Boombox recommandations ?

[pas_mecra]

Hey everyone ! First off, i hope this is the right place to post, i'm new on that forum and didn't find a better place.
I'm also new in that passion about boombox/ghettoblasters speakers, i have a huge collection of small/mediums bluetooth speakers and few boombox.
I wanted to buy an old boombox because i love how they looked and remind me when i was young, but space is an issue so i can't collect them like i collect bluetooth speakers, I have to select them carefuly. From my understanding, old boombox will not sound that great for today standard for their size (correct me if i'm wrong), so i'm more into 2000 to 2020 era for select them. Actualy i have the Harman Kardon Go + play 2016, the TDK a73, and the TDK 2 speakers is on the way. The TDK A73 and the HK go + play sounds both awesome for me, so i want to ask to this awesome community some others BOOMBOX recommandations that will at least sound as good, or even better if possible. If they have a battery its even better ! Also, i'm more into this era because premium models cost really cheap for most, another thing that make me pass about 1980 1990 era except that they will not outperfom my currents in terms of sound for most, is that the good one seems to be really expensive unfortunately Anyway ! Would be a pleasure to talk with you and learn more about boombox in general !

 

[Reli]

Depends what kind of music you like. If all you listen to is hiphop and electronic music, then yes, modern boxes will sound better. But if you like classic rock, or anything with vocals and strings, there are lots of vintage boxes that sound better. Such as Aiwa CS-85X, Aiwa TPR-950, Diatone JR-711, JVC M-70, Sanyo M9994, Sharp GF9696, the list goes on.

 

[goodman]

Welcome to the forum.
If you listen mostly to digital music from your phone, then BT speakers are your choice.
If you want to listen radio or cassettes, then you can buy a cassette player (boombox).
If it has a line input, then with a cable you can connect another device to it - a portable CD player, MP3 player or phone.

1975 - 1990 - Classic boomboxes: metal, chrome, VU or LED meters, complex cassette mechanisms, analog radio and others.
1990 - 2000 - Modern boomboxes: plastic, LED meters or none, complex or more simple cassette mechanisms, analog or digital radio and others.
When buying a boombox, preventive maintenance and servicing of the cassette mechanisms and electronic components are necessary.
2020 - 2025 - New "retro" boomboxes: plastic, LED meters or not, regular cassette mechanisms, analog or digital radio and others.

If you want to get a boombox that doesn't need maintenance, then you can buy one of the new retro boomboxes:
MUSE M-380 GB - New boombox in 80's retro style with radio, cassette, cd, usb, bluetooth, line in, mic in, for sale in France.

M-380 GB – MUSE

www.muse-europe.com

We discuss this boombox in this thread:

New boombox in 80's retro style with radio, cassette, cd, usb, bluetooth, line in, mic in.

New boombox in 80's retro style with radio, cassette, cd, usb, bluetooth, line in, mic in. There is many links and videos. I posted them here for more detailed information. In 2022, I found official site of chinese factory LEOTEC. http://www.leotec.hk/index.html I found a few interesting...

www.boomboxery.com

There are various videos on YouTube, here is one of them:

​

 

[dubout]

An important question would be if you want to listen to cassettes?

A great value-for-money boombox from the 90ies would be the Kaboom, for example the JVC DP-100, DP-200 or RV NB-10. Up to the NB-10 any of the Kabooms have great power, after that model they reduced the power. Recommended would be the DP-100 and DP-200 because they let you adjust the mids and treble unlike the other models. The good thing about these is that they sold many of them in Europe so you can find them for around 50 Euro in good condition if you wait and loiter around the online maketplaces. There are plenty of posts about the Kabooms on here if you want to read up on them.

Other 90ies boxes to recommend might be the Pioneer RX DT models. They were also discussed multiple times on this forum.

When collecting Bluetooth boomboxes is a thing for you, look at the DJ Tech Boombox. Sadly they are very hard to find in Europe:

DJ Tech Boombox | The Boombox Wiki

DJ Tech Boombox review, specs, and photos. This model was introduced in 2015 and was sold in very limited numbers.

4.wikiboombox.com

 

[pas_mecra]

Depends what kind of music you like. If all you listen to is hiphop and electronic music, then yes, modern boxes will sound better. But if you like classic rock, or anything with vocals and strings, there are lots of vintage boxes that sound better. Such as Aiwa CS-85X, Aiwa TPR-950, Diatone JR-711, JVC M-70, Sanyo M9994, Sharp GF9696, the list goes on.

Hey ! I listen a lot of hip hop, but also pretty much every musics styles, a lot with vocals focus, that's why i use mutiple devices depending of what i listen at the moment so i will take a look to your list with pleasure. Thanks a lot !

