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Old 2nd Oct 2022, 6:13 pm   #1
omegaman1969
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Default Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Does anyone have any info on this radio? Can't see anything online.

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Old 2nd Oct 2022, 10:36 pm   #2
omegaman1969
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

We were probably driving around Wiltshire listening on the same model radio then. I think it must have been early 80's when I first had this radio, I found it in my Fathers workshop today.
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Old 2nd Oct 2022, 11:50 pm   #3
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

It looks somewhat too good for an Amstrad product. Could it be a rebadged product of some Japanese firm?

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Old 3rd Oct 2022, 7:38 am   #4
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Ha ha! It might look like a Pioneer but note the lack of auto reverse and Dolby NR, both features you'd find on most quality machines of the era.

I think by that stage (early to mid 1980s), Amstrad were capable of producing stuff that looked every bit as good as the Japanese competition and had most of the same features, but was a fraction of the price. Build quality and performance were usually mediocre though.

Nonetheless, have a look back through old Argos and Radio Shack catalogues of the period online to see if you can find something equivalent, though I suspect it would be branded Audioline or Harry Moss or Realistic, rather than a big Japanese name.

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Old 3rd Oct 2022, 9:40 am   #5
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Yes I thought it was a Pioneer when I found it, I had forgotten it was an Amstrad unit. I'll open it up and see if there are any other part numbers inside.
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Old 3rd Oct 2022, 4:22 pm   #6
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

If it's any help and since it's not on the download site, I have a paper copy of the service manual that I could scan and email to you. Please PM me your email address if you require a copy in pdf.

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Old 3rd Oct 2022, 8:11 pm   #7
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Quote:
Originally Posted by omegaman1969 View Post
Yes I thought it was a Pioneer when I found it, I had forgotten it was an Amstrad unit. I'll open it up and see if there are any other part numbers inside.
I had a very similar model under an obscure brand I dont remember, but definitely not Amstrad.
I bought this car radio at the duty free shop of the Amsterdam airport in the 80s.
I dont remember where it was produced, somewhere in the Far East.
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Old 3rd Oct 2022, 8:23 pm   #8
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Quote:
Originally Posted by marceljack View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by omegaman1969 View Post
Yes I thought it was a Pioneer when I found it, I had forgotten it was an Amstrad unit. I'll open it up and see if there are any other part numbers inside.
I had a very similar model under an obscure brand I dont remember, but definitely not Amstrad.
I bought this car radio at the duty free shop of the Amsterdam airport in the 80s.
I dont remember where it was produced, somewhere in the Far East.
This unit has Made in Japan on the case.
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Old 3rd Oct 2022, 8:24 pm   #9
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Quote:
Originally Posted by G6ONEDave View Post
If it's any help and since it's not on the download site, I have a paper copy of the service manual that I could scan and email to you. Please PM me your email address if you require a copy in pdf.

Dave
Excellent, Ill drop you a PM Dave.

Thanks

Simon
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Old 5th Oct 2022, 12:01 am   #10
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

December 24 1980 Leicester Mercury Supplement. Comet advert:


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They were asking Pioneer price for a humble Amstrad. And then some.
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Old 5th Oct 2022, 7:30 am   #11
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Wow! I was wrong about that!
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Old 5th Oct 2022, 12:21 pm   #12
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Digital readout on a car radio in 1980 was really a very high-end feature, and the competition from the "big brands" doesn't seem to have it, so the price was probably very competitive.
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Old 6th Oct 2022, 8:41 am   #13
omegaman1969
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Quote:
Originally Posted by rambo1152 View Post
December 24 1980 Leicester Mercury Supplement. Comet advert:


Attachment 265675

They were asking Pioneer price for a humble Amstrad. And then some.
Amazing! I wish I could remember where I got it from. I know I had it before I could drive in 87, I had it hooked up to speakers in my bedroom for a few years. I do remember thinking it was very futuristic at the time.
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Old 6th Oct 2022, 9:35 am   #14
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

I found one of these in pieces in the corner of the workshop where I worked in the mid 1980's. I put it together traced a few faults and ordered parts new from Amstrad. After a few hours work I had quite an impressive looking and sounding car stereo. It looked too good to be an Amstrad.
I installed it in my car and used it for about a year before some kind soul broke into my car and stole it. To this day I have not completely forgiven this person and still wish him bad Karma.
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Old 6th Oct 2022, 11:35 pm   #15
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

This is a 'Generic' unit sold under different brand names! I like it a lot, you got a digi tuner readout and a semi decent cassette mechanism for under £100! Amstrad had some funny units especially in the very early 80's, pretty much all were simply generic built lower cost sets! The Amstrad Tower Systems were also generic & truly dreadful units, a sign that maybe costs had been pared to the bone by 1982 ish.
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Old 7th Oct 2022, 8:32 am   #16
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Quote:
Originally Posted by cmjones01 View Post
Digital readout on a car radio in 1980 was really a very high-end feature...
I think this model was not only with digital frequency readout but also PLL tuning and presets.
This avoids the frequency drifts of simple digital readout models.
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Old 8th Oct 2022, 8:51 am   #17
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Like the look of this, Never seen an amstrad badged car radio before
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Old 8th Oct 2022, 10:45 am   #18
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

I think this was an OEM unit made by Orion.
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Old 13th Oct 2022, 6:53 pm   #19
omegaman1969
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Default Re: Amstrad EX909 Car radio

Quote:
Originally Posted by electronicskip View Post
I think this was an OEM unit made by Orion.
They made some decent kit, I have one of their old cheater amps that will run 2 x 200 watts and 2 x 400watts @ .5 ohm.
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