure about it.
AFAIK, it doesn't have any RCA inputs, so a BT reciever is out of the question. The next thought was a new amp with BT. Something like this: Amp. However i'm not sure if that will work, so my other thought was buying a whole new reciever, something like this:Reciever. It seems like one of these options should be my answer. Though I don't know if it's as simple as plug and play with the original speakers. I also want to keep the record player, which means i'll have to run individual power to each part, right now the switcher is in the original reciever.
What say the hive?
Ours does have an input for a "tape" that actually was built for reel to reel but works for anything. It's an option on the selector switch and available inside the cabinet but ours wasn't specced with the external jacks in the cabinet.
Some of the cabinets, especially the ones like yours and mine that had optional external satellite speakers used weird impedance speakers that might not play as well with newer amps. You might end up replacing the speakers as well, or maybe using a car stereo that matches the speakers better.
I think you'll need specs on that exact console. When you had individual components, (receiver, tape deck, phono in a stack) the audio signals were all standardized; phono had more gain, tape decks were straight RCA, etc. When they do an all-in-one like that, sometimes the signals and inputs were proprietary. You might not be able to just take the wires from the turntable and solder on an RCA and plug it into any amp. The speakers are likely the easy part. They're probably 16 ohm (which you can check on the back of the driver itself). As long as the speaker is higher resistance than the amp can handle, you're good. Even cheap amps will take an 8 ohm resistance without breaking a sweat, some will go as low as 2 or 4 ohm.
You might be able to do some sleuthing and find an input on the original amp board and solder on an RCA for a BT receiver. I assume it has an FM tuner as well? If so, just get an FM bluetooth transmitter and tune to 88.5 or whatever.
Looks like i'm in luck. Found what appears RCA inputs for a tape deck.
There should be any number of adapters that will plug right in to the tape inputs. Nice looking midcentury console, I haven't thought about Gambles stores in a long time - there used to be one in just about every small town in Minnesota.
If you want to add BT take alook at this thread:
Vintage headphones restomod Superex 916
Switched power for the tape deck too means you can power up your BT adapter with a wall wort and turn it on and off with the unit. Awesome.
You might still look at one of those tiny amps that have usb and sd card inputs along with the Bluetooth, though. Most of them have line outs that would hook up to those rcas plus you can just toss a thumb drive in and walk away. Being able to fine tune the output to match whatever that input likes best might be handy too.
