Measuring boombox loudness - a standard?

[RoZyBoom]

Is there an agreed upon standard for measuring how hard a boombox can pound?

Example:
abc123 software for iOS measuring in db, at x distance from woofer at centre?

If not, can we come up with a standard agreed upon setting? Wouldn't it be fun for everyone to be able to measure their boombox?

 

[Reli]

Problem is, everyone has a different tolerance level for distortion. Someone who can tolerate a lot would set the volume higher.

 

[RoZyBoom]

Well, one of the measurements could be just straight up noise level a box can produce. But agreed that perhaps the criteria should be all bass/treble/eq/bass boost options at zero/off for the measurement?

Or perhaps 3 measurements?

No distortion (based on listener tolerance)
Max noise at zero all settings
Max noise at max level on all settings

Does the source track need to be agreed upon for this test as well?

 

[Superduper]

Well, one of the measurements could be just straight up noise level a box can produce.....

When a technician completes a repair, they often perform an output test afterwards to ensure that an amplifier will perform to specs. Generally speaking, this is measured with an oscilloscope or some form of audio analyzer lab equipment. In virtually every case, the amp is run to clipping and the output just before clipping is the watt output noted and used to ensure that the amp is to spec. No power level read after the point of clipping is ever considered by any technician, for any reason. Your maximum noise level thing is, in my opinion, a total waste of time and totally misleading. You can always jack up the line level (input source signal) and it will always output more noise even though the point at which distortion begins will still develop at the same point. So any test MUST be an internal source. But if you use tape, then unless the exact same tape is used to compare, then once again, it is not at all a standard. If you use a radio, then you won't have a steady sine wave signal to use as a reference. Audio signals are dynamic and will always fluctuate up and down.

Bottom line, I don't need any specs to tell me which boombox is a premium product or good performer. I can just listen and know which I prefer. You can declare you've discovered and tested the loudest most raw sounding boombox on the planet, and tell me that based on your test, it's the loudest. But I'll probably just say OK and never buy one. Piss test results never interest me much, because it doesn't tell me if you're showering everything including all the unintended frogs and grasshoppers and dandelions, or if you have a precision stream that can hit a bullseye at 25' without losing a drop, or maybe it's a minuscule laser focused beam that can enter outer space and hit the moon? Or are you just measuring total volume? Or is the tester being shot out of a canon at the moment the test starts?

 

[floyd]

Believe it or not a sharp 777 can be just as loud as in M90 it might not sound as good but it could be just as loud surprised the hell out of me too but it's true. Honestly I never thought the sharp had a chance against the m 90 but when you look at the SPL readouts in some cases it's louder even though it might not sound as good.

 

[Reli]

No matter what the bass and treble knobs are set to, different people will crank up the volume to different levels of distortion. Everyone's ears are different. Therefore the test is kind of meaningless unless it is done by the same person on the same day, using boxes he personally owns.

IMO, the Panasonic RX-A2, RX-A5, and Pioneer Disco Robo are the loudest. But it's a stretch to call any of them boomboxes. So if you're asking what is the loudest "traditional" 1-piece boombox, I believe it's the Conion C100. If you want the loudest traditional 3-piece, it might be the Fisher PH-490/492, Hitachi TRK-9900, Uher Power Port 1, Sharp HK-9000, or Sharp GX-33Z. If you want the loudest "mini component system", it might be one of the Sony FH models like the FH-215.

 

[RoZyBoom]

I simply think it would be cool to have a standard of comparison without having the boombox.

I know we can get bogged down in details here, but that would be counterproductive to the goal. The point of this is a sound level test anyone with a phone can perform and compare. I don't think complicating it with measuring tools is wise, because then the test becomes out of reach of most.

I don't think we need to segment units like Reli suggest even if it is perfectly logical, as it is also preferential. Let's focus on output sound level of a unit only. For us here, handle on the unit will do to qualify. Batteries allow portable use, but won't ever deliver maximum sound level. The cool thing is that the method on the same box could also be compared with AC power and batteries by the owner of that boombox, so they would know the difference in music level.

The point of this standard would be simply to create some uniformity, simplicity and comparison basis in a simple db based measurement that anyone can do. I understand that personal choices would play a role as noted above by other posters. However, there isn't one copy of a boombox out there, so others could verify, test, confirm results. Ideally, the results should be repeatable anywhere.

I propose an agreed upon track section(which one?), on a boombox connected to AC power, as batteries would impact power on many powerful units with the following measurements:

MAIN: Max music sound level before hitting distortion at zero all tone settings, no bass boost (based on listener tolerance)

Additionally, with notable risk to potential speaker damage, trying to see if a higher maximum sound level can be achieved...
Max volume noise level at zero all tone settings, distortion be damned.
Max volume noise at max level on all tone/bass boost settings - if you dare.

....call the measurements:

Max Clean (no distortion, zero tone)
Max Noise (volume on max, distortion OK, zero tone)
Max Noise Boost (distortion, maximum tone levels on all available sound control options)

What do you guys think? Now the main issue is what good sound level app to use that is available both on iOS and Android and what distance away from the centre of the woofer? 30cm? ...since it's a common ruler size?

