JVC RC-M90L - Found one w/box - Looking for information

[StereoDude]

Greetings. I am a long time home audio collector and I acquired this unit as part of an overall collection. I see they are well regarded in the community. Is there any significance to this model having an "L" designation? Seems perhaps not, but thought I would post the question.

Attached are some pictures for your reference. It is still in what appears to be the original plastic although this is NOT an NIB unit, it just appears to have been well preserved. I will take it out of the plastic when I go to take full quality marketing pics, but I just wanted to get some basic information initially, if possible

 

[Superduper]

The standard north american suffix is JW, and in Canada, it would be C. Not sure what region L is designated for but it's somewhere else. Typically, there will be some differences in terms of power input, and the tuners could cover different bands or frequency ranges. The biggest issue is probably when it comes time to service these. If the difference is significant, then finding the service documentation for these obscure suffix versions may be difficult or impossible to find. For example, the Japanese versions of boomboxes often have different features, a 76-90 FM tuner, and a 100V AC input. Service documentation for those models are often impossible to find. Please don't ask about pricing, that's not what this forum is here for.

 

[StereoDude]

Thanks for the insight. I can do pricing on my own as this is not new for me, so no issue there.

Once I remove it from the packaging, I'll take some close detailed shots to try and see the differences you allude to.

Thanks again.

 

[caution]

Interesting to see that label attached to the speaker.
Does anyone remember the M90 on ebay a couple years ago that claimed to be new-in-box and had this label on it?
Nobody remembered seeing the label before, and caused some debate as to whether it was created by the seller.
Maybe it was only present on M90L models?

 

[Reli]

Interesting to see that label attached to the speaker.
Does anyone remember the M90 on ebay a couple years ago that claimed to be new-in-box and had this label on it?
Nobody remembered seeing the label before, and caused some debate as to whether it was created by the seller.
Maybe it was only present on M90L models?

Oh you mean the one with bogus blue protective film, and shiny gold warranty cards? lol

 

[caution]

Yes that one!

 

[Transistorized]

It appears that the cassette door decal placement is wrong. Unless its different for the L series. My M90 JW model doesnt have its decal on the cassette door that low. The decal on the OP photo is covering up the transport window and the directional arrow on the door. That doesn't seem right to me.



As far as speaker decal, I never put one on mine because I can't verify if it actually came with it. It's the more common JW model.

 

[Superduper]

Good catch! If one sticker placement is wrong, it’s fair to say it’s probably a repro sticker and the authenticity of the other decal can be considered suspect since the speaker decal is far more rare to be retained. Not sure why people so often believe that a bunch of stickers make a 45 year old radio all new again, and how buyers are often so anxious to believe and part with big money over them.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

It appears that the cassette door decal placement is wrong. Unless its different for the L series. My M90 JW model doesnt have its decal on the cassette door that low. The decal on the OP photo is covering up the transport window and the directional arrow on the door. That doesn't seem right to me.

View attachment 58195

As far as speaker decal, I never put one on mine because I can't verify if it actually came with it. It's the more common JW model.

That is only in one picture and not like that in the other ones. The plastic covered pics of Big Power decal is on the right place. How can it jump up in that one picture.

 

[Superduper]

That is only in one picture and not like that in the other ones. The plastic covered pics of Big Power decal is on the right place. How can it jump up in that one picture.

What are saying Royce? The big power decal should be placed in the upper section. If you look online, that's where they are all placed. On the almost NIB one that I sold, it was also in the upper region. Even on the new wave mini M90 reproduction, it's also located there. That lower section is a porthole to view the head position. Covering that up makes no sense, nor would it make any sense to emboss an arrow onto the cassette door cover, only to cover up the raised arrow with a sticker. In my opinion, the plastic bagged M90 door sticker is in the wrong place and probably added later to make it appear new(er).

pic of transistorized's m90.

 

[caution]

You can tell how the decal isn't even the same font, the first letters are bold and the rest are thin.
The speaker badge is made up, I don't think anyone's ever seen that on a genuine unit before.
I think New Wave Toys saw one of these "NIB" models and assumed it was legit.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

What are saying Royce? The big power decal should be placed in the upper section. If you look online, that's where they are all placed. On the almost NIB one that I sold, it was also in the upper region. Even on the new wave mini M90 reproduction, it's also located there. That lower section is a porthole to view the head position. Covering that up makes no sense, nor would it make any sense to emboss an arrow onto the cassette door cover, only to cover up the raised arrow with a sticker. In my opinion, the plastic bagged M90 door sticker is in the wrong place and probably added later to make it appear new(er).

pic of transistorized's m90.
View attachment 58202

Now I understand Norm! I didn't know that is the pic from transistorized! My mistake!
Big Power sticker is always on the lower part of the tape window.

 

[Radio raheem]

fake as they come, hope the buyer didn't pay thousands because of it
the big power sticker is not original it was made by fatdog years ago

its fine having m90s like this but people should be made aware its all fake even the box

 

[Brutus442]

I'm taking a closer look at the cardboard box and it's font and colour are completely photoshopped. Even the red in the JVC logo looks like it was printed cheaply. High school level at best. He should learn about layers and transparency modes if he wanted it to be more "real"

 

[Transistorized]

Was cruising around on YouTube. Here is what I believe to be this JVC boombox in a video as noticed by the sticker placement on the OP photo

 

[Tinman]

Was cruising around on YouTube. Here is what I believe to be this JVC boombox in a video as noticed by the sticker placement on the OP photo

Yes it does, good eyes.

 

[Tinman]

Btw, I don't think anyone pointed out that the L model has some different inputs and outputs on the rear panel compared to the C and JW.