Head To Head: Lasonic TRC-920 - Victor M70
Our own RedBenJoe mentioned a comparison of these two radios and I thought HELL YEAH!
So, I am having a listen to two of these icons and am having a look at some of their features to see if they are even in the same genetic species!
Right off the bat, I’m going to go through the similarities.
Both have 6 inch speakers although the M70 has bigger speaker grills which gives it a much Brawnier look. The 920 is covered in chrome and really was the definition of BLING long before that phrase was invented!
They both feature VU meter’s that show Output Level that increases as the volume goes up, the meters dance higher on the scale. Personally, I prefer this more then meters that are always maxed out even at lower volumes. Of course the 920 utilizes LED’s and the M70 uses sweeping gage meters.
My Japanese M70 does not have SW and the FM only goes up to 90 Mhz so that’s not a quality I can measure between the two, but I know US models of the M70 did.
Both have volume and separate treble and bass controls, but I have ALWAYS been a fan of knobs and not sliders so the M70 gets a demerit for that. The M70 also has top controls. I much more prefer front faced controls, but that is a personal taste.
Both play METAL / Cr02 tapes and both have radio dial lights. Neither are particularly good at lighting up the whole dial face, but still nice features.
Both have input volume recording controls but the M70 has more controls below the deck that I can’t read because they are in Japanese, so I don’t know what they do or what they are for.
The 920 has an “Up Right” cassette deck, with the buttons underneath which I prefer because you can read the words on the tape while it’s in the deck. The M70 has top cassette punch keys while the 920 has a cool chrome crash bar to protect the deck keys. Again, just personal taste, but I prefer this layout more.
Both decks have full auto stop on playback and fast forward and rewind. The M70 features Multi Music Scanning which Lasonic never offered on any of it’s models to the best of my knowledge.
Both have tape counters.
Both have full in puts and out puts and this is VERY important to me. Much easier to daisy chain multiple radio’s together! Both have separate phono and line in’s and both have mic in puts and additional speaker out puts so you could hook up a second set of speakers. The M70 has a ground connection for the phono where the 920 does not and both have a ¼ inch head phone jack.
Both have dual antenna’s. Again, personal tastes, but Blasters with dual antenna’s just look so sweet!
Both have full length handles which also defines the traditional Blaster style.
The M70 takes 10 D cells where the 920 takes 8. I have been told the M70 sip’s batteries. I haven’t had my M70 long enough to find out, but I know for sure that the 920 is a battery PIG! It will kill a set of rechargeable D’s in one night if I’m really up on the volume knob.
The M70 has strap clip’s, the 920 is in your hands at all times with no strap connection points.
Both offer stereo condenser mics and although I haven’t done much recording lately, back in the day….This was a MUST!
The 920 has an attached power cord and a compartment in the back to carry it with you. The M70 has a detachable power cord and no compartment. So you have to put that in your pocket if your bringing it with you.
The M70 has a battery meter which is VERY useful. The 920 does not and has always been a real downer.
Both offer AC, DC and 12v connection. The Lasonic has a volt selector switch 120/220. Not sure if the US model of the M70 had a selector switch or not.
The M70 has solid reliable antenna clips and the 920’s are busted off. With out a doubt one of the worst antenna clip designs ever!
The M70 weighs about the same with batteries as the 920 does empty. The 920 is just a tank! In my opinion, the 920 is the best built radio in the Lasonic line up.
SOUND QUALITY:
Both of these radio’s have POWER and both of these radio’s will make those woofers dance! I personally prefer the LARGE chrome center dust caps on the 920 speakers over the smaller M70’s. Again, just personal choice.
The Lasonic has a little more HISS with the volume at 0. Both can be turned up to 6 (which is very loud on these radio’s) without any distortion. The bass remains very punchy on both at a high volume level.
With both radio’s set at 4 on the volume level and the bass and treble both a ¾, the 920 is Considerably louder! It’s louder to the naked ear and it’s louder on my decibel meter. The 920 hit’s a -23.2 and the M70 hit’s at -23.9 (a lower number means louder on this meter).
Of course there are many many factors, including age and the condition of the radio’s that I have in front of me. So two other radio’s may yield different results.
I think at full volume that the M70 holds it together a little better and remains a bit punchier. I also think that the M70 has a warmer tone where the 920 has a bit more separation between the treble and bass leaving out some of that mid tone.
Over all, these aren’t that far off sound wise. I listen too mostly Rock and Metal and both of these radio’s do very well with this style of music.
So let me rate these in a few different categories and see what we come up with. From 1 to 10, 10 being best.
LOOKS:
For me, the 920 just SCREAMS 1980’s Excess with all the chrome, LED’s, knobs and switches
The M70 is a bit more subdued and less Flashy.
920 = 10
M70 = 7
CONTROLS:
The M70 has sliders which fill up with crud and also makes it so you can’t stack another radio on top of it. This does mean that she will always be at the TOP of the pile though!