 

[Radio raheem]

since most don't have the boxes in question i would say this is a no starter but the boxes in question are i would say are the loudest

i had the conion c100 sony fh 215 and sony fh 909 and nothing will beat these imho and i have bought boxes for decades

one other thing most have sadly left the forum so again although a great idea i would sadly say the idea a no starter imho

 

[RoZyBoom]

g most have sadly left the forum

Why? That sucks. Boombox wave of interest is over?

 

[Reli]

I see less interest in general from society. A few years ago there was still interest from the hiphop and fashion industries, but the current Gen Z players in those industries don't care about retro products. And Millennials are too busy raising families. Gen X would ordinarily be the target, we grew up with these things, but after the covid stimulus payments and fake hiring boom ended, the economy took a dive, so most people aren't focused on discretionary toys right now.

 

[Brutus442]

since most don't have the boxes in question i would say this is a no starter but the boxes in question are i would say are the loudest

i had the conion c100 sony fh 215 and sony fh 909 and nothing will beat these imho and i have bought boxes for decades

one other thing most have sadly left the forum so again although a great idea i would sadly say the idea a no starter imho

I'd add the PC-55/ 550 to this list Reno. You've got some of the biggest bangers out there on your list for sure. The 55 punches very well with minimal distortion. I've not heard the others on your list but the C100 just sounds hideous at full volume. Raw distortion. It is loud but sounds like crap IMHO

Unfortunately our hobby is getting quieter as those with the boombox nostalgia move on in age and priorities. Like Reli said, real life priorities have taken precedence in our uncertain times.

 

[Radio raheem]

I'd add the PC-55/ 550 to this list Reno. You've got some of the biggest bangers out there on your list for sure. The 55 punches very well with minimal distortion. I've not heard the others on your list but the C100 just sounds hideous at full volume. Raw distortion. It is loud but sounds like crap IMHO

Unfortunately our hobby is getting quieter as those with the boombox nostalgia move on in age and priorities. Like Reli said, real life priorities have taken precedence in our uncertain times.

I thought the conion was great geoff better than the m90 lad however none of these boxes amps should be played past half volume

the m90 will go higher but even then i set the bass and treble in the middle my friend. you are asking for trouble if you don't do that imho

 

[Brutus442]

I agree that the M90 at full volume should have it's bass/treble tweaked but when I heard the Conion at full throttle it was just noise, not sound. The M90 at least is discernable at full crank

Either way my friend, if I played any of these boxes beyond half volume, my wife would divorce me and I'd have a need for hearing aids. Maybe that'll be the next forum we join " Hearing Aids" lol

 

[Radio raheem]

I agree that the M90 at full volume should have it's bass/treble tweaked but when I heard the Conion at full throttle it was just noise, not sound. The M90 at least is discernable at full crank

Either way my friend, if I played any of these boxes beyond half volume, my wife would divorce me and I'd have a need for hearing aids. Maybe that'll be the next forum we join " Hearing Aids" lol

you would need a hearing aid after using the conion brother.....it was just to loud and that is why i sold mine.....just gave away a kaboom yesterday

i just don't use boxes much anymore lad....if i could use them outside that would be a different matter would rather use my pioneer 9800 with eq/////it sounds better than sex lol

 

[floyd]

you would need a hearing aid after using the conion brother.....it was just to loud and that is why i sold mine.....just gave away a kaboom yesterday

i just don't use boxes much anymore lad....if i could use them outside that would be a different matter would rather use my pioneer 9800 with eq/////it sounds better than sex lol

I know I'm listening to my home Hi-Fi stack right now and it absolutely smokes the s*** out of any boombox.

 

[Radio raheem]

I know I'm listening to my home Hi-Fi stack right now and it absolutely smokes the s*** out of any boombox.

it would sure do that brother....i only use a boombox now when i'm sleeping.....for the radio in the background lad

 

[Hajidub]

I know I'm listening to my home Hi-Fi stack right now and it absolutely smokes the s*** out of any boombox.

Worthless without pics! Haha, peaked curiousity.

 

[Superduper]

How do I unfollow this thread, .

I'm afraid some crazy sun of a gun will actually do this idiocy, and then rank the best sounding hi-fi boomboxes last whereas the harshest, loudest unintelligible boomboxes will be ranked high causing a run on these big empty boxes, and then the resulting disappointments ruining the reputation of all portable audio for good.

 

[Marcus]

The Conion 100 plays very loud before the distortion kicks in. I never play mine too loud as I don’t feel like replacing the speakers.

 

[RoZyBoom]

How do I unfollow this thread, .

I'm afraid some crazy sun of a gun will actually do this idiocy, and then rank the best sounding hi-fi boomboxes last whereas the harshest, loudest unintelligible boomboxes will be ranked high causing a run on these big empty boxes, and then the resulting disappointments ruining the reputation of all portable audio for good.

No chance. No in this hobby.

People have these boomboxes. If the test is standardized on iOS/Android with same app and song at fixed distance from centre of woofer or centre point of boombox it can be repeated/audited by others for verification/confirmation.