National RX-C45 v Panasonic RX-DT680 sound comparison

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jimmyjimmy19702010

Member (SA)
As a self confessed bass snob, :-) I decided to record a quick video comparing my collections' bass kings - the RX-C45 and the Panasonic RX-DT680. I'll be testing the two units at a normal mid volume listening level.

Obviously, flat out, the 680 wins for sheer power but at normal listening levels, IMHO, the C45 surprisingly holds it own:

Now as we all know, basic video cameras uploaded to youtube will never capture the real, bassy sound but I think the comparison will still be valid.

You make up your own mind if the little guy can keep up: :-)
https://youtu.be/lb8GhAzNhcs

View attachment 26913
Update: OK, after listening to the YouTube video, the 680 has the edge. The C45 got close when I adjusted the bass slider to max toward the end of the video though! :-)
 
Superduper

Superduper

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Funny that I've had several examples of those panasonics and to my ears, I never was too impressed with them. I still have one of those panasonics with the CD somewhere, just to have one. Seemed such a disconnect to me, therefore, when I hear all these kudos for those models. Or maybe just my expectations are off, or the examples I owned weren't good ones. I'd take a kaboom any day over these and a tweetered kaboom, a no-brainer.
 
J

jimmyjimmy19702010

Member (SA)
Superduper said:
Funny that I've had several examples of those panasonics and to my ears, I never was too impressed with them. I still have one of those panasonics with the CD somewhere, just to have one. Seemed such a disconnect to me, therefore, when I hear all these kudos for those models. Or maybe just my expectations are off, or the examples I owned weren't good ones. I'd take a kaboom any day over these and a tweetered kaboom, a no-brainer.
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Hmmm...... I suppose we all hear differently. Your preferred model of boombox to listen to must also be affected by the style of music you listen to also. I don't remember anyone dissing both of the models tested here though.

Anyway, it's all good!

James..... :-)
 
Superduper

Superduper

Moderator
Staff member
No, don't get me wrong, there's no diss here. I'm not saying they sound bad. It's just the amount of props I see for these models seem rather disconnected at least to me regarding how they sound. I mean they sound good, not just in the best sounding box competition level.

As to your comment about how we all hear differently, that's interesting. My ears are not natural. About 20 years ago, my middle ears were removed and replaced with prosthesis. In other words, those small stapes bones and the rest of the group that makes up the middle ear that tethers the ear drum to the nerve were removed. Mine were ossified and no longer vibrating freely resulting in very little hearing. This was progressive. Microsurgery restored my hearing to better than new, at least it sounded that way in the beginning. The ear drums were reconnected to the nerve via small Teflon wires. Supposedly, these wires are immune to future ossification as nothing sticks to Teflon. In truth, no further hearing loss occurred after the surgery so it would seem that I've been cured of this affliction. The downside is that on these types of surgery, a tendon that naturally pulls back on loud sounds is cut and therefore, I can not go to concerts without hearing protection and uncorked motorcycle fly-by's feels like my eardrum gets blown. Those sounds can be so loud that it gets painful. As to sound fidelity, I don't think I hear any differently than anyone else. I do prefer bright airy tunes however. Just a preference. Or solid bass. But then what do I know about what I hear since I can't hear through anyone else's ears, just my own. I will say, however, that the M70, M90 sounds terrific for 1-piece boxes. SK900 is a top sounding box for sure. VZ2000 and RX-7700's have very special and warm sound that is lacking on many boomboxes. The RX-7700 not strong by any measure but at moderate listening levels, the sound is very good but to my ears could benefit from stronger highs. And strong boxes like the Sony FH's and the Pioneer CK-11's are extremely hard to beat. Oh, and the Sansui CP7 sound very very good -- if only you can find one with fully working displays and working buttons.

So is my hearing skewed or abnormal? I dunno what you hear and you guys don't know what I hear. According to my box sound reviews, is it mainstream? I personally think so. But again, there's no way for anyone to know for sure.
 
J

jimmyjimmy19702010

Member (SA)
Superduper said:
No, don't get me wrong, there's no diss here. I'm not saying they sound bad. It's just the amount of props I see for these models seem rather disconnected at least to me regarding how they sound. I mean they sound good, not just in the best sounding box competition level.
As to your comment about how we all hear differently, that's interesting. My ears are not natural. About 20 years ago, my middle ears were removed and replaced with prosthesis. In other words, those small stapes bones and the rest of the group that makes up the middle ear that tethers the ear drum to the nerve were removed. Mine were ossified and no longer vibrating freely resulting in very little hearing. This was progressive. Microsurgery restored my hearing to better than new, at least it sounded that way in the beginning. The ear drums were reconnected to the nerve via small Teflon wires. Supposedly, these wires are immune to future ossification as nothing sticks to Teflon. In truth, no further hearing loss occurred after the surgery so it would seem that I've been cured of this affliction. The downside is that on these types of surgery, a tendon that naturally pulls back on loud sounds is cut and therefore, I can not go to concerts without hearing protection and uncorked motorcycle fly-by's feels like my eardrum gets blown. Those sounds can be so loud that it gets painful. As to sound fidelity, I don't think I hear any differently than anyone else. I do prefer bright airy tunes however. Just a preference. Or solid bass. But then what do I know about what I hear since I can't hear through anyone else's ears, just my own. I will say, however, that the M70, M90 sounds terrific for 1-piece boxes. SK900 is a top sounding box for sure. VZ2000 and RX-7700's have very special and warm sound that is lacking on many boomboxes. The RX-7700 not strong by any measure but at moderate listening levels, the sound is very good but to my ears could benefit from stronger highs. And strong boxes like the Sony FH's and the Pioneer CK-11's are extremely hard to beat. Oh, and the Sansui CP7 sound very very good -- if only you can find one with fully working displays and working buttons.
So is my hearing skewed or abnormal? I dunno what you hear and you guys don't know what I hear. According to my box sound reviews, is it mainstream? I personally think so. But again, there's no way for anyone to know for sure.
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I know how you feel when a stack of people go on and on about how great a particular model is when you don't feel that way yourself. One example is the JVC RC-656 - I've heard two nice examples and I rate the bass as weak at best!

