Mid-90s Aiwa NSX-230 detachable: boombox? Cheap mini system?

jonny

Member (SA)
May 21, 2016
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This is my garage radio. It's an Aiwa NSX-230 which I've had from new, as an Xmas present from my folks in 1995 (I think).

Nothing like as retro or stylish as most of the stunning 70s/80s gear that features here, but as it's survived this long I thought it merited a mention.

Depending how you look at it, it's either a massive CD/tape boombox with detachable speakers, or a cheap mini system. Back then, aged 12, I viewed it as my first mini hi-fi system. It lived in my bedroom for years with the speakers mounted on wall brackets and an aux-in lead connected to my Amiga 1200.

Since being replaced by a "proper" mini system in about 2000 or 2001, my faithful old Aiwa has been dragged all over - it's been used in Uni common rooms and for parties, taken to work with me, and for the past 8 years it's been living in a shelf in my garage, with a cheap DAB radio plugged in to the aux ins, keeping me entertained whilst working on old cars/building stuff in the garden/BBQing etc.

Consequently it's absolutely filthy but still going strong! The FM radio and aux in still work fine, and it still sounds good. The volume control has become a bit crackly, and I suspect the CD player lens will be too clogged with dust to work properly. I haven't tried a tape in it for a decade or two...

Maybe one day I'll get round to giving this one a clean-up. After 25 years of sterling service it's probably earned a bit of TLC...
 

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Reli

Member (SA)
Dec 24, 2010
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I had an Aiwa mini system in the mid 90s, with those little satellite speakers that were supposed to simulate a surround system
 

jonny

Member (SA)
May 21, 2016
55
16
8
I think I remember those, they had sort of wedge-shaped surround speakers as I recall?

I have one of the later, higher-spec Aiwa mini systems which is still in use at work. Think it's an NSX-S90. It has a couple of additional small mid range drivers set into each speaker at an angle, to give the surround effect.