 

[pas_mecra]

He

Welcome to the forum.
If you listen mostly to digital music from your phone, then BT speakers are your choice.
If you want to listen radio or cassettes, then you can buy a cassette player (boombox).
If it has a line input, then with a cable you can connect another device to it - a portable CD player, MP3 player or phone.

1975 - 1990 - Classic boomboxes: metal, chrome, VU or LED meters, complex cassette mechanisms, analog radio and others.
1990 - 2000 - Modern boomboxes: plastic, LED meters or none, complex or more simple cassette mechanisms, analog or digital radio and others.
When buying a boombox, preventive maintenance and servicing of the cassette mechanisms and electronic components are necessary.
2020 - 2025 - New "retro" boomboxes: plastic, LED meters or not, regular cassette mechanisms, analog or digital radio and others.

If you want to get a boombox that doesn't need maintenance, then you can buy one of the new retro boomboxes:
MUSE M-380 GB - New boombox in 80's retro style with radio, cassette, cd, usb, bluetooth, line in, mic in, for sale in France.

M-380 GB – MUSE

www.muse-europe.com

We discuss this boombox in this thread:

New boombox in 80's retro style with radio, cassette, cd, usb, bluetooth, line in, mic in.

New boombox in 80's retro style with radio, cassette, cd, usb, bluetooth, line in, mic in. There is many links and videos. I posted them here for more detailed information. In 2022, I found official site of chinese factory LEOTEC. http://www.leotec.hk/index.html I found a few interesting...

www.boomboxery.com

There are various videos on YouTube, here is one of them:

​

Welcome to the forum.
If you listen mostly to digital music from your phone, then BT speakers are your choice.
If you want to listen radio or cassettes, then you can buy a cassette player (boombox).
If it has a line input, then with a cable you can connect another device to it - a portable CD player, MP3 player or phone.

1975 - 1990 - Classic boomboxes: metal, chrome, VU or LED meters, complex cassette mechanisms, analog radio and others.
1990 - 2000 - Modern boomboxes: plastic, LED meters or none, complex or more simple cassette mechanisms, analog or digital radio and others.
When buying a boombox, preventive maintenance and servicing of the cassette mechanisms and electronic components are necessary.
2020 - 2025 - New "retro" boomboxes: plastic, LED meters or not, regular cassette mechanisms, analog or digital radio and others.

If you want to get a boombox that doesn't need maintenance, then you can buy one of the new retro boomboxes:
MUSE M-380 GB - New boombox in 80's retro style with radio, cassette, cd, usb, bluetooth, line in, mic in, for sale in France.

M-380 GB – MUSE

www.muse-europe.com

We discuss this boombox in this thread:

New boombox in 80's retro style with radio, cassette, cd, usb, bluetooth, line in, mic in.

New boombox in 80's retro style with radio, cassette, cd, usb, bluetooth, line in, mic in. There is many links and videos. I posted them here for more detailed information. In 2022, I found official site of chinese factory LEOTEC. http://www.leotec.hk/index.html I found a few interesting...

www.boomboxery.com

There are various videos on YouTube, here is one of them:

​

Hey ! Firstly thank you for your hospitality, its a pleasure to read the discussions on that forum even if i don't understand most of the subject, the passion that emanates from it make it very pleasant to read.
Also thanks a lot for thoses informations, now i have a clearer vision of the thing.
I listen by wire (jack) and bluetooth, so yes i have to admit that the cassettes and the radio aspect is not for usage, but more for the love of the object. Even if i will not use them i would be glad to have them as a part of history if you understand what i mean. But to clarify something, for you if i don 't use the cassettes and the radio, buying somes olds boombox is useless in my case ? They won't sound that good for that ? A think that find about 2000 2010 audio devices like bluetooth speakers/docking/AirPlay etc, is that a lot of them sound better than modern high priced devices (at least in my collection) but for 1980 1990 i have no idea about their sound quality versus more modern stuff.
Also thanks for the 2020 2025 models ! I will take a look, not a huge fan about plastic but at least if they sound good they deserve a look

 

[pas_mecra]

An important question would be if you want to listen to cassettes?

A great value-for-money boombox from the 90ies would be the Kaboom, for example the JVC DP-100, DP-200 or RV NB-10. Up to the NB-10 any of the Kabooms have great power, after that model they reduced the power. Recommended would be the DP-100 and DP-200 because they let you adjust the mids and treble unlike the other models. The good thing about these is that they sold many of them in Europe so you can find them for around 50 Euro in good condition if you wait and loiter around the online maketplaces. There are plenty of posts about the Kabooms on here if you want to read up on them.

