GPO Boombox
- Thread starter MesaAZGuy
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Transistorized
Member (SA)
That's awesome. I'm curious to know if they have resolved the battery drain when idle issue. I just disconnect my battery after its charged and connect it back when I'm ready to play it.
And I agree...it'll be interesting to see if it comes with DAB+ or AM feature. I'm glad mine has AM (obviously since we don't have DAB here).
The tuner is touch and go when it comes to receiving stations but it gets the job done.
Let us know what you think when you try it out.
And I agree...it'll be interesting to see if it comes with DAB+ or AM feature. I'm glad mine has AM (obviously since we don't have DAB here).
The tuner is touch and go when it comes to receiving stations but it gets the job done.
Let us know what you think when you try it out.
Yeah, I couldn't believe I had some $540 in accumulated Amazon gift card. So in essence, this radio is free to me. I need to figure out where this money came from. I am thinking from a chase card thats linked to Amazon. It has a low credit line but I use it and pay it off every month.
Regarding the GPO, it left New Jersey. I doubt its a revamp. Thinking they just got another container from China with the tariffs added on. I think I'll be happy with it. Picked up some chrome speaker dust covers and some black paint to detail around the tweeters.
From the Amazon purchasers I did ask to see if it had AM and they all said it did.
Regarding the GPO, it left New Jersey. I doubt its a revamp. Thinking they just got another container from China with the tariffs added on. I think I'll be happy with it. Picked up some chrome speaker dust covers and some black paint to detail around the tweeters.
From the Amazon purchasers I did ask to see if it had AM and they all said it did.
Transistorized
Member (SA)
Well, I'm a 49 y/o Repugnican... Still waiting for the radio to arrive with baited breath. Its 4:34 and nothing yet. Due today... I don't listen to AM but would rather have a working feature than DAB which is useless to us.
Just checked tracking again at 5:32 and it shows delayed. So much for 2day air. Thats why it must have been $327 on amazon vs the $260 on Deep discount... So bummed out.
Just checked tracking again at 5:32 and it shows delayed. So much for 2day air. Thats why it must have been $327 on amazon vs the $260 on Deep discount... So bummed out.
Transistorized
Member (SA)
So the mysterious GPO arrived today. Its exactly what I expected based on reviews. Yes, the knobs are wiggly, yes the tweeters aren't blacked out in their housings, yes the level meters go to their extremes, yes there isn't much Bass, but overall, its an excellent start on something we haven't seen in a long time. Unfortunately, I did not get the new radio smell. It smelled more of warehouse and styrene. Disappointing. Sound quality is ok. Not terrible. A little better than my 9935k. On the looks wise, it is definitely a great looking unit. Mine did come with AM/FM. The clock is in 24 hour format. Tape deck seems middle of the road, perhaps a C+ in my book. The carry handle is substantial and heavy. There is no dampening if it drops. Two rubber clear cabinet stops will take care of that.
Overall, the idea was to make something look hip hop of the day and they succeeded. I noticed the price went up another $25 today. My wife didn't give me too much flack over this purchase. I think she likes the radio
What I did notice is that when the radio is off and the meter switch is on, If i tap anywhere, there isn't any LED action. They may have found a way to turn it off when the power is off. I will keep you posted as I play with this.
Overall, the idea was to make something look hip hop of the day and they succeeded. I noticed the price went up another $25 today. My wife didn't give me too much flack over this purchase. I think she likes the radio
What I did notice is that when the radio is off and the meter switch is on, If i tap anywhere, there isn't any LED action. They may have found a way to turn it off when the power is off. I will keep you posted as I play with this.
Reli
Boomus Fidelis
Glad you like it. It's definitely the best looking modern box. A near exact copy of a Lasonic 920.
The tape deck, well, portable tape deck quality peaked in 82-83 and went downhill after that.
Still, no other box in history can play as many different audio sources as that one does.
Regarding the meters, maybe there's a potentiometer inside that could be adjusted to make them not peak so often?
The tape deck, well, portable tape deck quality peaked in 82-83 and went downhill after that.
Still, no other box in history can play as many different audio sources as that one does.
Regarding the meters, maybe there's a potentiometer inside that could be adjusted to make them not peak so often?
Transistorized
Member (SA)
Glad it arrived in good shape. Regarding the meters. It's weird. Sometimes they flicker with tapping, sometimes not. Sorry to hear you were deprived of that new radio smell. However, as Reli has stated, the play and recording possibilities of this thing are quite impressive. As you said, if your looking for a modern throwback, you just can't beat it 
Enjoy
Enjoy
Thanks for the well wishes!
