Anyone got any hunting tips? I'm looking for a new box at reasonable price, I'm sure like everyone I don't want to pay over inflated prices on eBay. I'm from the UK, West Midlands area. Most people on here seem to be from the States. Any tips greatly appreciated.
Help please!
- Thread starter Tommytoothfairy
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Northerner
Boomus Fidelis
We're not all from the states 
I'm from sunny Yorkshire.
To be honest most of mine are from eBay as its hard to find them in the wild. Car boots can work but I've never found anything good myself. I've left my name with local charity shops and got a mint Sanyo C7 for £15 this way...fab box. Done a couple of forum deals which is good as you don't get ripped off, there are some really good guys on here.
What sort of boxes are you after?
I'm from sunny Yorkshire.To be honest most of mine are from eBay as its hard to find them in the wild. Car boots can work but I've never found anything good myself. I've left my name with local charity shops and got a mint Sanyo C7 for £15 this way...fab box. Done a couple of forum deals which is good as you don't get ripped off, there are some really good guys on here.
What sort of boxes are you after?
I picked up a Philips D8614 from a car boot for £2.50 a frw years ago. I love it to bits cause its beaten up so I can take it anywhere and not worry about it! Got a line in for iPod and sounds pretty meaty. But sadly it has a intermittent fault the left channel disappears and the FM doesn't work or the tape!!! The fault is getting worse so might be time to let it go. So I'd love another for the right money. But honestly I'm not that fussy as long as its silver one piece, with aux in not phono. Watching a Philips D8444 on eBay, looks pretty nice. But don't want to spend more than £50... Playing the waiting game!
im_alan_partridge
Member (SA)
Hey tommy, welcome to site. Ive got a Sharp GF-555 available, its a little ratty but fully working and with line in for mp3 etc.
If your interested drop me a pm
If your interested drop me a pm
Northerner
Boomus Fidelis
I'm watching that D8444 too but don't worry I ain't gonna bid. I've already got a mint one and to be honest they look fab but don't sound any where near as good as the D8614. Got another one on its way to me that I'm going to modify and see if if can get it sounding better and I'm gonna bling it with a load of LEDs...should be a chuckle! They tend to go for about £100 on eBay and tbh you can get better for that money...the looks seem to push the price up unfortunately. I bet the D8614 will be fixable...there's a ton of repair expertise floating around on this forum.
Northerner
Boomus Fidelis
Oh and the line in on the D8444 is crap, it's not actually useable for listening to an iPod. I use an fm transmitter on mine but am going to attempt to fit a line in on the one I'm gonna mod.
That's a shame about the 8444, I'd heard before that the sound isn't that great. I think the sound is very good on D8614 so any less would be a let down. No thanks to the GF 555 offer, anything else available? Like the look of the GF 9x9x range. But the are phono only? Is that right?
I'm also watching a couple of Hitachi's at the moment, look pretty cool, a TRK 8190 & 8290. Anyone had any experience of these? Of course what I'd really love is a GF777, think they look the mutts. They seem to go for £200 plus, are they worth the money? How would the sound compare to my D8614? But problem is if you spend that kind of money I'd be scared to take it out of the house! My old trusty has been to festivals and all sorts.
retrohead
Member (SA)
hi mate,hows it going?
well ive been a collector for six years and had all the famous ones,ie m90,m80,m70,pc5&55,gf9696,9494,9191,9090,9797 and yes of course a 777-in answer to your question yes a 777 is worth 200+ if you have the cash,they sound awesome,look fantastic and are a real crowd pleaser
but right now im wearing thin of boxes as a lack of funds and prices ever increasing higher are taking their toll,so the interest in them for me is almost gone 
on a positive note,i too have a d8614,mine works on radio,cassette is a little fluttery at times but works,line in works great but the cosmetics are bad if i parted with it though i dont do cash i prefer a trade,hell it might just kick start my interest again
well ive been a collector for six years and had all the famous ones,ie m90,m80,m70,pc5&55,gf9696,9494,9191,9090,9797 and yes of course a 777-in answer to your question yes a 777 is worth 200+ if you have the cash,they sound awesome,look fantastic and are a real crowd pleaser
but right now im wearing thin of boxes as a lack of funds and prices ever increasing higher are taking their toll,so the interest in them for me is almost gone on a positive note,i too have a d8614,mine works on radio,cassette is a little fluttery at times but works,line in works great but the cosmetics are bad if i parted with it though i dont do cash i prefer a trade,hell it might just kick start my interest again
Northerner
Boomus Fidelis
The 8190 has a proper line in that you can use an iPod with and it's a good sounding box. If the eBay ones don't work out for you I've got one that I could do you a cheap deal on. it's not mint but its all original and works perfectly tho I haven't got the deck working as I reckon I need a slightly different size belt for it. Works well on iPod and is a good looking box...would make you stand out at any festival 
I'd have to check it over first as I haven't used it in a while tho. PM me if you're interested
I'd have to check it over first as I haven't used it in a while tho. PM me if you're interested
Northerner
Boomus Fidelis
The GF9x9x range is a good choice too, I have a few. You can use the mix mic socket as an iPod line in on ones like the 9191 and 9494, they sound good and look awesome. My 9494 is one if my definite keepers.
