Boomboxes and Ghettoblasters

It came today. The JVC RC M70. Been playing it most of the day. Pretty nice piece. I looked up the specs and it said this particular model was about 450 dollars in 1981-82 which was a good chunk of change back then. The guy I bought it from rebuilt all the amp boards cleaned all the pots. It really cranks the music.

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It came today. The JVC RC M70. Been playing it most of the day. Pretty nice piece. I looked up the specs and it said this particular model was about 450 dollars in 1981-82 which was a good chunk of change back then. The guy I bought it from rebuilt all the amp boards cleaned all the pots. It really cranks the music.

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Wow, is that actually an input for a turntable with a MM cartridge?:yikes: I don't think I ever saw that on a boombox before. I have seen ones that have an input for ceramic cartridge equipped phonos.:rolleyes:
 
Wow, is that actually an input for a turntable with a MM cartridge?:yikes: I don't think I ever saw that on a boombox before. I have seen ones that have an input for ceramic cartridge equipped phonos.:rolleyes:

Hi beat truck, yes the higher end and bigger boom boxes had phono inputs and line inputs. I have not tried the phono input but the line input sounds incredible with a iPod. I am learning quite a bit about the boom box world.
 
Guys,

I am thinking about a 1970s boombox. I love separates from 1970s in terms of look and sound, I think they beat 1980s gear. But in case of boomboxes, 1970s ones have better build quality with aluminum aplenty and thick plastic molds but my guess is the 1980s ones will beat them in terms of sound, especially those with added subwoofers. I had JVC with 3D Super Bass in mid 1980s which my parents still use everyday for radio and it sounds great even today, beats new portable stuff, bass is really good.
But 1980s gear's looks just puts me off. So what do you think about 1970s boomboxes in term of sound? The cute things like Hitachi TRK-8080? No chance against 1980s TRK-8600?
 
I have a Grundig that is immaculate. Unfortunately, I never use it. Even has shortwave. I believe it has an input for TT also, been awhile since I even thought about it. I know the tuner is impressive on it, it has 5 adjustment sliders on the back for it but not sure if that means 5 gang

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Guys,

I am thinking about a 1970s boombox. I love separates from 1970s in terms of look and sound, I think they beat 1980s gear. But in case of boomboxes, 1970s ones have better build quality with aluminum aplenty and thick plastic molds but my guess is the 1980s ones will beat them in terms of sound, especially those with added subwoofers. I had JVC with 3D Super Bass in mid 1980s which my parents still use everyday for radio and it sounds great even today, beats new portable stuff, bass is really good.
But 1980s gear's looks just puts me off. So what do you think about 1970s boomboxes in term of sound? The cute things like Hitachi TRK-8080? No chance against 1980s TRK-8600?

I like the way all the boomboxes look even in the 70s. I’m more familiar with the 80s gear more but would love to find some of the radios from the 70s like the JVC R550 with the 10 inch woofer
 
It came today. The JVC RC M70. Been playing it most of the day. Pretty nice piece. I looked up the specs and it said this particular model was about 450 dollars in 1981-82 which was a good chunk of change back then. The guy I bought it from rebuilt all the amp boards cleaned all the pots. It really cranks the music.

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The JVC RM 70 is an excellent performer , I had one back in the 80's . I used
4 amp hour NI CAD batteries with a modification to charge them overnight.

I could blast music for a day and a half before re-charge.

Regrettably, I gave it to an old GF......
 
Hi all, came across a “small” boom box at GW for $5.00. Cleaning it today. Forward and play seem to work fine but rewind has no umph, it rewinds but seems to slide like the belt is stretched. I opened the back opting for access to the belt but there is a board in the way. Pulled all the screws for the board but the wires are tight in the right and leave no room to lay the board over or reach the belt without possible damage. Anyone familiar with the Realistic model 14-779 and how you can swap out the belt(s) without soldering? Thanks.

I will finish looking through this thread later. I was fixing his little unit up for my daughter but with no Aux input for an iPad I will need another unit come summer. One we can use quietly and I can play with when they are gone, you all have some great examples man. Great stuff!
 

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Paid a buck for this GE 3-5255a at a record store that was closing down. I had to pull all of the guts out of it just to deoxit the pots, it was such a bitch lol. Tape deck plays but the belt will need replaced. It gets pretty damn good reception. Speaker date codes where 79 so it probably an 80 model. Built like a tank with very little plastic in the tape mechanism.
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In the last 10 days I went from zero boomboxes to two, both Panasonic. For the price, I couldn’t resist. One is an RX-4940 and the other is an RX-5100.

The 4940 is a smaller unit, but the tape section sounds quite good and the tuner actually pulls in stations better than on any receiver or stand-alone tuner I have. I like it.

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The RX-5100 works great too, is quite a bit larger, and has more bells and whistles. Speaking of which, has anybody seen a boombox with outputs for external speakers? Because it seems this one does (see photos). I haven’t found a manual, so I’ll have to figure that function out.

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In the last 10 days I went from zero boomboxes to two, both Panasonic. For the price, I couldn’t resist. One is an RX-4940 and the other is an RX-5100.

The 4940 is a smaller unit, but the tape section sounds quite good and the tuner actually pulls in stations better than on any receiver or stand-alone tuner I have. I like it.

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The RX-5100 works great too, is quite a bit larger, and has more bells and whistles. Speaking of which, has anybody seen a boombox with outputs for external speakers? Because it seems this one does (see photos). I haven’t found a manual, so I’ll have to figure that function out.

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Looks like plugs to external speakers but what kind of power can the box be putting out. Lol
 
Interesting. I'm tempted to try these adaptors and run some wire to a pair of my more efficient speakers. Though, I'm not sure to what end... :idea:. Just for fun, I guess.

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Years ago when my daughters were young we decided on getting each of them a boom box.
We visited the local K Mart and they had an impressive display. On one aisle they had around 15 or more all set up for customers to listen to. After going back and forth for a half hour we finally picked the GE models. The speakers were detachable and it sounded the best. When we got home I examined the manual closely and found that they also had a magnetic phono cartridge input. Equalized and all.
I did not see this when we were auditioning.
 
I grew up during the boom box craze so got to sample a bunch. I noticed if you weren't squeezing it for all it's worth, running into clipping on the street corner some of them could sound very nice. I had a small Panasonic (RX 39something?) set up in my room that replaced an RCA all in one junker and it made me plenty happy for years.
 
Here it is. Got a Fanta bottle next to it for scale. There was a really mint one for more than double the price but didn't want to spend that much. The tape player works still but for how long. Lol. Actually sounds pretty decent. Will keep my eye open for some around the thrift stores and craigslist. Circa 1985
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Yep-mine is still working.
I left it at my parents house in 1989 when I left for college.

My father still uses it to listen to the LSU football games on it.

Loved that thing
 
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