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Boombox for a "Deadhead"?

JVC made some really cool "compos," these were boomboxes that could be split into two pieces and bookended by the speakers. I think the JVC PC-150 can separate but I'm not 100% sure, it looks like its more entry-level compared to something like the PC-11; I own several compos, all the brands made them, some are just normal three-piece boomboxes and the center section can't be split up. The JVC PC-55 might be their best of the line?

For some reason, the boombox purists kind of look down on compos and three-piece boomboxes, they got really cheap towards the end of the 80's but the early ones can be amazing little power houses. These are still pretty good bargains but are also going up in price. Shipping can be a killer because they are much heavier than most boomboxes, some were the top of the line in the early 80's. The nicer ones will have a plastic covered "bump" on the back of the main units covering lots of cords and the larger transformer.

The standard right now is the Sony FH Series, especially if you score it with the "sawblade" turntable. Most of these are not portable unless you have the "battery-pack." Manufacturers that made the more common models are JVC, Yamaha, Sanyo, Sansui. These are all pretty big, they will have multiple inputs including phono and are still relative bargains in the boombox world.

Hopefully your familar with the www.wikiboombox.com they have a ton of boomboxes listed. Boomboxes & Walkmans don't get a lot of love on this forum, you might want to check out www.Stereo2go.com
 
Like Grenadislio, I too had this RS model. I added some extra PS capacity for AC use and modified the storage shelf above the battery section so a total of 10 high-capacity NiCd cells could be installed for portable use. IIRC, it drew 49 watts AC and output an honest 10wpc. I was told to turn it down when I worked on a noisy factory floor in the 80's.
 
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oldflame said:
Like Grenadislio, I too had this RS model. I added some extra PS capacity for AC use and modified the storage shelf above the battery section so a total of 10 high-capacity NiCd cells could be installed for portable use. IIRC, it drew 49 watts AC and output an honest 10wpc. I was told to turn it down when I worked on a noisy factory floor in the 80's.
Click to expand...

loaned mine to my older brother, he took it to the beach and it was ruined.
 
:( The luck you didn't have must've found me. Mine lasted from the mid-eighty's until about 2010. A groove wore into the playback head, the tuner got twitchy, switches became iffy, and both speakers fell apart, but the cassette belts were still good! I'm amazed it lasted half that long - it lived a tortured life.
 
Bone Yard said:
JVC made some really cool "compos," these were boomboxes that could be split into two pieces and bookended by the speakers. I think the JVC PC-150 can separate but I'm not 100% sure, it looks like its more entry-level compared to something like the PC-11; I own several compos, all the brands made them, some are just normal three-piece boomboxes and the center section can't be split up. The JVC PC-55 might be their best of the line?

For some reason, the boombox purists kind of look down on compos and three-piece boomboxes, they got really cheap towards the end of the 80's but the early ones can be amazing little power houses. These are still pretty good bargains but are also going up in price. Shipping can be a killer because they are much heavier than most boomboxes, some were the top of the line in the early 80's. The nicer ones will have a plastic covered "bump" on the back of the main units covering lots of cords and the larger transformer.

The standard right now is the Sony FH Series, especially if you score it with the "sawblade" turntable. Most of these are not portable unless you have the "battery-pack." Manufacturers that made the more common models are JVC, Yamaha, Sanyo, Sansui. These are all pretty big, they will have multiple inputs including phono and are still relative bargains in the boombox world.

Hopefully your familar with the www.wikiboombox.com they have a ton of boomboxes listed. Boomboxes & Walkmans don't get a lot of love on this forum, you might want to check out www.Stereo2go.com
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for all the history, Bone Yard! I agree that boomboxes are kind of looked down upon in audio circles, but I believe part of that is cultural.
People seem to either love or hate hip hop, and they associate these devices with urban culture.
My musical background is, as I mentioned, 60's and 70's progressive rock, I.e. Traffic, Manassas, Buffalo Springfield, New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Dead, etc.
All I heard on my first exposure to hip hop was the profanity, misogeny toward women, and advocating violence. I wanted no part of it, and wondered how such music that seemed so angry and devoid of any kind of good will could be seen as an asset to the communities where it flourished.
Fast forward to today. A great surprise to myself, I now work with many young people struggling with various forms of addiction, who are caught in the revolving door of the penal system.
Part of therapy is music. We let them play whatever they want, whether we like it or not.
When I watched the videos of some of these rappers describing the reality of their lives, I choked up. I gave since taken a different view of this music.
So, bottom line is as I see it, boomboxes are the audio systems of the people.
My interest has been sparked, and at 64, I realize I can still learn from these 40 year old devices and what they represent.
 