So far, as I play around with it more, I do find it to be "Not a bad" thing! The sound quality is really decent for a modern radio. I'm happy with it. Regarding the CD, I had one in and the sound was clear with a better response in terms of Bass and treble. I had the volume at max and tapped on the case, dropped the handle to see if it would skip, but alas, It did not. I don't know the longevity of the CD player yet. I am still working on my Magnavox D8443 and actually need to get back to it. Once i finish that radio, I will open this one up for some improvements. I do have new chrome dust covers for the woofers to install, check the overall quality of what's inside, paint the tweeter surrounds. (Tweeters really do work and pull their weight) I was planning on a dial light. I don't know if the meters are driven off a separate mic based circuit and if they are, I would fiddle around to see if they can "Calm" down at lower volumes. If you know something about doing this, let me know! I'd like to see if I can get a battery pack with more cells for longer play times. There is tons of space in the battery compartment for a double or even triple layered battery once the foam is pulled. We have a "Batteries Plus" store here that carries that sort of stuff.
I wanted to ask those of you that bought the U.S. version of this... Did you get a demo tape? Also was the battery already connected? I don't think mine was a return item but curious... The box was sealed first term with no signs of retaping. I did not find any fingerprints anywhere either.
IMG_0957 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/153164955@N06/, on Flickr
IMG_0956 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/153164955@N06/, on Flickr
So far, as I play around with it more, I do find it to be "Not a bad" thing! The sound quality is really decent for a modern radio. I'm happy with it. Regarding the CD, I had one in and the sound was clear with a better response in terms of Bass and treble. I had the volume at max and tapped on the case, dropped the handle to see if it would skip, but alas, It did not. I don't know the longevity of the CD player yet. I am still working on my Magnavox D8443 and actually need to get back to it. Once i finish that radio, I will open this one up for some improvements. I do have new chrome dust covers for the woofers to install, check the overall quality of what's inside, paint the tweeter surrounds. (Tweeters really do work and pull their weight) I was planning on a dial light. I don't know if the meters are driven off a separate mic based circuit and if they are, I would fiddle around to see if they can "Calm" down at lower volumes. If you know something about doing this, let me know! I'd like to see if I can get a battery pack with more cells for longer play times. There is tons of space in the battery compartment for a double or even triple layered battery once the foam is pulled. We have a "Batteries Plus" store here that carries that sort of stuff.
I wanted to ask those of you that bought the U.S. version of this... Did you get a demo tape? Also was the battery already connected? I don't think mine was a return item but curious... The box was sealed first term with no signs of retaping. I did not find any fingerprints anywhere either.
IMG_0957 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/153164955@N06/, on Flickr
IMG_0956 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/153164955@N06/, on Flickr
goodman
Member (SA)
MesaAZGuy, congrats for this new boombox in your colection!
It's good that arrived in good condition.
I'm not sure, but I think boomboxes are sold without demo tapes.
The are sold separately. They must look like this:
https://www.gporetro.com/turntables-accessories/gpo-c90-cassette/
But real cassette look like this and can buy from here:
https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/gpo-c90-blank-cassette
https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/en-gb/shop/gpo-c90-blank-cassette
It's good that arrived in good condition.
I'm not sure, but I think boomboxes are sold without demo tapes.
The are sold separately. They must look like this:
https://www.gporetro.com/turntables-accessories/gpo-c90-cassette/
But real cassette look like this and can buy from here:
https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/gpo-c90-blank-cassette
https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/en-gb/shop/gpo-c90-blank-cassette
Transistorized
Member (SA)
Mine did not come with a demo tape. The battery was in a separate white box and needed to be installed and charged for the first use.MesaAZGuy said:
The instructions with mine mentioned that if you moved the radio while playing a CD that disc and/or drive damage was possible. Not sure if that's still the case with these newer machines. They may have changed the drive but I have not had any issues with that. Curious if the manual still states that.
Also, if you want to check to see if they changed any programming and or revisions to the internals, with the radio off but battery connected, you can press and hold the center stop button on the CD player control. It will pop up on the left screen with your version number. Mine is Ver 2.
I found this out just by playing around with holding various buttons, etc.. Sometimes I find hidden modes...lol
Interesting! I did the button thing. Mine says version 5 but the manual says V2/ Dec2017
I haven't read the manual yet. I'll poke around it now. If mine is V5 I am sure there must be a way to update. Most likely through the USB slot. If the popularity grows maybe someone will figure it out. I don't know what they can tweak via software to get it to this version. Would be nice to know.
As i continue to play with this, I find the tuner to be very sensitive via the dial. You really gotta move it slow. I also noticed when I plug it in, the radio loses signal from the power pack interference.
IMG_0968 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/153164955@N06/, on Flickr
I haven't read the manual yet. I'll poke around it now. If mine is V5 I am sure there must be a way to update. Most likely through the USB slot. If the popularity grows maybe someone will figure it out. I don't know what they can tweak via software to get it to this version. Would be nice to know.
As i continue to play with this, I find the tuner to be very sensitive via the dial. You really gotta move it slow. I also noticed when I plug it in, the radio loses signal from the power pack interference.
IMG_0968 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/153164955@N06/, on Flickr
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