Uncrate.com introduces us to the vacuum tube car stereo. "The Panasonic CQ-TX5500D ($950) is the only car stereo that we know of that features a built-in vacuum tube amplifier for all the retro-sounding overtones you so desperately desire. It plays CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3 discs, and emits an orange glow that you can see through the middle window when you’re rocking out. The double-din stereo, which will fit in many import cars (and get rid of that stupid empty pocket thing in your dash at the same time), also sports old school meters that have needles instead of LEDs."
Looks very cool, yes it does but how much fidelity do you need in a car with it’s inherent road and wind noises. But for almost a thousand dollars, you too can sport this technological wonder. Somehow I can’t imagine using those tiny buttons to do anything when I’m flying down the road at high way speeds. Still, it does look very cool. Form over function? :o)
The Bis Key Chronicles 
I will just say ‘Hi’ since this post is over the top of my head. LOL
I hope you are having a great Sunday.
I agree this does not seem too practical at all (at least to me with these over 40 eyes). I can think of so many other things to blow a thousand bucks on 😉
The EX was in a rock band so I know a bit about sound equipment. We had 2 huge Marshall amplifiers and Altec Lansing speakers and a host of sound equipment with a multitude of gadgets and meters, to go with our stereo system, including a specially weighted needle arm on the record player. This was our living room sound system and it had an amazing sound quality that reverberated down the entire block…hehehe.
Very retro!