Waiting on one of these from Mr Royal Mail!!! Can't wait!!!

For those who don't know,

Mine however isn't as minty as this one, it's gonna need a good clean and has an issue with the on/off buttons. The bloke I got it off bought it brand new. even has the service manual for it which is handy. Here's what he said about it.

The main feature is the On off buttons. Then work on the PCB, which is capacitave type. But the spring action of the plastic moulding has died so its a mechanical job. The main this is the slight back pressure from the sitch to push back.
The radio is all fine, but it would need a clean and lubricants on switches etc.
The tape was fine, but the record mech action just needs a ll given TLC.
I would check belts and drive pulleys that the rubber is ok. I bought this when I joined the BBC in 1982, so its not exactly young. The whole point is the brilliant styling.
It was used mainly for my FM Pirate in Belfast, KISS-FM, (THE ORIGINAL).
Its a fiddle for all the wires, and the way it was made, so just make sure all wires are properly pushed home. The main drag is the power transformer which is best desoldered when you do anything. I retro fitted a light bulb so you can see the dial in the dark. Its not properly installed, its just a bulb via a zener diode. It loads the power supply too much so you get a hum. Best remove it.

You have the Full Service Manual with this. The main computer board was replaced in the early 90s.

This is an Analog Tuner, with Digital read out. SW and everything.

big philips fan me as all know lol, always fancied one of the 8814s or an 8714. if it sounds half as good as the 8614 you've got a cracking box coming, cos it sure looks cool.

be sure to hit back with a verdict, nice one mark

i've always wanted to get one of these huge philips. it seems to be quality built and it must sound great

Thanks for the picture ( I didn't know ) - Not on my watch/want list

these look bombproof unlike all the other philips that we all buy,

they look the business imo,

good score mark atleast it wont be a jigsaw puzzle when you open the box

  i have seen more inside a empty bread bin

It's arrived but it needs a damn good clean. There's a lot of dust/fluff inside the speakers but after looking inside i'm very apprehensive about stripping it down  

Anyway i've given it a wipe down for now and removed the dodgy on/off buttons. Didn't think it worked at all when I first plugged it in. Turns out the computer side which has the clock/timer and the on/off buttons has to be powered by 2 AA batteries for it to power up  The cassette belt has perished but radio tunes in a treat. Twin aerials complete, line-in all good and sounds great with the spatial setting. Gonna be a bit of a project with update pictures but not rushing it.  

As it is for now.

so the elephant talks!

congrats Mark, i think everybody round here knows how much i rate philips boxes so il'e keep shut glad you like it and can't wait for the after pics

Great purchase Mark !!!

You wont be disappointed by this one!!

It is one of the nicest units

i ve ever had the pleasure to listen to.

Cant wait to see some pics with the after work.

As Lav says cant say much about the quality of those philips's

as the pic just speaks of itself!

not had one of these in my claws yet but they are surely the best box philips ever made...congrats mark

oooh that's a bit harsh on the 8614 Andy personally i think the 8614 is the best philips ever, certainly the most expensive of the lot. can't compare sound as iv'e never had the 8814 or 8714. gotta say do love the look of the 8814 but i think the 8614 grabs it

az i knew you would come out swinging for the 8614,...i think the `elephant` looks like a magnet would actually stick to it unlike the 8614,

the 8614 looks good but it feels like it was made on a budget,

im only gonig off the pics az

ha ha i do see where your coming from Andy, the 8814 defo looks like it has superior build quality, although i believe it has issues with switches falling off

i think the 8614 is of decent build not like a crown 5100 if ya like but could of been made better

still it makes up for the below par build quality with amazing sound.

be nice if Mark could do a sound comparison between the 2 for us Mark......