To me, creating big bass from a portable Boombox is a real achievement. Anyone can build an efficient box that plays loud with strong mids and highs. Producing power sapping bass and keeping the power consumption under control to allow the practical use of D cells is a much more impressive achievement, in my mind at least! :-)

The Crown 850, Sanyo M9990 & M9994 are examples of boomers, IMHO that sound much bassier than they should considering the modest power output offered on paper. To my ears, these 3 models sound really nice - nice highs, tight punchy bass and well controlled mids!

One style of music the C45 and 680 don't play so well is classical music - I switch over to the Yamaha PC-8 if I'm in a classical mood. Plus the Yammie has a completely 'hiss free' FM tuner for those quiet moments common with classic music.

James.... :-)
 
koleloi

koleloi

Member (SA)
Thanks for the video. To me, the Panny C-45 sounds very impressive regarding its size. And it looks very beautiful too. It's better than those sharp QT-89/90 etc in my opinion.
 
Radio raheem

Radio raheem

Requiem Æternam
jimmy, set the 100hz slider to half and the sbs to full, on the 680, much better bass trust me, i also have a 690 great box....don't have a 45 but i have an rx 60 and it's superb :-)
 
J

jimmyjimmy19702010

Member (SA)
BoomboxLover48 said:
I got a Panasonic RX-C45 yesterday. I was amazed by the sound quality. :jawdrop:

It is a must for a collector! :yes:
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Cool! :-)

The C45 sort of sounds like a modern high end BT speaker with the emphasis on lows and highs but it's not super loud.

Great indoors box - can't think of another mid sized box that has bass at low volume like the C45.

The later models in this series from Panasonic don't seem to have this sound signature - just your normal strong mids and highs.
 
BoomboxLover48

BoomboxLover48

Boomus Fidelis
jimmyjimmy19702010 said:
Cool! :-)

The C45 sort of sounds like a modern high end BT speaker with the emphasis on lows and highs but it's not super loud.

Great indoors box - can't think of another mid sized box that has bass at low volume like the C45.

The later models in this series from Panasonic don't seem to have this sound signature - just your normal strong mids and highs.
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You are absolutely right James! :yes:
There is no other mid size box out there that gives this kind of bass at low volumes.
Mind blowing performance from a small box. :rock:


~Royce
 
Hisrudeness

Hisrudeness

Member (SA)
All those Panny 2 piece mini compo's punch above their weight.
I've got 3 C52s (a bit of a fetish with the styling) and a C53. I sold a C41 to myohmy and they all sound very good.
Excellent bang for your buck and good kitchen and travel radios.
 
J

jimmyjimmy19702010

Member (SA)
Hisrudeness said:
All those Panny 2 piece mini compo's punch above their weight.
I've got 3 C52s (a bit of a fetish with the styling) and a C53. I sold a C41 to myohmy and they all sound very good.
Excellent bang for your buck and good kitchen and travel radios.
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I agree about the styling of the C52 - simply a beautiful looking box! I've never heard a C52 but I did do a comparison of the C45 and a C53 - the C53 just sounded like any other box - certainly wasn't bassy like the C45 - completely different sound signature.
 
Hisrudeness

Hisrudeness

Member (SA)
That's got me curious now. I use a C52 every day in the kitchen but haven't fired up the 53 in over a year. Time to rotate!
Jimmy check your PM
 
J

jimmyjimmy19702010

Member (SA)
Hisrudeness said:
That's got me curious now. I use a C52 every day in the kitchen but haven't fired up the 53 in over a year. Time to rotate!
Jimmy check your PM
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I'd be interested in your opinion on how your C52 and C53 units compare sound wise.

The C45 looks to be an older model than the others in that series. The equaliser sliders and small knobs of the C45 look the same as those used on the big boy RX-C100: I'm guessing that were made around the same time:View attachment 30893View attachment 30894
 
Hisrudeness

Hisrudeness

Member (SA)
The RX-C50 and C60 are in the same range as the C100. They are little powerhouses!

But the C52 is a classy box. A 3 piece with charisma!
 
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