Boomboxes with RCA output jacks?

[david151]

I am looking for a Boombox with RCA output jacks and wondered if anyone had a list of the best machines for quality cassette playback from the 80-90s with full size 1/4" RCA jacks?

Many thanks

Dave

 

[im_alan_partridge]

Wecome to the forum David, ive never used output jacks so i really couldnt even tell you of the top of my head which of my boxes have them

I think the JVC M70 has the outputs you require, its known for having great sound, top build quality and its not in the really really high price range.
Others will be able to advise you better than me

 

[david151]

Ok thanks for your reply. Would love to hear if anyone else has any other suggestions

Thanks Dave

 

[Matrixambience]

Along with the M70, Four notable Panasonic's are RX-5050, RX-5080/5085, RX-5150/5250, RX-5350. JVC has other models out there too, and a few Sony's and Sanyo's.

 

[char]

HITACHI 3D9

 

[TW5]

Some of the Sanyo mini boxes have a DIN input-output connector
I have one and have used the output connected to my stereo system.
But you would need a DIN to RCA adaptor in this case.

 

[david151]

Thanks for your suggestions. After a day of searching around I have compiled the following list of models that have RCA output jacks with casette players. Just wondered what peoples views were on the models listed below? Which ones are the decent ones and which are to be avoided? Are there any other models I sould be looking at?


JVC M70
HITACHI 3D9
HITACHI CP-90SE
PANASONIC RX C41L
Panasonic RX-F32
Panasonic RX-C41L
Panasonic RX-5350F
Panasonic RX-5050
Panasonic RX-5080
Panasonic RX-5085
Panasonic RX-5150
Panasonic RX-5250
Panasonic RX-5350
PHILIPS D-8814
Pioneer SK-404L
SHARP QT-89HG
SHARP GF-9191XR
SHARP GF-700Z
SHARP GF-575H
SHARP GF-700H
SHARP GF-500H
SHARP WF-940H
Sharp GF-767 Z
Sharp GF-525

 

[mellymelsr]

The best boombox on your list would be the Panasonic RX-5350, only problem is they are very difficult to find for sale and when found are VERY expensive. The next best all around boombox on that list would be the JVC M70. It has a wonderful sounding cassette player, plenty of power, great tuner, and they are very easy to find for sale. Down side is due to it's popularity the prices for a nice working example will cost you anywhere from $299 to $600. Good luck with your search....your list is missing the top 1 piece boombox...the JVC M90 would top any on your list but it would take around $1000 for a nice one.

 

[Matrixambience]

All of those on the list you compiled will serve you well. The Panasonic RX-5080 and RX-5085 are great all-around,easy to carry radios that use 8 "D" cell batteries, a great RCA out/in jack port,nice sensitive tuner for AM/FM, 6" woofers and real 2" tweeters. The cassette decks are rock solid with lots of metal construction and very little plastic. The mechanism is not electronic servo type but keys to actuate the deck. Very rudimentary but effective and easy to replace belts on it if they ever break,which is rare on these. The Ambience Sound feature is awesome and livens up ordinary stereo when you need an extra "punch" in stereo separation. The RX-5080 has a tone control (no seperate bass and treble), but by far its the best balanced in tonal quality and no need for many different sound adjustments. The RX-5085 is a step up from the 5080, it has Dolby NR for tape system recording/playback, and record mute, and TPS (tape program search) feature. Very reasonable on ebay sometimes and will serve you well. Just my review on these as I have had both and still have a mint RX-5080, and the RX-5085 was my first ever boombox I bought in 1982, but sold it on ebay in 2003

 

[Reli]

I'm confused. Are you desiring to use it as a tape deck, to output music to your home hifi system?

If so, a real tape deck will perform better than any boombox. You can get a vintage tape deck on Ebay for only $100-200 that will play tapes better than any boombox.

Or do you want a boombox because of its style & portability?

On your list, I would avoid the RX-5150, it sounds weak.