On any box with just phono rather than line in you can get a little box called a phono attenuator for a tenner off eBay which means you can use it as an iPod line in. I've got several and they work well.
On any box with just phono rather than line in you can get a little box called a phono attenuator for a tenner off eBay which means you can use it as an iPod line in. I've got several and they work well.
Thanks for the advice guys. I have nothing to trade retrohead, you sure you won't sell for cash? Ideally I'd like to repair my D8614, so if I could make one good one out of two bad... Although I'm also interested in Northerner's Hitachi, it's my Birthday at the end of March if the offer is still open I'll get in touch with you then.
Have you seen that 777 just appeared on eBay for £500? Looks good but not mint. Seems a lot to me, is that the going rate? Also what do you think about these mint boxes in China keep appearing? £1000 for a potentially dodgy boombox from China seems a big gamble to me.
Have you seen that 777 just appeared on eBay for £500? Looks good but not mint. Seems a lot to me, is that the going rate? Also what do you think about these mint boxes in China keep appearing? £1000 for a potentially dodgy boombox from China seems a big gamble to me.
Northerner
Boomus Fidelis
These boxes were made to be repairable so I'm sure you'd get the 8614 going again...I'd open it up and check for any dodgy wiring or connections then use switch cleaner on all the dials and switches...it's amazing what a bit of switch cleaner can sort out. You can get a can of Servisol off eBay for about £4.
The Hitachi will go on eBay at some point but I've been saying that for a while and not got round to it yet
Got another festival box that's a top sounding box, a handy carrying size, all working and has a line in, it's just a bit ugly! which is a shame as it sounds fabulous. It's a Panasonic 5300 and unlike the 8614 the LEDs work whether you're on radio, tape or line in
The Hitachi will go on eBay at some point but I've been saying that for a while and not got round to it yet
Got another festival box that's a top sounding box, a handy carrying size, all working and has a line in, it's just a bit ugly!
which is a shame as it sounds fabulous. It's a Panasonic 5300 and unlike the 8614 the LEDs work whether you're on radio, tape or line in 
Your right about that Panasonic, not the best looking! I'm am pretty shallow, got to lookout phat. I've tried all the easy routes with my D8614, cleaned all knobs/switches, checked connections to the speakers. Strange problem. When it happens if you turn the balance to the missing channel and turn the volume up really loud you can hear the sound coming through all distorted and flabby. I'm assuming it is a worn out component or dry joint? I'm an electritian but not very good with electronics if that makes sense.
Bendycat, what are you selling!? Any sharps?
Bendycat, what are you selling!? Any sharps?
Anyone got any experience of a Sharp 8989? Couple just come on eBay. Doesn't look as good as 9090
Looking at iPhones on eBay, came across someone selling an iPhone 4S box. Description clearly said iphone box, no phone, no headphones etc. just a box. Bidding was up to £270 with 13 bids. Oh dear, someones gonna be really upset!!!!
Northerner
Boomus Fidelis
Got a 9090 and its a nice smaller box. Got no line in tho. Likewise the 8989 is a popular box and sounds good but no line in. I use an fm transmitter that plugs into my iPhone which works well. Neither box is expensive, about £40-£50 for a decent one off eBayTommytoothfairy said:
retrohead
Member (SA)
you cannot pay anything like 500 quid for a box without SEEING IT FIRST BEFORE ANY MONEY IS HANDED OVER,cant stress that enough my friend 
when,in the very distant past ive spent big money on boxes ive always looked at them first,thats the best way,and pictures on a crappy interenet site just arent enough to satisfy the need to lay out 500 quid
when,in the very distant past ive spent big money on boxes ive always looked at them first,thats the best way,and pictures on a crappy interenet site just arent enough to satisfy the need to lay out 500 quid - Status