The 920 has knobs on the face, but has very fragile switches without any protection and can easily be broken off. Even though the 920 does not have controls on top, the antenna clips are in the way (what’s left of them anyway) so stacking is still an issue.
920 = 7
M70 = 5
CASSETTE DECKS:
The M70 has an upside down cassette deck with punch buttons on top, but it has a music search system.
The Lasonic has an up right cassette deck with crash bar, but no music search.
920 = 5
M70 = 8
BATTERIES & POWER CORD:
The 920 takes less batteries, but eats them likes it’s at an all you can eat buffet. It carries it’s power cord, which is a huge plus.
The M70 takes more batteries, but sips them, no compartment for power cord.
920 = 5
M70 = 8
ROCKIN’ POWER:
My 920 was louder then the M70, but there is no way to know if these radio’s are the standard. The 920 will go F’n LOUD, but does break up a little sooner.
The M70 has a bit tighter punch and still gets plenty loud to handle your business. If you want to piss off the neighbors, either of these on their own will do the job just fine!
920 = 8.5
M70 = 9
IN PUTS & OUT PUTS
Both of these radio’s are PACKED with features in this department, but the M70 has a few more features that the 920 does not.
920 = 7
M70 = 8
BUILD QUALITY:
We all know the legacy Lasonic has left behind in this department and we all know that JVC/Victor almost stands alone when it comes to how they built their products. But it was also reflected in the price tag when they were new and today! JVC was always on the leading edge with features, technology and quality.
920 = 7.5 (for this model)
M70 = 9
PORTABILITY & FUN
Both of these radio’s are solid, maybe a little heavy, but nothing that would ever keep them on the shelf. Both are VERY Portable and much like my 920, this M70 is going to get LOTS of travel time. Since the M70 does not have the fragile front switches there is less of a chance of things being broken off. I think the M70 may become my new touring Blaster when the band hit’s the road. The smooth face, top controls and solid build construction add greatly to this. Plus I have a strap for it!
920 = 8
M70 = 10
Let’s add them up (highest number wins)
Lasonic TRC 920 = 58
Victor M70 = 64
Well, there you go. That is really as unbiased of comparison as I can give and you all know I LOVE my 920’s. Until I added them up, I really didn’t know the out come myself. Of course your conclusions may vary as well as the quality and power of your own versions of these two Iconic radio’s!
Our own RedBenJoe mentioned a comparison of these two radios and I thought HELL YEAH!
So, I am having a listen to two of these icons and am having a look at some of their features to see if they are even in the same genetic species!
Right off the bat, I’m going to go through the similarities.
Both have 6 inch speakers although the M70 has bigger speaker grills which gives it a much Brawnier look. The 920 is covered in chrome and really was the definition of BLING long before that phrase was invented!
They both feature VU meter’s that show Output Level that increases as the volume goes up, the meters dance higher on the scale. Personally, I prefer this more then meters that are always maxed out even at lower volumes. Of course the 920 utilizes LED’s and the M70 uses sweeping gage meters.
My Japanese M70 does not have SW and the FM only goes up to 90 Mhz so that’s not a quality I can measure between the two, but I know US models of the M70 did.
Both have volume and separate treble and bass controls, but I have ALWAYS been a fan of knobs and not sliders so the M70 gets a demerit for that. The M70 also has top controls. I much more prefer front faced controls, but that is a personal taste.
Both play METAL / Cr02 tapes and both have radio dial lights. Neither are particularly good at lighting up the whole dial face, but still nice features.
Both have input volume recording controls but the M70 has more controls below the deck that I can’t read because they are in Japanese, so I don’t know what they do or what they are for.
The 920 has an “Up Right” cassette deck, with the buttons underneath which I prefer because you can read the words on the tape while it’s in the deck. The M70 has top cassette punch keys while the 920 has a cool chrome crash bar to protect the deck keys. Again, just personal taste, but I prefer this layout more.
Both decks have full auto stop on playback and fast forward and rewind. The M70 features Multi Music Scanning which Lasonic never offered on any of it’s models to the best of my knowledge.
Both have tape counters.
Both have full in puts and out puts and this is VERY important to me. Much easier to daisy chain multiple radio’s together! Both have separate phono and line in’s and both have mic in puts and additional speaker out puts so you could hook up a second set of speakers. The M70 has a ground connection for the phono where the 920 does not and both have a ¼ inch head phone jack.
Both have dual antenna’s. Again, personal tastes, but Blasters with dual antenna’s just look so sweet!
Both have full length handles which also defines the traditional Blaster style.
The M70 takes 10 D cells where the 920 takes 8. I have been told the M70 sip’s batteries. I haven’t had my M70 long enough to find out, but I know for sure that the 920 is a battery PIG! It will kill a set of rechargeable D’s in one night if I’m really up on the volume knob.
