Kaboom - is ok.

[milosancho]

Picked up a Kaboom (RV-B90) just now I found on Craigslist for a very good price. Good shape except the guy used some cleaner on the rubber ends that made them sticky to the touch. And black will come off on your fingers if you touch it. Anyone know how to remedy this?

Now for my review: it's ok. Elaborate you say? Ok, the bass kicks ass. As several have mentioned, it lacks just a bit in the mids but no doubt about it, it has more bass than i've heard from any boombox. Should be noted that I haven't heard a whole lot of different boomboxes.

I will have to agree with all the cons made about this box; no handle makes carrying this very awkward. Nothing to look at, in term of what most would expect a classic boombox to look like. Does not stack well. Radio reception is mediocre.

This may be my general use box, for parties beach and what not. I feel I have to baby the other classics in my small collection but not this one. It's a keeper - for now.

 

[monchito]

congrats on that kaboom the sticky stuff i would try some water and dishwashing soap to see if it comes off

 

[MasterBlaster84]

That's cool Mario.
The kaboom is a great party box (tube) but not a great carry around or display box. I've heard some comment on how the coating on the black parts does exactly what your describing, I'm not sure if anybody has a good fix for the problem.

 

[Boom Shaka Laka]

I've experienced the same "turning to goo" thing on my older Kabooms... although not on all of them. I would say it's a deterioration of the materials themselves rather than anything anyone used to clean the box, although I could be wrong. I've heard lots of stories about it happening, so it seems pretty common. Why some don't end up that way, I don't know. It's possible JVC used different chemcals in different runs. I don't know of any way to clean it up. It seems to be the rubbery substance itself that breaks down over time.

 

[redbenjoe]

the story is --that it was a jvc error --

-many kaboom models did not come with
the rubberized knob and end cap covers -
but those that did have mostly got sticky over time-

the only way out --is to remove it ALL --
to get it down to bare plastic -

my guess --is to use some heavy duty sh1tte

and repeat that - till its gone

 

[milosancho]

I tried cleaning some of the black stuff and true enough, it comes off to bare hard plastic. This will be quite a chore and not sure if it will be worth it to get it all completely off. That stuff is messy messy.

 

[Jovie]

Excellent review! Thanks! It seems to reflect my thoughts on the box.The Kaboom is an interesting topic.Opinions are polarized with (I'm guessing) not too many people in the middle. I'll have to admit I've thought about getting one.This was only out of curiosity,though.Personally,the reason I started collecting boomboxes was the abundance of mids and highs from classic models.That is what went missing in units from the '90 and afterwards.To me,this is the very definition of old school sound.Since then,it seems bass is all anyone really cared about.Honestly,I couldn't see it sitting around after I find out what all the fuss is about.

One thing that continues to amaze me is the prices these things get on Ebay. I've seen them go for hundreds of dollars if it is the right issue. For me it doesn't have good looks to make up for its short comings.That said I was mildly amused by the army green version.Somehow it seems odd to refer to a Kaboom as a "box". Interestingly,I've never has too much of a problem referring to the rounded "egg" shaped units with the same term.Of course if I found one at a thrift shop,I would probably buy it (against my better judgment).On the plus side you have to applaud JVC for making a powerful boombox after all the other manufacturers jumped ship.I've quietly hoped for an updated version with tweeters. That would press my buttons.

Recently I took a later and lesser known Lasonic into the shop because it lacks highs.Since it was a 3 piece I wasn't so nervous about opening up the speakers.The box does actually have tweeters and a 10 band equalizer.I'm sure it wasn't designed to sound as it does.I'm sure their has to be an issue with it. No company in their right mind would sell something sounding that bad.Well.....maybe in recent years and shaped like a tube.As we know its all about bass,right?Nothing else really matters.

 

[babya]

Congrats on your great Kaboom-it appears to be from about 1998.

 

[milosancho]

Jovie, great comments. I felt the same way, I wasn't going to go out and actively search for one but if one came along, at the right price, I would not turn it down. Of course this is only due to the hype that has been built up around this unit. I will say it again, in my opinon it is not much to look at. But man does this thing push some air. Earlier today I had it cranked at full volume hooked up to an iPod and the bass was still clear, it did not distort at all as will happen with most boomers.

After reading the comments I feel better about this purchase and the price. The guy actually cut the price in half due to the end rubber stuff coming off. And to date this is the most I've paid for any box - $50

 

[MasterBlaster84]

Jovie, the hype has driven these to rediculous prices on ebay and if you discount the bass there is nothing about them that would suggest a $1000 box. Bass is the only reason these have been getting insane prices.