Introducing myself. I am from India, currently living in the UAE.
Sharing my nostalgic memories about my stereos in childhood.
The words Boombox or Ghettoblaster were not common with us. These were mostly called as "STEREO", "TAPE RECORDER" (if it is a mono) or simply a "TWO-IN-ONE" (for Radio & Tape together).
India had a closed market policy till 1990's with no multinational brands sold in the country. There was Philips and few other brands established as Indian companies in electronics. The Japanese brands were not sold in India. They were mainly brought by the expat employees working in the oil rich gulf countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman etc., when they come on vacation every year. Most will bring at least one Stereo in their hand on every vacation.
The first tape recorder ever to come to our family was an AKAI AJ-350 sometimes in 1978.
I used to keep my ears on the backside of the Akai to listen songs, as it used to have a better bass while listening from the back side. For years, I dreamed of having a Stereo with a better sound and the dream became true in a big way, sometimes in the 1985.
My father bought us a Pioneer CK-R500 (without CD), for a fortune, from a family friend. It must have been the first portable Stereo appeared with a CD, but because the price was so high and the CDs were in infancy, it was made as an optional detachable CD unit. (Picture from net). It was a proud possession for me during my college studies in the hostel, which no one had even in their home!. The Pioneer was with me, fully working, till I also left to the Gulf for work.
By the time I reached the Gulf and money was in hands, the fascinating world of Stereos had disappeared. Portable stereos have become in the shape of Helmets and Eggs now. So instead of looking for portables anymore, in 1997 I bought a Sony Mico system, MHC-G99AV. After 10 years or so, I came across a 1990 Kenwood stacked system and bought it. The portable stereo bug was still in my mind and once gone for a vintage Hi-Fi, I started looking for getting any old stereos as well. Sometimes in 2009, thus I picked up my first boombox, a Toshiba RT-S75D. Gradually, the search was extended to the web and found out boomboxery, as this site pops up in any search for a 80's stereo. It is amazing to know that there is a huge number of dedicated people caring for the audio systems of yesteryear.
PS: Sorry if it is a repeat for the members who have read it in the other group.
Sharing my nostalgic memories about my stereos in childhood.
The words Boombox or Ghettoblaster were not common with us. These were mostly called as "STEREO", "TAPE RECORDER" (if it is a mono) or simply a "TWO-IN-ONE" (for Radio & Tape together).
India had a closed market policy till 1990's with no multinational brands sold in the country. There was Philips and few other brands established as Indian companies in electronics. The Japanese brands were not sold in India. They were mainly brought by the expat employees working in the oil rich gulf countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman etc., when they come on vacation every year. Most will bring at least one Stereo in their hand on every vacation.
The first tape recorder ever to come to our family was an AKAI AJ-350 sometimes in 1978.
I used to keep my ears on the backside of the Akai to listen songs, as it used to have a better bass while listening from the back side. For years, I dreamed of having a Stereo with a better sound and the dream became true in a big way, sometimes in the 1985.
My father bought us a Pioneer CK-R500 (without CD), for a fortune, from a family friend. It must have been the first portable Stereo appeared with a CD, but because the price was so high and the CDs were in infancy, it was made as an optional detachable CD unit. (Picture from net). It was a proud possession for me during my college studies in the hostel, which no one had even in their home!. The Pioneer was with me, fully working, till I also left to the Gulf for work.
By the time I reached the Gulf and money was in hands, the fascinating world of Stereos had disappeared. Portable stereos have become in the shape of Helmets and Eggs now. So instead of looking for portables anymore, in 1997 I bought a Sony Mico system, MHC-G99AV. After 10 years or so, I came across a 1990 Kenwood stacked system and bought it. The portable stereo bug was still in my mind and once gone for a vintage Hi-Fi, I started looking for getting any old stereos as well. Sometimes in 2009, thus I picked up my first boombox, a Toshiba RT-S75D. Gradually, the search was extended to the web and found out boomboxery, as this site pops up in any search for a 80's stereo. It is amazing to know that there is a huge number of dedicated people caring for the audio systems of yesteryear.
PS: Sorry if it is a repeat for the members who have read it in the other group.
to the forum!
