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New Boombox's Good one please ?

A

anden

Active Member
Who makes a nice quality boombox today ? One without gadgets but has strong performance.

Years ago I had a sony CFS-66.....simple-solid-well made and the audio was fantastic. I know cassete tape is out of date and most new boomboxes will have a CD player. Most of todays units I've seen are junk or have ay too many funtions.
 
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I have looked myself and found the current production models all lacking. I wanted a rugged one to haul down to the beach, preferably one with tweeters for at least a little high-end clarity. Nothing -- really pathetic offerings. I bought one of these -- http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ZS-H10CP...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1217426235&sr=8-1 -- and it sounded boomy and dull and was really bulky and heavy to boot.

What I've taken to doing is finding decent older ones at the thrift stores and running them until they bust or wear out, and then buying another one. Cause the new ones all stink.

What I really don't understand is why hasn't someone developed a really simple, rugged, good sounding boombox that would allow you to plug in your own source (an MP3 player or portable CDP). Seems like a no-brainer. But electronics corporations are too stupid to actually prvide something utilitarian like that.
 
Rather than buuying a boombox, you might be better off buying off a pair of mini-monitors and a discman or the like, and strapping it all to a board with a handle. Probably better sound, and easy to replace parts if anything fails. Of course, unless you invest alot of time, it will likely look like crap.

(the link to the minimonitors is an inexpensive pair that I happen to like)

OR

buy a good "executive minisystem" (onkyo makes some pretty good ones) and figure out a way of attaching the speakers to the source/amp unit. Similar to above, but it would look a bit better.
 
If I were going to buy a good cassette "boombox", that also sounded good, and had a VERY good radio, I'd get a Bang & Olufsen Beosystem 10. They were made 1988-90.

Just make sure the tuner is working well, and the cassette deck doesn't need belts, unless you can handle a nasty re-belting job yourself.

If you don't want cassette, but a CD player, do as some of the other guys suggest, and get a portable CD player, but I'd get a new Sonic-Impact T-amp to drive a small pair of decent speakers. A pair of Minimus 7 immediately pop into my mind. All-battery powered, and a T-amp will run FOREVER on a set of batteries.
 
bangsezmax said:
What I really don't understand is why hasn't someone developed a really simple, rugged, good sounding boombox that would allow you to plug in your own source (an MP3 player or portable CDP). Seems like a no-brainer. But electronics corporations are too stupid to actually prvide something utilitarian like that.
Click to expand...

Something like this?
boombox.jpg


It's been slightly modified since that picture and there is now a 1/8" plug in the front just above the volume knob. It has T-amp guts inside, runs on 8xAA batteries (for a really long time!). The speakers are Vifa coax from Apex Jr. with Steve's published crossover and each has its own enclosure. Total cost was well under $100 but I got the T-amp back when they were $30 so that'd probably higher now. It beats any commercially available boombox I've heard except maybe the mega boxes from back in the breakdancing 80's.

Ray
 
Its not new but they are on Ebay alot - Panasonic RX-DT690
Cd
dual cassette
solid tuner
2 amplifiers (each speaker has 4 wires coming out of it)
poly woofers and nice cone tweeters
VERY HEAVY
Let me know if you want pics of mine. I highly recommend one. This is the best portable stereo you will ever find.
 
I've often thought about picking up something from Tivoli Audio. Like the iPal or the Songbook. They're not cheap, but I like their style. I can't vouch for their sound out on the beach, but they sound decent enough at the store.

Of course, you can't beat a vintage 'box. A girl I used to run around with had a little Fisher Price "My First Cassette" something-or-other that ran on a couple of D cells. It was practically indestructible, and even had a mike so you could sing along. It got lots of funny looks, but it served its purpose admirably!
 
Get an early to mid 90's boombox from Panasonic's "Platinum" series. They made several models that were all excellent performers. Some had (like the one stated above) bi-amplification and full function remotes. I have a RX-DS45 from 1991 and nothing made in the last ten years, except for the original JVC "Kaboom" can even come close to the Panasonics in terms of build and sound quality. These units sold for 300-400 bucks when new, by the way. Prices are all over the place for them now, depending on condition, whether or not the remote is included, and rabid collectors sometimes driving up auction prices.
 

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Believe it or not, Black And Decker makes a decent heavy duty boombox. Cd and inputs for mp3, ipod etc. I'm not sure the model # - but its big, yellow and has the heavy duty cage around it. Doesnt sound all that bad.

j
 
RayW said:
Something like this?
Click to expand...

rofl, I was going to hunt up the thread where you introduced that bad boy.

Folks I had a chance to listen to it last week. Build one!


I actually did something similar back in the day when I drove oilpatch trucks. I had a clarion car stereo and a couple of 6x9's, and built a box for them, then had alligator clip leads to get power from whatever rig I had for the day. For parties, I just pulled the battery out of my car.
 
for this you must have a strong neck, a strong back. and camoflauged extension cord.

get a sturdy head band. find a way to strap on a good sized pair of speakers. when finished make sure it fits around your head. dont forget the large suitcase for your choice of monster reciever. now theres an image youll have a tough time getting rid of from your head if you ever saw such a contraption. good luck in your quest.
 
RayW said:
Something like this?
boombox.jpg


It's been slightly modified since that picture and there is now a 1/8" plug in the front just above the volume knob. It has T-amp guts inside, runs on 8xAA batteries (for a really long time!). The speakers are Vifa coax from Apex Jr. with Steve's published crossover and each has its own enclosure. Total cost was well under $100 but I got the T-amp back when they were $30 so that'd probably higher now. It beats any commercially available boombox I've heard except maybe the mega boxes from back in the breakdancing 80's.

Ray
Click to expand...
Man, I love that. I've tried to do something like that myself, but I get appalled at the ugliness I come up with. I don't think I'm gonna give up though. I have some Realistic speakers that are calling me to rip them up.
 
Johnny said:
Believe it or not, Black And Decker makes a decent heavy duty boombox. Cd and inputs for mp3, ipod etc. I'm not sure the model # - but its big, yellow and has the heavy duty cage around it. Doesnt sound all that bad.

j
Click to expand...

I also forgot about the Milwaukee contractor's boombox sold at home improvement stores, or at least it was, since I haven't seen one in a while. It uses Rockford Fosgate components and can run off of rechargeable power tool batteries. Pawn shops usually have one in their cache of goods, and they can be picked up cheap. They only have a tuner built-in, but they are equipped with inputs for whatever you want to use.

Very well built, supposedly can survive a fall from a roof.:scratch2:
 
Gentlemen,

Got you an idea and a fine one. Take one ice chest, drill DIN holes in it and holes for 2 6.5" coaxial speakers. Install DIN car head unit and speakers, connect them. Connect to a charged motorcycle battery which fits inside. Result, fine sound, plenty of clean volume, and will play all day outside on a charge. Install a car whip antenna mounted on the ice chest. Add keg of beer at the beach and you're set! Party!
 
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