Pacific Stereo - share your memories

I remember that I thought those were one of the better speakers at the local Tech Hi Fi in Totowa N.J. Couldn't afford any of that stuff as a teenager of course.

 

Howdy all. I just joined this wonderful discussion group to share a few of my fond memories of Pacific Stereo. I was involved with PS from the very beginning. I was a salesman for the Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and San Francisco stores, and regional stockman for the SF Bay area.

I lived in Berkeley and just happened to live next door to one of the founding partners of Pacific Stereo, Ted Bennett.

And here comes my most fondest memory of PS.

In 1962, when I was a teenager, Mr Bennett hired me to manufacture small 2 way bookshelf speakers in his basement. These speakers were inspirational: 8 in woofer and 2 in dome tweeter with an ElectroVoice crossover in a Walnut veneer cabinet. Mr. Bennett was planning to produce speakers to add to a component stereo section he had proposed for the original Berkeley Pacific Electronics store. Pacific Electronics at the time only sold electronic components, like tubes, transistors etc., and was a service and repair shop, but Mr. Bennett had the brilliant idea to add component stereo sales to the mix. With successful component sales PE subsequently transformed into the first Pacific Stereo store and thus was history.

And after we could not keep up with demand, the speaker production I was involved with as a teenager moved around, relocated, and ultimately became Quadraflex Industries.

After graduating from high school 1966, I went off to college, and then returned to become a salesman at the Walnut Creek Store. And thus was my history. I left PS in 1971 to attend graduate school, but just in time before CBS acquired PS and ultimately lead it down a fatal path to its demise.

As far as acquiring personal stereo equipment while working at PS, I utilized many options. Often, I would purchase the vintage stereo equipment from my customers trade-ins they would have been given credit towards their purchase. I used employee discount purchases. I won a few sales contests. And I purchased equipment from other salesmen.

As a result I amassed a fine stereo component system that I still have operating today. That includes two Infinity Servo-static I a speaker systems, a Harman Kardon Citation A pre-amp, a Harman Kardon Citation 15 tuner, and a Panasonic Technics direct drive turntable with Rabco arm. I recently replaced the Dynaco tube amps and Harman Kardon Citation 12 amps with Carver amps. And I still have a Spectrasonic 110 receiver.

Got a lot more memories to share.

 

Thanks for sharing and opening a little window on the past. It's fun to kick around the stories and remember the days when HiFi was King.
Keep them coming please.
Sal

 

I know.. RogerSound Labs revolutionized the golden years hifi system in the US.
Southern CA. 80's in my teens. Only 3 things we do everyday after school. surf, go to tower records and hang out in RogerSound Labs. A lot of RSL speakers and systems, New olds tock Japanese hifi's, some trade ins, tube amps and speakers. That's where I met my love at first sight on hifi. The Rauna tower speakers and Marantz 8b. What a combination and all I do every night is to dream about it. Finally got my Rauna 7 years ago in impeccable shape. It felt like t was just waiting for me throughout the years. Running it with several kt88 amps. Its just a dream come true. It all started right there at that small shop in Torrance, CA. I wish Howard Rogers (founder) is still around. Just to thank him and hope to hear more about his ventures. The knowledge he gave us and shared is like an open flood gates and otherwise we would be lesser today.

 

there was another retailer like Pac Stereo in my home state called Jafco and they used carry all the latest from back in the day especially "phase Linear which was the brand they where pushing

 

I bought my first stereo at the Pacific Stereo in Long Beach, CA., mid 70s. Boy, did they see me coming. For a little less money than a Pioneer I got me a SounDesign receiver with speakers and BSR turntable included. Luckily it got stolen and my parents had insurance. With that money I went to Walachs (sp) Music City and got me a used HR Scott receiver with AR4x speakers. My first lesson, I’m still learning.

 

I worked in the service department of the Pacific Stereo in Canoga Park while I was studying music at Cal State Northridge. It was a very forgettable time.

 

The only thing I remember buying from there was a Sony flat screen tube TV. All of my audio gear came from Roger Sound Labs stores (RSL).

 

I bought my very first cassette deck with them. The manager gave me a student discount and lay away for 60 days which they weren't even doing at that time. He probably felt so sorry for me for I was always there watching those people buying those nice Marantz stereo brand new in the box while I was dropped jaw with a busted wallet college boy. Gotta start somewhere right..

 

Is its true that - fast times at ridgemont high- was in canoga park?

 

My dad purchased a pair of 3-way infinity bookshelf speakers at one of their sales back around 1982 or so. I never really cared for those speakers. They always sounded sterile to my ears.

 

Yes, I believe it was filmed at Canoga Park High School. It's on Tujunga Blvd. Had a girlfriend who went there, but she didn't know Jeff Spicoli.

 

Pacific stereo in Torrance was really nice if I remember they were in Sepulveda and Crenshaw which is pretty cool for that was close to my moms house and school. Just like a good mile or 2 was Roger Sound Labs, Tower Records, The Wherehouse and right by Redondo beach was concert by the sea. Ive seen so many big Jazz player at that venue. Unbelievable I watched David Benoit, Russ Freeman like 15 feet away from me.
On summer days we use to hang out at Pacific Stereo right after school or even after surfing. Sometimes Tower records were giving away promotions like singles and popcorns. I really enjoy those days.

 

Nah, everything you could buy at all those places you can get on Amazon today. See how much nicer and richer life is now?

 

Be that as it may, the biggest picture is the togetherness and life which I don't think any money can buy. I made a promise to my wife this year I would be spending more time being out and enjoying myself.
Maybe I bit more than I could chew for it will never exempt me being slave-driven in my own house. Lets say, I wanna record some music, I have to plan it a day and it takes a lot of obstacles for me to reach to that plan including both jobs, cooking for my wife and my kitty, taking care of the house, then the last is the stereo. I guess that comes with the package.
PS. My preference is more in the Silverface Retro Style. Its very hard for me to by something in the new market today. Nothing better or best but I prefer the craftsmanship of the old school.

 

We didn't have Pacific Stereo back in Jersey at the time, but we had Tech Hi Fi. The carpet in that place got crusty from all of the drool deposited over the years. Of course I could never afford most anything in the store. I'll never forget hearing Led Zep I through OHM Model As driven by a Phase Linear 700. Bonham's cymbals just floated above the speakers. OMG!

 

Bought my Sony TA3200 power amp and Thorens TD124 turntable from them in the early '70s. I miss great stereo shops from those days. It's not the same drooling over gear on-line.