The RX-5350 is huge & impressive, but it usually goes for $600+

I would look for an Aiwa TPR-950 or 955, it has a great sounding tape deck. It looks kind of small but it sounds fantastic. They usually go for $250-350 on Ebay.

The JVC M70 is also nice, but everyone else has one, and due to its popularity they are higher priced, usually $350-450

 

[david151]

I'm confused. Are you desiring to use it as a tape deck, to output music to your home hifi system?

If so, a real tape deck will perform better than any boombox. You can get a vintage tape deck on Ebay for only $100-200 that will play tapes better than any boombox.

I do want to use it as a tape deck for my home hifi system as well as using it with my M-Audio soundcard which has full size RCA jacks, so it would be nice if I had a boombox also with full size RCA jacks. I know I could probably get much better quality from a full size tape deck, however if I am honest I just really love the retro look of boomboxes and want something small and portable. Just out of interest if I wanted to broaden my choice slightly and also look for a machine that has a CD and Cassette deck do I have any options from a later period such as the 90s as far as classic kit goes, or is most quality kit featuring cassette decks on the way out by this time?

Many thanks for all the responses so far

 

[Reli]

There are a few CD-playing units that are popular around here, but they are either 3-piece shelf systems, or JVC Kabooms, neither of which qualify as being retro.

 

[david151]

Does anyone know if the Aiwa TPR-950, Aiwa TPR-955, Panasonic RX-5080,Panasonic RX-5085 were available for the UK market?

 

[tshorba]

full size 1/4" RCA jacks?

Hi, are you after 1/4" TRS or RCA outputs? RCA plugs/jacks only come in one size where TRS are 1/4" or 1/8" as a standard,

If I was you I would look for a nice Nak or Aiwa deck and a boombox,

 

[david151]

Hi, are you after 1/4" TRS or RCA outputs? RCA plugs/jacks only come in one size where TRS are 1/4" or 1/8" as a standard

Yes I mean RCA. I am looking for one with RCA output as all my current devices in my home feature RCA jacks (amp, sound card etc). I know I could just get a boombox with a TRS mini jack and use a Y cable adapter to link to my equipment with RCA jacks, however I already own some extremely high quality RCA cable (cost me a fortune!) and would prefer to just use this without anything else. Plus I love the substantial pysical design of the RCA jack.

 

[david151]

There are a few CD-playing units that are popular around here, but they are either 3-piece shelf systems, or JVC Kabooms, neither of which qualify as being retro

Out of interest which of the JVC Kabooms featuring CD and Cassette are the ones to look out for and are there any other portable options besides the Kabooms? Or is everything else not good quality?

 

[Reli]

There are a few CD-playing units that are popular around here, but they are either 3-piece shelf systems, or JVC Kabooms, neither of which qualify as being retro

Out of interest which of the JVC Kabooms featuring CD and Cassette are the ones to look out for and are there any other portable options besides the Kabooms? Or is everything else not good quality?

Most Kabooms have both CD and cassette. They have a lot of power, and more bass than any "retro" 80's boombox.

So you've got retro 80's boxes, and then Kabooms that started off sometime in the late 90's I think? And then no other 1-piece comes close until the last couple years when the Altec and TDK's came out.

 

[david151]

So you've got retro 80's boxes, and then Kabooms that started off sometime in the late 90's I think? And then no other 1-piece comes close until the last couple years when the Altec and TDK's came out.

Yes I know about the Altec and TDK's and they look really nice units spec wise.

So are you saying if I wanted a boombox with a cassette and CD then I have no other real options apart from the Kabooms? If so are there any Kabooms you would recommend in particular?

Are there no decent Tape and CD boomboxes from the 1980s? If not this seems strange as I thought the CD was developed in the 1970s with Philips releasing the first commercial CD player in 1982?

 

[Reli]

There are several CD/cassette 3-piece shelf systems from the 80's, but it doesn't sound like that's what you want.

If you want a 1-piece, the only ones other than Kabooms that I'm aware of are the Panasonic Cobra-tops. And those sound very good.