Other 90ies boxes to recommend might be the Pioneer RX DT models. They were also discussed multiple times on this forum.

When collecting Bluetooth boomboxes is a thing for you, look at the DJ Tech Boombox. Sadly they are very hard to find in Europe:

DJ Tech Boombox | The Boombox Wiki

DJ Tech Boombox review, specs, and photos. This model was introduced in 2015 and was sold in very limited numbers.

4.wikiboombox.com

Hey ! Indeed I should have clarified that i only listen with wire (jack) or via bluetooth Ldac reciever (think that i do with old stuff that i have). But the cassette player can be a + for the love of the object, but indeed not for use it.
About the Kabooms, they was on m'y list ! I read a lot of good things about them, the issue is that i really don't like how they look, i'm more into square/rectangles shapes. But you said something that change a bit the thing, the fact that you can adjust the mids, in général it's just the bass and the highs so maybe i will pick one, as you said i saw them for pretty cheap !
I will dig with the RX DT models.
Never heard about DJ tech boombox, thanks ! A fast research show that they will be hard to find indeed !
The last modern that i find and seems to sound good is Altec Lansing IMT 800/810 but i'm not sure if its in the criteria of this forum.

 

[pas_mecra]

Also i just ordered a grundig rr660 and a Sharp GF-7850, any thoughts ?

 

[goodman]

Regarding Grundig, I can't say anything specific because I haven't had one.
On the other hand, Sharp is a classic model with a cassette and radio.
If it's in working order, it should sound pretty good.
I noticed that it doesn't have a line input, which means that additional devices can't be connected.
Of course, it can be modified and an input or BT can be added, but this is a delicate service job.

 

[pas_mecra]

I

Regarding Grundig, I can't say anything specific because I haven't had one.
On the other hand, Sharp is a classic model with a cassette and radio.
If it's in working order, it should sound pretty good.
I noticed that it doesn't have a line input, which means that additional devices can't be connected.
Of course, it can be modified and an input or BT can be added, but this is a delicate service job.

Yes i discover that after oredering it, but it hava a Din port so a DIN to jack adapter would work no ?

 

[goodman]

Yes i discover that after oredering it, but it hava a Din port so a DIN to jack adapter would work no ?

I saw a picture on the internet and this DIN jack says AMP,
which in most cases means that it is a line output for connecting to an external amplifier.
Some DIN jacks may also work as a line input, but only when there is a cassette in record mode.

 

[dubout]

If you don't have a line in my fool-proof approach is an FM transmitter and listen over the radio of the boombox. It's pretty hassle free and the boomboxes of that time were somewhat constructed around the radio so the radio usually sounds pretty good.

 

[pas_mecra]

If you don't have a line in my fool-proof approach is an FM transmitter and listen over the radio of the boombox. It's pretty hassle free and the boomboxes of that time were somewhat constructed around the radio so the radio usually sounds pretty good.

Great idea ! Will try that. I'm also on a Panasonic DT 680, it seems to have a RCA port + seems to sound good from researchs on this forum so maybe i will buy it

 

[goodman]

I'm also on a Panasonic DT 680, it seems to have a RCA port + seems to sound good from researchs on this forum so maybe i will buy it

You must know before you buy - this RCA port is CD out, not LINE IN.

 

[pas_mecra]

You must know before you buy - this RCA port is CD out, not LINE IN.

Damn ! Good to know, thanks

 

[Reli]

If you don't have a line in my fool-proof approach is an FM transmitter and listen over the radio of the boombox. It's pretty hassle free and the boomboxes of that time were somewhat constructed around the radio so the radio usually sounds pretty good.

To be honest though, I haven't found an FM transmitter that sounds good. The bass is weak below 100 Hz

 

[pas_mecra]

To be honest though, I haven't found an FM transmitter that sounds good. The bass is weak below 100 Hz

That was the case when i tried to use thise type of transmitter for m'y car, tried few différents, never sounded great honestly. I think its better to find some good sounding models that already have the good port, really hard to find resonable price, good condition, sound good and have a port

 

[Eddy]

If you don't have a line in my fool-proof approach is an FM transmitter and listen over the radio of the boombox. It's pretty hassle free and the boomboxes of that time were somewhat constructed around the radio so the radio usually sounds pretty good.

That's the way i do it . No tinkering in the boombox if it has no line in.

 

[Eddy]

To be honest though, I haven't found an FM transmitter that sounds good. The bass is weak below 100 Hz

I use a CCrane in the car aswell , i have to say it sounds better than the regular FM stations.
Sound of regular stations is so bad up here ,overcompressed no stereo image................