Messy collection

[Line Out]

So, I got these... And they've proven to be quite lot of work.

Project boxes

Palladium is the most complete, just lacks the bass so much it needs some work on the preamp because it lacked bass even with the GF-575 amplifier.
Philips is good but doesn't run on batteries. There is some melted plastics on the AC input.
Sound 4008 would be fine but it has really "hollow" sound even with the speakers from the GF-8686
GF-575 has a bad case of snapped plastic micro switch arms on both decks. Also has non matched speakers.
Sanyo had some weird issues on the mono/stereo/wide, needs a belt. Marvellous piece for its size! Alarm clock is fully operatinal. Has cracked tuner window.
GF-8686 lacks tape door, has annoying static on the FM. Deck would need something new, lost my interest for it... It's sound is clear and loud though!
DUX is an old cowhouse radio that's been around for ages. Spatial stereo that is. Thought of replacing the speakers, also needs one plastic post (tuner roller) fixed.

Complete boxes

Siemens is my first one, done quite a lot work on it. It went silent some months ago, don't know what happened.
That Hitachi in the middle is just unbelievably heavy, without batteries +8kg. It has relays inside. Makes a magniloquent click when turned on.
The poor Tokyo on the right was at first nice but then I realised its no use. Deck has mysterious flaw.
The Power Player has a Creative PC 2.1 speaker set amplifier inside and thumps the bass really heavy.
Sharp is the only box I've bought from Finland. All others are from Germany.

 

[SpaceLobster]

Where's the Crown ?

 

[Jboogie2384]

I'm liking the Philips! dibs on that!! That 700 and the Hitachi look bad ass!!

 

[jimmyjimmy19702010]

The Hitachi TRK-9300 in the middle looks to have had the main drivers replaced. They are a pretty rare box particular your version with the 5 band equaliser. They are a really well built box too. On my 9300, I've had the original speakers refoamed this year and plan to re-cap my 9300 this weekend. That box is well worth a rebuild if required.

James....

 

[goodman]

I like black Sharp 700! Looks very good!
I wish you success in restoration of other boomboxes...

 

[Line Out]

Where's the Crown ?

I didn't have it when I took the photo. Most of my boxes are (atm) on a cold attic, that has been untouched for about 40+ years, the looks are from 60-70's.

I'm liking the Philips! dibs on that!! That 700 and the Hitachi look bad ass!!

Thank You! The Philips is loud, but the abilities of the bass speaker are best on a average volume, it goes damn low. The 13 cm full ranges have very annoying sound when listened longer. The GF-700 has a power rating of 50W from AC, but that value would suggest bigger muscle than it has.

jimmyjimmy, I was a bit disappointed to find out they were exhanged. And the work wasn't good, I had to mount them better using big washers on the screw posts. It's nice on low-moderate volumes but will quickly lose the oomph and start sounding too treble oriented. The boxes are solid and proper reflex type but they really need a good seal, because vented boxes sound even worse than sealed when they are leaking.

I like black Sharp 700! Looks very good!
I wish you success in restoration of other boomboxes...

Thank You. I believe that the black ones are a bit more rare than the silver/dark grey. There is also a red one... The metallic black really pops with the chrome! This one also lacks the "oomph" on higher volumes. The speaker boxes are very light and flimsy :annoyed:

My approach to boxes is that they don't need to be mint, but they need to work & sound good and be nicely transportable. Thats why I like the cheaper and lighter boxes that have other things working nicely, like the Palladium, which is nice to use, but needs a "sound check".