BB-B90

[retro]

The speakers were made of blue paper, you can go inside and see. And a manufacturer is not going to make a cone blue only on the back and not on the front. That wouldn't make sense. It was simple blue paper, front and back. The only reason many of them look dark gray is because they added a urethane coating on the front side. And depending on the vendor supplying that coating, and its age and condition, it could appear blue or dark gray. M90s have been seen in both colors.

The blue woofers and tweeters are shown separately in the original fold out sales brochure, I believe they were polypropylene coated.

 

[THXjay]

I'm presuming the "Big Power" on the cassette door is a sticker. I still see a lot of older ones where people never removed them, no idea why!
A little thing that bugs me is probably something that most people would never even notice but the tuner section looks a little "bare" like it should have more stuff on it Older boomboxes always had a lot more info on the tuner section, this looks like they missed out frequencies or something.

 

[retro]

It also states that the specifications are subjected to change without notice so it's possible that they weren't always blue.

 

[THXjay]

 

[THXjay]

Overall I do think it looks very good for a first draft I like the CD tray on this one, though I do like the slot-in on the 777 as well. My biggest concern with this render is probably the display but I know Rob has already said it is not the final version so we can just have fun for the next 12 months with us all asking for stuff we want added and taken away

 

[retro]

Correction, It's poly-urethane coating as Reli originally posted.

 

[Superduper]

Correction, It's poly-urethane coating as Reli originally posted.

AND it’s blue in that flyer too.

 

[mellymelsr]

I will be a consultant on the B90 project. If you guys want I can post updates here on design, options, and other news related to the B90. I will also be getting one of the initial prototypes for product testing. I can post videos and give my impressions from a collectors perspective if you want.

 

[THXjay]

I will be a consultant on the B90 project. If you guys want I can post updates here on design, options, and other news related to the B90. I will also be getting one of the initial prototypes for product testing. I can post videos and give my impressions from a collectors perspective if you want.

That's awesome, but you may live to regret the offer

 

[mellymelsr]

That's awesome, but you may live to regret the offer

...trust me I am well aware how finicky collectors can be. I have very thick skin. Any and all feedback will be welcome. I want the B90 to be the best boombox ever made. I will need all the criticism during the prototype stage to get it there.

 

[mellymelsr]

The question is: Which of the 3 colors?

Champagne Gold: Interesting. Not sure what demographic they are going for? Might look sweet in person.
Graphite Silver: Not too bad. I only have 1 grey Boombox I think. Not really much Silver to be seen.
Stealth Black: Looks like it belongs. Feels right.

Soooo... Hmmm... I'll think on it. I have a Silver FE BB-777 coming some day (lol), Trying to think which color would go best sitting next to it.

The Marantz Champagne Gold will look exactly like this.

 

[Tinman]

They were resistant to water splashes but not to fading, lol.
Mine range from blue to purplish & gray to gray to tan.
The tweeters were mostly faded to tan.

 

[mellymelsr]

I agree. Just have a look on the famous Beastie Boys cover with the M90.
For example:
Beastie Boys

The speakers were black, not blue.

Incorrect

 

[THXjay]

I'm going to start a list of what I would like and I'll add to it as time passes. If others do the same maybe we can build up an idea of what the fans/customers want.

1. Proper 3D metallic bumpboxx logo like on the 777, not screenprinted.
2. A slot in the back/side for the remote (if it comes with a remote)
3. No startup sound. Let's keep it professional and in keeping with the 80's. We don't want to hear anything when we press the power button!
4. If the cones have to be blue, make them much darker. Ideally though add a black option.
5. The display looks like a cheap clock. Dot matrix would be preferable to the current one shown. I know this has been mentioned already as temporary so we'll see.

To be honest, the more I think about it, there isn't a whole lot I'm unhappy with. It already looks very nice. It's just some small design tweaks regarding text and logo placement etc. The current render just has "something" that doesn't seem quite right but we'll see how it progresses, there's plenty of time to refine it.

