I just discovered my love of mini compos. And I've decided I'm calling them mini compos too!
I've had a couple of these in my collection, but it was only upon receiving my third one this week that I realised how great my affection is for them.
So, I've decided to call them mini compos and define them as a separate entity to further give them the identity they so richly deserve.
It looks like most of the big companies created a mini compo. These would be mid to late 80s radios. They're essentially an oversized mini
with detatchable speakers, but they aren't a cheap threepiecer. No, these are HIGH end boxes. The definitive mini compo is compact, feature packed and solidly built. These are easy to tell apart fromt he usual threepiecer from this period as they are noticibly smaller and have very little empty space on their fronts.
The features on these radios is really the telling sign of the quality. Five band EQ's, auto reverse decks, logic buttons, advanced dubbing options, the list goes on. But the beauty, the sheer beauty of these radios is the real magic. So, lets got through my three!
The first mini compo that started me off is the National Panasonic RX-C52. I also have a feeling this is one of the first flag ship mini compos created as theres quite a lot advertising and promotion they did for this model. But just drink in those features. This model is barely 5 and a half inches tall! And the plethora of features, especially the logic controls, make this one high end unit. The amount of effort put into the design is astounding. At a time in the market when mini design was fairly predictable along comes this futuristic and downright classy design that screams quality. A gorgeous radio that has insane volume and clarity and is a joy to play with.
Next up is the Sharp QT-90, a box I have RockE to thank for. This is, again, super eye catching. Sharp were very prolific with their mini range, and one thing you notice as you go through their yearly catalogues (and Sanyo's, Toshiba's and a few other manufacturers) is that themid to late 80s mini market was primely directed at girls. Fruity, pastel colours and simplified controls were the focus. Looking at the QT-90 you see a massive depature from their mini design and a true mini compo design made to deliver big sound and features in as small a space as possible. Look at that array of buttons across the botttom section, wow!! The five band eq and the brick like solidity of this box help no end in the sound quality of this radio. Much like the C52, she sounds beautiful as it not just a kitchen-radio. This cranks and does so while looking absolutely elegant in gold. Twin decks and loads of extras make this one hell of a mini compo.
My last mini comp for now (but I hope to get many more as soon as I can!) is this delectable Hitachi TRK-W3W. We see huge effort in the tweeter design of the speaker and facsia that somehow manages to look clean and streamlined even though theres so many controls packed in. The top left corner of the main unit is incredible design with a power button, mixing mic input and volume, condenser mic and headphone socket all in a space about two inches long!! This unit has one touch dubbing and a 5 band EQ and is a very solid performer. Great sounding decks and very lovely clarity in sound. There's a lot to love about this radio, and this one is in virtually brand new condition.
The way I see it, a mini compo can never be a cheap box. These were always in the upper end of the boombox market and I believe this is why you only really see them from the big manufacturers. But, this is my limited mini compo experience thus far.
Who else shares the love? And who else can enlighten me with more beautifully crafted radios?
Mini compos; I love you so much!!
Rock On.
I've had a couple of these in my collection, but it was only upon receiving my third one this week that I realised how great my affection is for them.
So, I've decided to call them mini compos and define them as a separate entity to further give them the identity they so richly deserve.
It looks like most of the big companies created a mini compo. These would be mid to late 80s radios. They're essentially an oversized mini
with detatchable speakers, but they aren't a cheap threepiecer. No, these are HIGH end boxes. The definitive mini compo is compact, feature packed and solidly built. These are easy to tell apart fromt he usual threepiecer from this period as they are noticibly smaller and have very little empty space on their fronts.
The features on these radios is really the telling sign of the quality. Five band EQ's, auto reverse decks, logic buttons, advanced dubbing options, the list goes on. But the beauty, the sheer beauty of these radios is the real magic. So, lets got through my three!
The first mini compo that started me off is the National Panasonic RX-C52. I also have a feeling this is one of the first flag ship mini compos created as theres quite a lot advertising and promotion they did for this model. But just drink in those features. This model is barely 5 and a half inches tall! And the plethora of features, especially the logic controls, make this one high end unit. The amount of effort put into the design is astounding. At a time in the market when mini design was fairly predictable along comes this futuristic and downright classy design that screams quality. A gorgeous radio that has insane volume and clarity and is a joy to play with.
Next up is the Sharp QT-90, a box I have RockE to thank for. This is, again, super eye catching. Sharp were very prolific with their mini range, and one thing you notice as you go through their yearly catalogues (and Sanyo's, Toshiba's and a few other manufacturers) is that themid to late 80s mini market was primely directed at girls. Fruity, pastel colours and simplified controls were the focus. Looking at the QT-90 you see a massive depature from their mini design and a true mini compo design made to deliver big sound and features in as small a space as possible. Look at that array of buttons across the botttom section, wow!! The five band eq and the brick like solidity of this box help no end in the sound quality of this radio. Much like the C52, she sounds beautiful as it not just a kitchen-radio. This cranks and does so while looking absolutely elegant in gold. Twin decks and loads of extras make this one hell of a mini compo.
My last mini comp for now (but I hope to get many more as soon as I can!) is this delectable Hitachi TRK-W3W. We see huge effort in the tweeter design of the speaker and facsia that somehow manages to look clean and streamlined even though theres so many controls packed in. The top left corner of the main unit is incredible design with a power button, mixing mic input and volume, condenser mic and headphone socket all in a space about two inches long!! This unit has one touch dubbing and a 5 band EQ and is a very solid performer. Great sounding decks and very lovely clarity in sound. There's a lot to love about this radio, and this one is in virtually brand new condition.
The way I see it, a mini compo can never be a cheap box. These were always in the upper end of the boombox market and I believe this is why you only really see them from the big manufacturers. But, this is my limited mini compo experience thus far.
Who else shares the love? And who else can enlighten me with more beautifully crafted radios?
Mini compos; I love you so much!!
Rock On.
)
Congrats 
but traded it to Crown CSC- 980. I think that was a fair trade 