Had
oldflame said:
Like Grenadislio, I too had this RS model. I added some extra PS capacity for AC use and modified the storage shelf above the battery section so a total of 10 high-capacity NiCd cells could be installed for portable use. IIRC, it drew 49 watts AC and output an honest 10wpc. I was told to turn it down when I worked on a noisy factory floor in the 80's.
Click to expand...
Had that happen once when I carried an old Bose Wave into the shop! :banana:
oldflame said:
Like Grenadislio, I too had this RS model. I added some extra PS capacity for AC use and modified the storage shelf above the battery section so a total of 10 high-capacity NiCd cells could be installed for portable use. IIRC, it drew 49 watts AC and output an honest 10wpc. I was told to turn it down when I worked on a noisy factory floor in the 80's.
Click to expand...
 
I've had a JVC PC-V2 since the 80's. It's the one you want for a portable life.

Detachable speakers (you can add others)
AM/FM/SW with a great tuner
CD
TAPE
AUX INPUT
4" SUB built in

The little boombox has gone everywhere with me and you can run it on 6 D-cells if you go off grid. I can't say enough about the quality of this unit and the sound quality.
 
Jason Lafler said:
I think JVC made a couple models. Now you got me looking at them.lol!
Click to expand...
I know!
I'm having fun just looking, reading and drooling!
Did I mention I got the Panasonic RS-466S yesterday?
So used to the little junk players with roundsdends, CD on top, cassette and junk tuner.
Then I get this thing from the 70's, and I can't turn it up halfway without the guy across the hall yelling!
:rflmao:.
 
SpinninTimmy said:
Thank you very much for all the history, Bone Yard! I agree that boomboxes are kind of looked down upon in audio circles, but I believe part of that is cultural.
People seem to either love or hate hip hop, and they associate these devices with urban culture.
My musical background is, as I mentioned, 60's and 70's progressive rock, I.e. Traffic, Manassas, Buffalo Springfield, New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Dead, etc.
All I heard on my first exposure to hip hop was the profanity, misogeny toward women, and advocating violence. I wanted no part of it, and wondered how such music that seemed so angry and devoid of any kind of good will could be seen as an asset to the communities where it flourished.
Fast forward to today. A great surprise to myself, I now work with many young people struggling with various forms of addiction, who are caught in the revolving door of the penal system.
Part of therapy is music. We let them play whatever they want, whether we like it or not.
When I watched the videos of some of these rappers describing the reality of their lives, I choked up. I gave since taken a different view of this music.
So, bottom line is as I see it, boomboxes are the audio systems of the people.
My interest has been sparked, and at 64, I realize I can still learn from these 40 year old devices and what they represent.
Click to expand...

actually he was saying the Boombox collectors look down on the ones with detachable speakers.

But actually it's not they look down on them, it's just they aren't boomboxes, if they have detachable speakers they're portable mini systems. A boom"box" is a single box not multiple boxes.
 
Thanks, I
Grenadeslio said:
actually he was saying the Boombox collectors look down on the ones with detachable speakers.

But actually it's not they look down on them, it's just they aren't boomboxes, if they have detachable speakers they're portable mini systems. A boom"box" is a single box not multiple boxes.
Click to expand...
Thanks,, I misunderstood. :thumbsup:
 
Grenadeslio said:
actually he was saying the Boombox collectors look down on the ones with detachable speakers.

But actually it's not they look down on them, it's just they aren't boomboxes, if they have detachable speakers they're portable mini systems. A boom"box" is a single box not multiple boxes.
Click to expand...
So, on boxes receivers - which are the best, in your opinion?
Shortwave included would be nice.
Some say G E., but they don't have shortwave bands.
 
SpinninTimmy said:
So, on boxes receivers - which are the best, in your opinion?
Shortwave included would be nice.
Some say G E., but they don't have shortwave bands.
Click to expand...

post #3, no shortwave, who cares, what does that have to do with sound quality?

sure there were bigger radios, there was even a successor to the 7000, but none were the quality of the holy grail RX-7000. The tuning knob is flywheel weighted so when you spin it it just keeps spinning, reminds me of the tuning knob on the McIntosh MR-78, ya it's that awesome.
 
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Grenadeslio said:
post #3, no shortwave, who cares, what does that have to do with sound quality?

sure there were bigger radios, there was even a successor to the 7000, but none were the quality of the holy grail RX-7000. The tuning knob is flywheel weighted so when you spin it it just keeps spinning, reminds me of the tuning knob on the McIntosh MR-78, ya it's that awesome.
Click to expand...

SW has nothing to do with sound quality.

Just a feature I like.
 
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