 

[THXjay]

One thing I would like to see more closely resemble the original is the tape door. It's also my biggest problem with the 777 as well.
Here's the current render on the left with the original on the right. I would like to see the separation of the darker top section with the lighter gray bottom half with the "U" shaped dip in the door design.

 

[mellymelsr]

I'm going to start a list of what I would like and I'll add to it as time passes. If others do the same maybe we can build up an idea of what the fans/customers want.

1. Proper 3D metallic bumpboxx logo like on the 777, not screenprinted.
2. A slot in the back/side for the remote (if it comes with a remote)
3. No startup sound. Let's keep it professional and in keeping with the 80's. We don't want to hear anything when we press the power button!
4. If the cones have to be blue, make them much darker. Ideally though add a black option.
5. The display looks like a cheap clock. Dot matrix would be preferable to the current one shown. I know this has been mentioned already as temporary so we'll see.

To be honest, the more I think about it, there isn't a whole lot I'm unhappy with. It already looks very nice. It's just some small design tweaks regarding text and logo placement etc. The current render just has "something" that doesn't seem quite right but we'll see how it progresses, there's plenty of time to refine it.

It will probably have a 3D Bumpboxx logo.
There probably won't be a slot for the remote but there may be a small remote case that attaches to the carry strap.
All of the new series Bumpboxxes have a startup sound followed by the on screen Bumpboxx logo. That will probably remain.
The cones will be medium blue to match the original M90. Black wasn't offered then, and won't be now. The black grills give it a darker appearance. The rendering doesn't take that into account.
The display click was simply filler for the picture. The actual screen will be multifunctional and have personalization options.
The cassette door design will be as close to the original as possible.

 

[THXjay]

It will probably have a 3D Bumpboxx logo. ✔

There probably won't be a slot for the remote but there may be a small remote case that attaches to the carry strap. Didn't know this one also has a strap. Not bothered about straps myself, shame there won't be a remote compartment

All of the new series Bumpboxxes have a startup sound followed by the on screen Bumpboxx logo. That will probably remain. Don't know how others feel about the startup sounds but I'm not a fan. It may just be me but I think it cheapens these machines, silly sounds makes them sound like a cheap bluetooth speaker.

The cones will be medium blue to match the original M90. Black wasn't offered then, and won't be now. The black grills give it a darker appearance. The rendering doesn't take that into account. As long as they are very dark I guess that's OK but I (and I'm sure many others) would prefer black.

The display click was simply filler for the picture. The actual screen will be multifunctional and have personalization options. ✔ Sounds good. Hopefully it's a better screen than the 777

The cassette door design will be as close to the original as possible. ✔

 

[THXjay]

Does anyone know when the pre-order price for this changes? I'm a little weary to order it yet as someone from bumpboxx said to wait if you have a 777 on the way as there will be a discount in the box. Can anyone who's received theirs confirm this ?

 

[Reli]

If there is a startup sound, the volume should be low, or it will wake up anyone else who lives in the home. Seriously, I've owned several bluetooth speakers that could be heard from the other side of the house, or even from another floor, when they powered up. I'm not sure what the designers were thinking.

 

[THXjay]

If there is a startup sound, the volume should be low, or it will wake up anyone else who lives in the home. Seriously, I've owned several bluetooth speakers that could be heard from the other side of the house, or even from another floor, when they powered up. I'm not sure what the designers were thinking.

Couldn't agree more. I just don't know why we need a silly sound when we switch it on! Show me a boombox from the 80's that does that (I know bluetooth speakers didn't exist then!)
I guess my question is.....what are these new bumpboxx's, are they recreations of classic boomboxes, or are they glorified bluetooth speakers? If they want to go down the route of re-creating classic boomboxes but updated with modern features, let's give priority to the "classic" part rather than emphasise all the modern stuff that is a little tacky (startup sounds, digital clocks etc)
I just don't want to stich on my stereo and have some crazy loud comical sound blarring out the speakers.

As for the display on the B90. I know it isn't finalised yet but I was thinking maybe a light coloured background to match the rest of the tuner section would look less "out of place"