The M70 has strap clip’s, the 920 is in your hands at all times with no strap connection points.
Both offer stereo condenser mics and although I haven’t done much recording lately, back in the day….This was a MUST!
The 920 has an attached power cord and a compartment in the back to carry it with you. The M70 has a detachable power cord and no compartment. So you have to put that in your pocket if your bringing it with you.
The M70 has a battery meter which is VERY useful. The 920 does not and has always been a real downer.
Both offer AC, DC and 12v connection. The Lasonic has a volt selector switch 120/220. Not sure if the US model of the M70 had a selector switch or not.
The M70 has solid reliable antenna clips and the 920’s are busted off. With out a doubt one of the worst antenna clip designs ever!
The M70 weighs about the same with batteries as the 920 does empty. The 920 is just a tank! In my opinion, the 920 is the best built radio in the Lasonic line up.
SOUND QUALITY:
Both of these radio’s have POWER and both of these radio’s will make those woofers dance! I personally prefer the LARGE chrome center dust caps on the 920 speakers over the smaller M70’s. Again, just personal choice.
The Lasonic has a little more HISS with the volume at 0. Both can be turned up to 6 (which is very loud on these radio’s) without any distortion. The bass remains very punchy on both at a high volume level.
With both radio’s set at 4 on the volume level and the bass and treble both a ¾, the 920 is Considerably louder! It’s louder to the naked ear and it’s louder on my decibel meter. The 920 hit’s a -23.2 and the M70 hit’s at -23.9 (a lower number means louder on this meter).
Of course there are many many factors, including age and the condition of the radio’s that I have in front of me. So two other radio’s may yield different results.
I think at full volume that the M70 holds it together a little better and remains a bit punchier. I also think that the M70 has a warmer tone where the 920 has a bit more separation between the treble and bass leaving out some of that mid tone.
Over all, these aren’t that far off sound wise. I listen too mostly Rock and Metal and both of these radio’s do very well with this style of music.
So let me rate these in a few different categories and see what we come up with. From 1 to 10, 10 being best.
LOOKS:
For me, the 920 just SCREAMS 1980’s Excess with all the chrome, LED’s, knobs and switches
The M70 is a bit more subdued and less Flashy.
920 = 10
M70 = 7
CONTROLS:
The M70 has sliders which fill up with crud and also makes it so you can’t stack another radio on top of it. This does mean that she will always be at the TOP of the pile though!
The 920 has knobs on the face, but has very fragile switches without any protection and can easily be broken off. Even though the 920 does not have controls on top, the antenna clips are in the way (what’s left of them anyway) so stacking is still an issue.
920 = 7
M70 = 5
CASSETTE DECKS:
The M70 has an upside down cassette deck with punch buttons on top, but it has a music search system.
The Lasonic has an up right cassette deck with crash bar, but no music search.
920 = 5
M70 = 8
BATTERIES & POWER CORD:
The 920 takes less batteries, but eats them likes it’s at an all you can eat buffet. It carries it’s power cord, which is a huge plus.
The M70 takes more batteries, but sips them, no compartment for power cord.
920 = 5
M70 = 8
ROCKIN’ POWER:
My 920 was louder then the M70, but there is no way to know if these radio’s are the standard. The 920 will go F’n LOUD, but does break up a little sooner.
The M70 has a bit tighter punch and still gets plenty loud to handle your business. If you want to piss off the neighbors, either of these on their own will do the job just fine!
920 = 8.5
M70 = 9
IN PUTS & OUT PUTS
Both of these radio’s are PACKED with features in this department, but the M70 has a few more features that the 920 does not.
920 = 7
M70 = 8
BUILD QUALITY:
We all know the legacy Lasonic has left behind in this department and we all know that JVC/Victor almost stands alone when it comes to how they built their products. But it was also reflected in the price tag when they were new and today! JVC was always on the leading edge with features, technology and quality.
920 = 7.5 (for this model)
M70 = 9
PORTABILITY & FUN
Both of these radio’s are solid, maybe a little heavy, but nothing that would ever keep them on the shelf. Both are VERY Portable and much like my 920, this M70 is going to get LOTS of travel time. Since the M70 does not have the fragile front switches there is less of a chance of things being broken off. I think the M70 may become my new touring Blaster when the band hit’s the road. The smooth face, top controls and solid build construction add greatly to this. Plus I have a strap for it!
920 = 8
M70 = 10
Let’s add them up (highest number wins)
Lasonic TRC 920 = 58
Victor M70 = 64
Well, there you go. That is really as unbiased of comparison as I can give and you all know I LOVE my 920’s. Until I added them up, I really didn’t know the out come myself. Of course your conclusions may vary as well as the quality and power of your own versions of these two Iconic radio’s!
I just love my 920. It looks and sounds beast 
