Helix HX-4635 vs Conion C-100F with comparison to JVC RC-M70JW

[Superduper]

So... essentially the same right? Not to suggest that there isn't some perceived audio differences between the examples but one probably shouldn't come to a wholesale conclusion that one make/brand of these aka's are for sure more powerful or better sounding than another. As I've suggested before, unless we tested these side/side when they were released 35 years ago, there's no telling what effect wear and tear has on individual examples. For what it's worth, every person who's purchased a JVC M70 slider rebuild service has told me (when they provided feedback) that the boombox sounded far better than before the service. If they had multiple examples in their collection, it would end up being the best sounding one. On the other hand, gsbmr has so many that it would be hard to discount in this case,right?

The only difference between a Clairtone and a Japanese Conion is an extra antenna wire from the tuner board to the rear screws.
The transformers are both dual voltage. Most likely they were built in the same factory. Even the PCBs say Conion on them, although some have different revisions.

Almost forgot - there are a few parts missing on the Clairtone version but I have no way to know if those variations also exist in the Conions. A few 100uF caps on the amp circuit are missing and a number of components for the metal position of the tape type selector are also missing.

 

[Reli]

caution, on 25 Jul 2016 - 4:55 PM, said:


Almost forgot - there are a few parts missing on the Clairtone version but I have no way to know if those variations also exist in the Conions. A few 100uF caps on the amp circuit are missing and a number of components for the metal position of the tape type selector are also missing.

Likely because the "metal" position is fake and does nothing, or at best is the same as the Chrome position

 

[gsbadbmr]

I have tested so many C-100's/7980's it's crazy...my filthiest 7980 will blow away all my other boxes in my collection

 

[Superduper]

I have tested so many C-100's/7980's it's crazy...my filthiest 7980 will blow away all my other boxes in my collection

That's worth investigating further.... send me one of each for testing.

 

[gsbadbmr]

That's worth investigating further.... send me one of each for testing.

Well you are more than welcome to fly down here and do ALLLLLL the testing you want

 

[Superduper]

Well you are more than welcome to fly down here and do ALLLLLL the testing you want

Nope. My lab test equipment are not portable. Sooo, they need to come here!

 

[blu_fuz]

All this nerd talk is driving me nutz! Lol

 

[jimmyjimmy19702010]

It's interesting how people assume the well used examples often exhibit inferior performance than a rarely used, minty unit.

Well I've seen an M9998K that had so much wear around the power switch, there was a huge chunk of plastic around the switch that had simply worn away from thousands of activations. The whole box looked completely worn out - not misused as such but heavily used on a regular basis. All the clear plastic had turned yellow from uv exposure, the antennas were snapped off, the feet were trashed etc - and you guessed it, it's the best sounding M9998K I've ever heard (sample size of 10 units).

The tuner, deck etc all sound fantastic and it plays louder and clearer too!!

Just luck? Who knows but some of my mintiest boxes are also my poorest performers!?

 

[trippy1313]

Nope. My lab test equipment are not portable. Sooo, they need to come here!

Oooh oooh. I don't have a lab, but I got two ears... can I be next after Norm to test Gordie??? Please?!? Lol.

 

[Superduper]

It's interesting how people assume the well used examples often exhibit inferior performance than a rarely used, minty unit.
Well I've seen an M9998K that had so much wear around the power switch, there was a huge chunk of plastic around the switch that had simply worn away from thousands of activations. The whole box looked completely worn out - not misused as such but heavily used on a regular basis. All the clear plastic had turned yellow from uv exposure, the antennas were snapped off, the feet were trashed etc - and you guessed it, it's the best sounding M9998K I've ever heard (sample size of 10 units).
The tuner, deck etc all sound fantastic and it plays louder and clearer too!!
Just luck? Who knows but some of my mintiest boxes are also my poorest performers!?

Actually, if you are speaking of comments I've made in the past regarding electronic wear and tear, I think you misunderstand. I've been saying that after 3 plus decades, consistency in performance between examples that have seen varying degrees of usage cannot be expected and your experience shows exactly that. In fact, I've also mentioned in another thread that the most reliable electronics I've seen have been in some that have been used 24/7 continuously for like forever. Like a car that is driven continuously for 100,000 miles might show almost no internal wear compared to a car driven short distances once per week and with only a fraction of the 100k miles seen in the other. Although external condition frequently coincides and mirrors operational condition of a specimen, they aren't necessarily related. There's simply too many variables to conclude anything other than that performance differences is not only possible but likely between examples owned by different countless individual owners in countless varying environments and use patterns.