New Products

Keeping the Classic Stereo Console Alive

Bob Ankosko  |  Jul 18, 2023

Wrensilva, the San Diego-based audio company specializing in self-contained audio systems reminiscent of the classic stereo console that was a fixture in living rooms across America in the 1960s and ’70s, has announced a limited-edition version of The Standard, its most popular model.

The new model sports a luxurious teak finish featuring slatted doors, removable off-white speaker grilles, and adjustable satin-brass legs. The cabinet is made of “hand-selected FSC-certified plantation teak,” meaning the wood is sourced from responsibly managed forests. The company is only taking orders for 100 consoles, each hand-built in San Diego.

Like all Wrensilva systems, The Standard Teak honors the classic hi-fi console with a built-in turntable in addition to supporting wireless streaming via aptX-enabled Bluetooth 4.0 or Wi-Fi, the latter for sending music to Sonos speakers around the house and controlling it via the Sonos app. The system has a storage compartment that holds up to 120 LPs plus a pocket next to the turntable for 15 more albums and includes a 3.5mm minijack for quick phone hookups plus two analog stereo RCA inputs for bringing other source components into the mix and a set of preamp output jacks.

The turntable is a fully decoupled belt-driven design featuring an 8.6-inch molded magnesium tonearm fitted with an Ortofon 2M Red moving-magnet cartridge, Hurst motor with electronic speed control, and a frosted acrylic platter with an aluminum spindle. The control panel next to the turntable has bass, treble, balance, and volume dials in addition to a six-position source selector; toggle switches at the bottom control power (on/off), turntable playback speed (33 1/3 or 45 rpm), and cavity lighting (on/off).

Sound is delivered through a two-way bass-reflex speaker system with left and right driver complements, each mating a 7-inch treated paper-cone woofer with a 1-inch textile-dome tweeter and powered by a 300-watt-per-channel Class D IcePower amplifier from Denmark’s Bang & Olufsen. The system is rated down to 38 Hz (±2.5 dB, measured off-axis.)

The console is 59 inches wide, 27 inches tall, and 19 inches deep and boasts high-quality torque hinges for “rattle-free listening” and cutouts to help ease cable management. The Standard Teak console is priced at $9,990 plus $650 for shipping, which includes white-glove service; lead-time is 4-6 weeks. For more information, visit wrensilva.com.

COMMENTS
slumkid's picture
Submitted by slumkid on July 18, 2023 - 4:39pm

These are beautiful pieces of furniture, and it's nice to see a tribute to the consoles that our parents (or grandparents) had. It's a great idea to have the entire entertainment system in one sharp-looking cabinet. I would love to see an actual review that critically addresses the sound quality and overall performance of these units. It seems almost impossible to find that information on the web...

jeff-henning's picture
Submitted by jeff-henning on July 21, 2023 - 5:48pm

If you spend $10K on one of these boxes, you’ve proven that you don’t care about audio at all.

Billy's picture
Submitted by Billy on July 27, 2023 - 9:28pm

In the summer of 1968, my folks bought a console stereo from Sears in beautiful walnut. Not veneer mind you, solid walnut. (I miss the good old days) Obviously it didn't sound as nice is I am sure these do, but to us it was magical. My folks loved to play music almost every night. Dads only rule was "No Beatles!" Dad never did grow to understand their music, oh well.

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