Deciding on first vintage box purchase

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bantytfv

bantytfv

Member (SA)
Hi, I am trying to decide between a JVC M70JW, Realistic 14-778, Panasonic 5085, Crown CSC-950F, or JVC M50 for my first foray into collecting. Can anyone give me some insight into the sonic and build quality differences in the models? I assume the M70 would be the first choice.

Thanks, David
 
Zippy

Zippy

Member (SA)
Welcome :breakdance:
I'd say none of these would be a bad purchase, but yeah, go for the M70 :thumbsup:
But I have to agree, there are many many more boxes that would be a great start for a collection. Look around in the forum and you'll see ;-)
Wise step though to plan your purchases from the beginning on! :thumbsup:
 
blu_fuz

blu_fuz

Well-Known Member
Staff member
I have all those boxes you mention but the JVC M50.

The JVC M70 will cost you the most ($200 - $500) but is the best built. Sound is very good and will withstand any type of music. Great "rock box". Has slots for a carry strap. Fun to play with and fantastic looks with the VU meters. JVC sliders go bad easily though.
DSC_0255.jpg


The Panasonic 5085 is a very clear sounding box and should run you $75 to $180 for a nice fully working one. Sounds great and you don't want to push it past 3/4 volume but it's so loud you won't want to anyway. Again a great "rock box" and a real looker.
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The Crown 950 is a new one for me. Suprised at the quality and I have seen these sell for $100 up to $350. Better bass retention than the Panasonic 5085 but not as good as the JVC M70. Good looking classic box. Crown did a great job on this one. Very cool LED VU meters. Not a lot of features to play with but it does a great job.
$(KGrHqUOKpYE3uOUYY9+BOJDoflFv!~~_12.JPG


The Realistic 14-778 SCR-8 is a very cool box with the GIANT dual LED VU meters. That is a hard feature to pass up on. You could be looking at $75 to $150 for this one. The cassette decks are known to be kind of troublesome but when they work, they sound fantastic but good luck finding one with a working deck. Two built in hooks on top for a carry strap. Lots of buttons and a real "eye candy" kind of box. This thing sounds best under 3/4 volume and needs the bass turned down to get some real volume from it. Sound quality is right up there with the Panasonic 5085.
DSC_0252.jpg
 
bantytfv

bantytfv

Member (SA)
Thanks for the quick responses, I was also looking at a JVC 3090 CQM, but it looks a little ratty. I have read that these also have very good sound quality. It looks like whoever owned it wore the TV control lettering off the case trying to tune in the TV channels. I would get more than one but my better half might strangle me while I sleep! Thanks for the welcome. :-)
 
bantytfv

bantytfv

Member (SA)
Thanks Blu_Fuz for the in depth reply. I had spotted a really nice14-778 on ebay that was working 100% the first day of the auction, but by day three the owner said the deck had quit working. They say they can hear the motor, could it be as simple as a belt replacement? I really like these boxes. Since that one isn't fully functional I am leaning towards either the M70 or the Crown. The Crown is a very good looking box, and they seem to be scarcer than the others. Your boxes look really great. Thanks again, I'll keep you in mind for a strap.
 
blu_fuz

blu_fuz

Well-Known Member
Staff member
No problem man - glad I could give a review of most of them for you. Let us know what you get!
 
MasterBlaster84

MasterBlaster84

Boomus Fidelis
All good choices and a fairly wide range of prices represented. For $100 you might be able to pick up the Crown, Panasonic or the Realistic however if you really want to start off with an excellent box the M70 would be the one to get. The catch that I'm sure your already aware is a good M70 can cost 2 to 4 times as much as the others for comparable condition. The price range is based on eBay prices so if you can find something at a Thrift, Flea Market, local classified or some place other than eBay then price range is usually very low and comparable. The trick is to find them outside of eBay and that's usually not easy but it can be fun. :yes:

There are a lot of good boxes out there from all of the major manufacturers and even some from the lesser known names so keep your eyes open and you might find something you like that you weren't aware of. :thumbsup:
 
A

agc

Member (SA)
Agree with MasterBlaster; finding them in the wild is the best!!
I don't have many grails but I don't really have any junk either!!
 
floyd

floyd

Boomus Fidelis
there's also the lasonic's to consider :lol:
really the trc 920 and trc 918 are just as nice as most of the boxes listed and sound wise these can hang with the big boys and they are built heavy and solid ,these boxes have great speakers and amps and looks plus size all add up to kick ass boxes :-P these aren't for everybody only because of the other lasonic's that drag them down :lol: these two are built a lot better than mostly every other lasonic with the exception of some of the really old smaller lasonic radio's .
 
Matrixambience

Matrixambience

Member (SA)
Yes..for sure...the M70 is top dawg here! Panasonic RX-5085 is also superb in quality, looks and sound! Don't know about the Crown...never owned one. Stay away from all sharps except the 9090....sharp makes a mean microwave though :-O
 
bantytfv

bantytfv

Member (SA)
Thanks for everyone's help with getting me started collecting, especially blu_fuz for the photo's. So far I have aquired the M-70, SCR-8 and Panasonic 5085. All are fully functional except the SCR-8 which fas 4 bad LED's on one side of the meters. The M-70 is definitely the best built and sounding, though hardest to change the belts. It does have a tough built deck. The SCR-8 is second in sound quality in my opinion though the 5085 is very close, the SCR-8 can be pushed a little harder. The 5085 is great though just because of the cool white speakers, just gave $65 total for it off ebay. Still looking for the Crown 950 and a good meter board for the SCR-8( so far hard to find). Hope to aquire the M-90 (and a few others) eventually. :-)
 
baddboybill

baddboybill

Boomus Fidelis
MasterBlaster84 said:
redbenjoe said:
glad you got off to such a smart start -- :yes:
all good solid choices and no wasteful $$ so-so boxes
Click to expand...

:agree: I think most of us cut our teeth on lots of low end and crap boxes.
Click to expand...
Yes I just sold off around 8 bbx's that only had tone controls. I only have a few left but I may keep them :thumbsup:
 
MasterBlaster84

MasterBlaster84

Boomus Fidelis
baddboybill said:
MasterBlaster84 said:
redbenjoe said:
glad you got off to such a smart start -- :yes:
all good solid choices and no wasteful $$ so-so boxes
Click to expand...

:agree: I think most of us cut our teeth on lots of low end and crap boxes.
Click to expand...
Yes I just sold off around 8 bbx's that only had tone controls. I only have a few left but I may keep them :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I have a few Tone control only boxes that I'm hanging on to as well, there are a few really good ones like the Aiwa CS-600. :yes:
 
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