Viking 811 (c. 1967–1968)
Surviving information on the Viking 811 is mostly promotional. Viking ran ads in late 1967 and 1968 calling itself the first and largest tape cartridge equipment maker in the world. That is a claim, not an independent test. The ads presented the 811 as one of three new solid-state stereo eight-track cartridge players. According to that advertising, the 811 was a table-top unit in a walnut cabinet with a built-in playback preamp, meant to feed an existing home stereo system. HiFI-Stereo (November 1967, p.141) and Audio (January 1968, p.51) both carried the campaign, and the 1968 copy added "under $100." Viking also claimed the 811 was the best-sounding eight-track player and backed it with a money-back offer.
What’s known in short:
- Solid-state stereo eight-track cartridge player
- Table-top model in walnut cabinet
- Built-in playback preamp for use with existing stereo equipment
- Advertised at under $100 in 1968
An 811W also appears in the January 1968 ad, but the ad gives no further detail. A later Telex 811 R eight-track recorder/playback deck was covered in High Fidelity (October 1971, p.49) at $169.95. It is a separate product made by Telex. The available record doesn't spell out how it relates to the Viking 811.
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