What every boombox should have

[Zippy]

What do you think should be more common or even standard for boomboxes? What features do you fancy?

For me, proper RCA line-in should be a standard. It mostly is but there are a quite a few boxes with input jacks but no proper mode or - especially around here - boxes with DIN-in, which I don't appreciate.

Another thing I don't appreciate and that's more common with older and smaller boxes is tone control. In my opinion separate bass/treble control should be a standard, too.

What I'd like to be more common are knobs and sliders for balance, treble and bass which click into place at +/- 0.

I also think that pretty much every boombox looks better with two antennas.

 

[SpaceLobster]

-straps so you can carry them with both hands free
-inputs that aren't on the back so they are in the way when you carry the box ! inputs on the side.
-power saving button for when you're inside or similar
-tuner light

Peace

 

[Northerner]

Power saving button?!?!!!....never!!!! Power boosting ie loudness...yup

 

[Blasterqueen]

I like VU meters that "dance" in radio mode and don't just indicate signal strength and battery power. I have two boxes where i miss this.

 

[jimmyjimmy19702010]

More power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Reli]

What do you think should be more common or even standard for boomboxes? What features do you fancy?

For me, proper RCA line-in should be a standard. It mostly is but there are a quite a few boxes with input jacks but no proper mode or - especially around here - boxes with DIN-in, which I don't appreciate.

Another thing I don't appreciate and that's more common with older and smaller boxes is tone control. In my opinion separate bass/treble control should be a standard, too.

What I'd like to be more common are knobs and sliders for balance, treble and bass which click into place at +/- 0.

I also think that pretty much every boombox looks better with two antennas.

How come you don't like DIN inputs? I haven't noticed a sound quality difference.

I think all boxes should have:
1) Knobs & toggle switches (no sliders, because they often break)
2) A good Wide setting
3) Dial light that can be left on permanently
4) The tuner numerals should be printed on an acrylic plate to carry the light across.
5) If it has needle VU's, they must be lit up separately (not like Sanyo where you can't read them at night).

 

[Zippy]

I don't dislike DIN connectors per se. Some say they are even better than RCA connectors. What bothers me is that some European boxes have an RCA phono-in but instead of the RCA line-in they have a DIN rec input that doesn't work the same way. So there's proper no line-in and that just sucks. Also, I find it hard to find a high quality DIN cable these days because RCA has become the wordlwide standard long ago.

 

[blu_fuz]

You guys mentioned them all!


I really fancy any type of additional cassette tape storage. Secret doors or trays that pop open.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

AMBIENCE feature what we see in Panny Boxes. That is so cool!
Long display of colorful LEDs.
Big VU meters.
Enough bass to listen at low volume.
Treble and clarity that make your jaw drop.
BIG woofers.
Rechargeable small battey pack.
The ultimate cosmetic appearance with durable components.
Weighted tuning knobs and controls at the lower side so one can rest your hands and tune.
A snap on polycarbonate front transparent cover to protect the face and finish.
Blue tooth capability...

 

[BoomboxLover48]

You guys mentioned them all!


I really fancy any type of additional cassette tape storage. Secret doors or trays that pop open.

Joe, then your high power boombox will rattle... eeks!

 

[Reli]

I don't dislike DIN connectors per se. Some say they are even better than RCA connectors. What bothers me is that some European boxes have an RCA phono-in but instead of the RCA line-in they have a DIN rec input that doesn't work the same way. So there's proper no line-in and that just sucks. Also, I find it hard to find a high quality DIN cable these days because RCA has become the wordlwide standard long ago.

Check Ebay member lazerwave. If you can't find him, do an item search for "DIN bang 3.5mm"

 

[Zippy]

Some nice looking DIN adapters right there - thanks for the hint!

 

[Ghettoboom767]

Lit up cassette windows,now that's rare!!!

 

[Ken]

Spectrum Analyzer.

 

[ford93]

I'm asking for too much, but an BBE system built in.

But I'll settle for an EQ.

 

[Retro Addict]

A "Mode" switch. A surprizingly high number of boombox models, including high end ones, tend to have an "FM mode" selector. I'm talking about the FM mono/stereo switch. More expensive models often feature stereo-wide, and this wonderful expanded sound can only be experienced on FM radio, leaving the other functions sounding rather lackluster in comparison.

Some boomboxes, on the other hand, are blessed with a much more useful "Mode" switch instead of an "FM mode" switch, which means the stereo and stereo-wide settings can be experienced on FM radio, cassette and line-in functions. My Panasonic RX-5250 has a "Mode" switch, and it makes full use of its fantastic sounding "Ambience" setting on all functions, really bringing the music to life. My bigger Sharp GF-777, and many other large high end models have the lesser "FM mode" switch, and I often feel that their designers missed an opportunity to make those models that little bit more spectacular. Such a shame.

 

[Beosystem10]

Hmm, eBay UK's most prolific boombox - at least three or four on there at any one time - the JVC RC-656 has a mode switch that gives the option of monaural, stereophonic or Biphonic sounds on both (L & LB DIN versions) or all (rest of the world RCA versions) sources.

The 656 and its Thorn (Ferguson, Marconi and Ultra) AKAs is one of the cheapest as well as the most common boxes too. Only about one in every hundred of the darned things has any sort of fault to report, come the day of the nuclear bomb falling the 656s will be out there, blasting away for the benefit of the cockroaches, and eBay ones have recently sold for 99p, £8,42, £9.99, £13, oh, and not forgetting the one that made £410, which must have had its polystyrene shell replaced by a solid titanium one or something. But there it is; cheap yet with some features that are lacking in some of its more upmarket cousins. Even the much respected M70 has no Dolby - present on the 656.

I also think that more boomboxes should come with a built in Goblin Teasmaid. Seriously, why not? I've a bedside clock/radio that has a Teasmaid built into it, so why is there not a machine that could wake us to loud, stereophonic tunes from a tape as it makes us that essential first cup of the day? I had that idea 40 years too late didn't I.

WTH? I didn't edit anything yet there's a wee thing down there VVVV that says I did? How's that then?

 

[Ghettoboom767]

The JVC-PC55JW/C has a sleep,start,end mode control!! So you can be woken up to cassette or radio.
One of the best boomboxes made IMHO,27 wpc to!!
BTW,I love the 656's,that's why I gave 2!

 

[Beosystem10]

Only 2? I've somehow managed to "be followed home by" around half a dozen stray ones which I've then serviced, cleaned and passed on to friends who have heard and liked my best one. There was a PC55 in UK spec (with LW radio and a 250V transformer primary) on eBay that finished earlier today. Sadly, I missed it as I was busy and hadn't set up a snipe for it, it looked OK so someone probably had a great bargain there. I'd have tried harder for it if I'd realised that they could be used as an alarm clock!

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

Power saving button?!?!!!....never!!!! Power boosting ie loudness...yup

A loudness switch makes all the difference for both low volume and high volume settings!

How come you don't like DIN inputs? I haven't noticed a sound quality difference.

I think all boxes should have:
1) Knobs & toggle switches (no sliders, because they often break)
2) A good Wide setting
3) Dial light that can be left on permanently
4) The tuner numerals should be printed on an acrylic plate to carry the light across.
5) If it has needle VU's, they must be lit up separately (not like Sanyo where you can't read them at night).

YEP, Everyone of those!

Spectrum Analyzer.

Oh man....that would be sweet, I know a few had them, but damn, I wish there were more!