Lasonic TRC-920: Back in black... and orange!

[MONOLITHIC]

Hours ago, I finished reinstalling the black woofers back into my Lasonic TRC-920 and replacing the MB Quart tweeters (that replaced blown originals)
with the tweeters in one of my 1st edition TRC-931's... I don't recall this box ever sounding this good!

Honestly, I always felt that the 920 was weak on bass, but now... it has better bass than all of my similar size 6" woofer boxes,
and that may be including bigger case 6" woofer boxes like my Prosonic PQR-9850 and Toshiba BomBeat RT-S90!
That said, it's one of the chosen few in my collection that can handle an 808 bass kick.

Surprisingly, the highs are also better than they were when I had the MB Quart's in there, probably 'cause those tweeters were underpowered and
couldn't be pumped up without distortion... Also might be better than when I had the original 920 tweeters... I've since thrown 'em in the trash,
but I still have a pic of those tweeters in iPhoto... They could only handle 5 watts, while the 931 tweeters can handle 15.

The only major flaws with my box has been the same thing it's been since I first got it back in 2007: the tape indicator LED is broken
(the plastic is half broken but still lights up... I still wonder how it got damaged... ) and one of the tape door screws isn't
original and doesn't match. Other than that, it's a still great looking and great sounding box! Good to see
it back in its original form with black woofers and orange tweeters!

The Lasonic TRC-920 is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who don't have one!

Btw, I noticed that the same board for the tuning section of the TRC-920 is also in the 1st edition TRC-931...
I guess that finally confirms it to me that the 931 was the 920's replacement.

 

[oldskool69]

Good stuff! But regarding the MB Quarts...you mean the box was underpowered? The MB Quarts I would believe could easily dish what the 920 put out.

 

[floyd]

nice job man , if you want to trade those mb quart tweeters for something let me know.

 

[mellymelsr]

Are they the original woofers?...I am thinking about picking up a 920...

 

[ford93]

!!

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

Hey Mono, great write up and cool upgrade. I always love hearing others praise the 920. I really think everyone should own one. I know they would be happy as it's a great radio, surely one of Lasonic's best.

Interesting about the FM board from the 931. My SW is not working on my 920. I may need to look for a parts 931 1st gen and snake the board from it.

You said that the tape LED was broken? Do you mean on the 3 position light when you switch from tape to radio to phono?

I am thinking about picking up a 920...

Melly, I promise you, you would not be disappointed!

 

[blu_fuz]

 

[MONOLITHIC]

Good stuff! But regarding the MB Quarts...you mean the box was underpowered? The MB Quarts I would believe could easily dish what the 920 put out.

I think the tweeters needed more power to be effective... Either that or I needed proper crossovers instead of the Lasonic cutoff caps... Or the tweeters were out of phase...
Now that they've been removed, I'll never know.

nice job man , if you want to trade those mb quart tweeters for something let me know.

I don't know about that, Floyd... Those tweeters are part of a 5 1/4" component system. It's an old system from back in 1998, but it sounded great then and it'll probably sound great again whenever I decide to cop another Caddy.

 

[MONOLITHIC]

Are they the original woofers?...I am thinking about picking up a 920...

Yeah, my 920 came with black woofers. When my 922 arrived with a dead channel, I decided to take the white woofers out of that and put 'em in the 920. It looks great with white woofers, but I grew tired of the look... Besides, the memories I have of the 920 back in the early/mid 80's were of the box with black woofers, so when I look at my box now, I can think back to that time. For example, this song is forever linked to the 920 in my memory:
[youtube]V43OhvtQ5i4[/youtube]
Funny is that I've never played that song on the box tho.

!!

I thought about taking a few pics when the sun was still out, but if you've seen one Lasonic TRC-920, you've seen 'em all.

 

[MONOLITHIC]

Hey Mono, great write up and cool upgrade. I always love hearing others praise the 920. I really think everyone should own one. I know they would be happy as it's a great radio, surely one of Lasonic's best.

Interesting about the FM board from the 931. My SW is not working on my 920. I may need to look for a parts 931 1st gen and snake the board from it.

You said that the tape LED was broken? Do you mean on the 3 position light when you switch from tape to radio to phono?

Send me a PM about the tuner board... After I shift parts from this 931, I won't have any need for it. One thing about the board tho... the one in the 920 is marked 920A-1 (I think) while the one in the 931 is marked 920A-3. Maybe it was slightly modified for the 931.

Yeah, that's the one. It's almost like it got shattered somehow. I hate the idea, but I might take one from the LED meters of my oldest 931 and use it in the 920.

 

[monchito]

ok mono you did good now pm me about me taking over the toshiba s90 ok

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

Hey Mono, great write up and cool upgrade. I always love hearing others praise the 920. I really think everyone should own one. I know they would be happy as it's a great radio, surely one of Lasonic's best.

Interesting about the FM board from the 931. My SW is not working on my 920. I may need to look for a parts 931 1st gen and snake the board from it.

You said that the tape LED was broken? Do you mean on the 3 position light when you switch from tape to radio to phono?

Send me a PM about the tuner board... After I shift parts from this 931, I won't have any need for it. One thing about the board tho... the one in the 920 is marked 920A-1 (I think) while the one in the 931 is marked 920A-3. Maybe it was slightly modified for the 931.

Yeah, that's the one. It's almost like it got shattered somehow. I hate the idea, but I might take one from the LED meters of my oldest 931 and use it in the 920.

I will PM you about that radio board. Glad you got that classic '83 920 Black Speaker look going again. Still my favorite! Of course you know the 84 had white speakers. But it's just not the same too me...

If that LED is the only issue...I would replace it. Of course I'm one of these people that see my radio's imperfections AND LOVE THEM anyway! That just means that radio is going on the road!

 

[MONOLITHIC]

ok mono you did good now pm me about me taking over the toshiba s90 ok

S90? Ain't gonna happen!

Glad you got that classic '83 920 Black Speaker look going again. Still my favorite! Of course you know the 84 had white speakers. But it's just not the same too me...

If that LED is the only issue...I would replace it. Of course I'm one of these people that see my radio's imperfections AND LOVE THEM anyway! That just means that radio is going on the road!

I think the black woofers gives the 920 a more serious and hardcore look while the white woofers make the box look - for lack of a better word - prettyl

I can accept the imperfections of my M90 'cause it's not a stunner when it comes to looks (even if it was in mint condition)... The paint is faded in certain spots, the top trim could be replaced, and the chrome on the woofer dust caps has black spots from wear or whatever... Still, it gives the box character. That said, I want more from the 920 'cause it's a MUCH better looking box. I will replace that LED!

 

[baddboybill]

Interesting about the FM board from the 931. My SW is not working on my 920. I may need to look for a parts 931 1st gen and snake the board from it.



Send me a PM about the tuner board... After I shift parts from this 931, I won't have any need for it. One thing about the board tho... the one in the 920 is marked 920A-1 (I think) while the one in the 931 is marked 920A-3. Maybe it was slightly modified for the 931.



So I have had a couple 920's and the boards did not match at all. It was the tuner boards 920A-1 and the 920A -2. Both had different wires and parts and was told that lasonic purchased patrs from different manufacturers and all parts could not be interchangeable.

 

[MONOLITHIC]

Good info, badboybill. Still, for Chris's sake, I hope you're wrong.