Which is the best out of these two boxes? just wanting opinions here, I really like the look of the 9696. Any thoughts guys 
9696 V M70
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SpaceLobster
Member (SA)
looks: 9696 wins it for me, more chrome, unusual speaker design with the smaller ones in the centre, a meaner look overall. the M70 looks very plain and frankly not very cool.
sound: both have very good sound, good balance and warmth. They both really thump, but the M70 is louder and has slightly more bass I think.
build quality: 9696 wins this one I think, it's just really heavy and solid. The M70 is right behind it but with slightly worse quality in the sliders and casing.
functions: The 9696 has the speed control on the tape deck which is cool and a few more switches than the M70, but the M70 has more inputs (mine has). They both have music search systems that are cool and individual bass sliders etc. The 9696 has dope led meters tho. So 9696 wins here too I think, thought I don't use these functions much.
Price: 9696 I got for 300 euro and M70 for 100 pounds, the 9696 is definitely more rare and doesn't come up very often, but it could be worth it as I think I prefer it. The sound is better on the M70 but that doesn't save it, the 9696 has got pretty much everything else and still really good sound. Unless you want to rock a massive outdoors party it's enough.
Peace
sound: both have very good sound, good balance and warmth. They both really thump, but the M70 is louder and has slightly more bass I think.
build quality: 9696 wins this one I think, it's just really heavy and solid. The M70 is right behind it but with slightly worse quality in the sliders and casing.
functions: The 9696 has the speed control on the tape deck which is cool and a few more switches than the M70, but the M70 has more inputs (mine has). They both have music search systems that are cool and individual bass sliders etc. The 9696 has dope led meters tho. So 9696 wins here too I think, thought I don't use these functions much.
Price: 9696 I got for 300 euro and M70 for 100 pounds, the 9696 is definitely more rare and doesn't come up very often, but it could be worth it as I think I prefer it. The sound is better on the M70 but that doesn't save it, the 9696 has got pretty much everything else and still really good sound. Unless you want to rock a massive outdoors party it's enough.
Peace
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BoomboxLover48
Boomus Fidelis
Both are very nice boomboxes and I have both but the 40W GF9696 is better than M70. Better bass, cosmetics, style and sound quality (3 way speakers). Rare to find a 9696 in working condition!
HankAPLD
Member (SA)
I mostly agree with SpaceLobster, but I feel like the M70 is built more solid than the 9696 also JVC is known for good build quality. The Sharp sound better at lower volume and the M70 better at higher volume, at least to me they do. The M70 has more radio bands than the 9696 however this might be irrelevant if you don't listen to much SW radio. The 9696 looks better than the M70 but that's just my opinion. I've opened up both models and the M70 seems easier to repair since the back and front are attached to a frame in the middle, giving you easy access to the M70's components once the back and front are detached. They both have great cassette decks but the 9696 have more bells and whistles such as the tape speed control and mix mic input on the top. The Sharp's APLD is easier to use than the MMS on the M70.
It really comes down to personal preference. Both are great boomboxes but the 9696 is generally more expensive and rarer so keep that in mind when buying, also spare parts for the 9696 are rarer than M70 parts.
It really comes down to personal preference. Both are great boomboxes but the 9696 is generally more expensive and rarer so keep that in mind when buying, also spare parts for the 9696 are rarer than M70 parts.
Guys.....thank you so much for the write up and cool pics, much appreciated 
So at some point in the future I will be hunting down a 9696 now my suspicions have been confirmed. I have seen a minty 9696 on ebay Germany with a bin price of 699 euros, way out of my league, but if I had that kind of money I would not hesitate to buy. Once again thanks guys
So at some point in the future I will be hunting down a 9696 now my suspicions have been confirmed. I have seen a minty 9696 on ebay Germany with a bin price of 699 euros, way out of my league, but if I had that kind of money I would not hesitate to buy. Once again thanks guys 
redbenjoe
I Am Legend
the slider system on the m70 becomes useless over time --
and its bass --even with the loudness switch on - is very thin at low to even mid volumes
but --a real fresh m70 at high volumes sounds much more solid than the 9996
also - if you include the cherry//gold tint on the m71 --i think its better looking than the 9996
to me - the 9996 is way to ornate and pretentious
also --the m70 has such a super-power amp system --you can easily run 10" woofers with its
speaker outs
and its bass --even with the loudness switch on - is very thin at low to even mid volumes
but --a real fresh m70 at high volumes sounds much more solid than the 9996
also - if you include the cherry//gold tint on the m71 --i think its better looking than the 9996
to me - the 9996 is way to ornate and pretentious
also --the m70 has such a super-power amp system --you can easily run 10" woofers with its
speaker outs
Beosystem10
Member (SA)
Ghettoboom767
Member (SA)
I agree,that's why I have multiples of each,even better!
I agree, I like the highs better on the 9696 to.
I agree, I like the highs better on the 9696 to.
Hisrudeness
Member (SA)
Good thread this. I didn't realise 9696 sounded anywhere near as good as an M70. I'm not a huge Sharp fan as all my Sharp's underachieve soundwise 8989,9191,9494, 535(9000),777. I assumed 9696 would sound only slightly better then a 9494.
It's interesting to read all 9696 owners comments. So it's not just a pretty face then?
It's interesting to read all 9696 owners comments. So it's not just a pretty face then?
Want one now haha 
there is one on Ebay now with about 20 minutes left......current bidding is at 456@ Geez!systemaddict said:Thanks guys, I now long for a 9696
The 9696 is much heavier than the 9494. The main drivers have much bigger magnets which would partly explain the weight difference. Where as the 9494 is slightly more powerful than the 9191, the 9696 is a big jump up from the 9494.
The sound quality of the 9696 is the best of the GF- series sharps I've heard including a healthy 777.
The 9696 can have issues though with it's on off switch. There is an easy fix for that though.
Of course, Sanyo and many others made better sounding boxes in the mid size format.
The sound quality of the 9696 is the best of the GF- series sharps I've heard including a healthy 777.
The 9696 can have issues though with it's on off switch. There is an easy fix for that though.
Of course, Sanyo and many others made better sounding boxes in the mid size format.
Beosystem10
Member (SA)
I can just imagine a bunch of determined and confident last second bidders, all hunched over their keyboards, finger poised to make that critical snipe, eBay open in the tab showing on the left monitor, this thread on view on their other monitor, they're rubbing their hands with glee and soon after the hammer falls, they (apart from the lucky one among them) will be on Arsebook or Tw*tter discussing how these guys in the boombox forum told them to do it..static2000g said:
If you're that lucky bidder, please come along and tell us just why we must own a 9696, no question about it, we just must..
I feel a return to my eBay watching ways coming along soon..
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