WARNING:This post is filled with subjective opinions based largely on a pseudo-science I have developed in my head concerning the sound of boomboxes.Some may find it hits home while others might just get a good laugh.Both responses are acceptable to me.This post,just like a bowel movement,is something I just had to get out of my system.
I'm interested in compiling a list of boxes with harsh highs.Some older boxes from the '80s had a lot of mids on balance.If they are not really clean sounding they can be said to be harsh as they will hurt your ears.Also I'm interested in knowing what boxes might have exaggerated extreme highs that are overly sharp.Keep in mind I'm not necessarily speaking of boxes that are really loud or have the most power though such boxes can have these attributes.
If your thinking this is a strange request your probably right
.Many people are consumed with the idea of getting the highest fidelity for their money.Indeed it is possible that companies decided to emphasize dynamics over fidelity in lieu of affording higher quality components for their designs.However,I also feel some designers might have produced such models with artificial emphasis to make their boxes sound more dynamic at the point of sale even at moderate volume levels.Whatever the real reason for this its a practice that died in the '80s.Strangely I am fond of such "designer" type sounds.Though its not exactly high fidelity,sometimes I'm craving such a listening experience.I'm sure there are others who feel the same way.
As I've stated in other posts,old school sound to me was defined by excessive power,a more forward mid range,and sharp ringing highs as compared to '90s and '00 boxes.Some of these boxes output a cleaner sound such as the Aiwas and JVCs.Others did not and are the boxes I so fondly remember as "shriekers".From my experiences so far I have found them to usually be the off brands though not all off brands have this sound.
Of course bass has remained important to manufacturers through the years as it has always been considered a major selling point.In more recent years they have been able to supply ample amounts of it with cheaper and smaller drivers by the less expensive practice of porting.However,it also seems that in recent years the companies have decided to give you less mid range presence whether or not they could afford to design them with higher fidelity.I suppose this is the reason shriekers vanished from store shelves.Less mids,whether clean sounding or not, make your music experience seem more like your in the back of an auditorium rather than sitting on the front row.To my ears this makes a lot of music sound less immediate and exciting.This also serves to emphasize whatever bass a box has simply because the balance of the sound favors the lower frequencies.Designing in less highs is also obviously a good way for companies to save money.This allows a design with weaker woofers to still have a pleasing perceived balance to its sound.This is because the bass isn't competing with more presence in the higher frequencies.
For comparison purposes,here are a couple of examples of boomers having what I consider old school sound.The fidelity of their sounds differ as one is harsh sounding while the other is not.
(both from the database):
Techsonic MX900:
This box has ear splitting mids/highs even at moderate volume.In fact it is one of the harshest sounding blasters I think I have ever heard! One might think it possible to tame its sound by lowering its mid/upper sliders (1 K especially ) but this harshness still persists.However,depending on my mood and the music,sometimes I really love to listen to mine.Though it could be classified as somewhat of a weapon,rock (especially the grungier type) comes across with an emphasis and ferocity that only serves to enrich your listening experience.This boomer is a very good example of the type of ear splitting sound to which I refer.
Techsonic Z6800:
I actually have the Sankei version of this one.This model under its multitude of badges definitely has old school sound by my definition.However it is a much different listening experience than you get from the MX900.Though having a very similar balance to its sound,the Z6800 is almost high fidelity with its delivery!In my opinion this these are definitely one of the biggest sleepers in the world of boombox collecting.The sound is sweet and voice sounds amazingly clean.This box sounds so clean in fact that grungier types of music come across as a bit too "clinical" sounding.For most types of music,however, you could replace your home component stereo system with this box if you are willing to give up certain sound staging attributes of your higher quality separates.This is an amazing box that often times will go for very little on Ebay.However only it's ridiculous reserves of power and volume would run you out of the room.It is in no way harsh sounding.
Interestingly though both of these boxes have very good bass their abundance of mids might give them both an unpleasing balance to many who require a bass heavy sound.This distinction might be less evident with techno or dance music however.
Anyone who has read my posts over the years (at S2Go) might recognize I have approached this subject in various ways many times.Even so,would anyone like to weigh in on this?As I said,this type of sound got me into blasters in the first place.A list of boxes that impart a harsh shrieking character to their sound greatly interest me if anyone can contribute.Of course those feeling higher fidelity is their primary consideration when getting a boombox probably just think i have an ear for bad sound.This may be true but sometimes it's exactly what I want to hear.
I'm interested in compiling a list of boxes with harsh highs.Some older boxes from the '80s had a lot of mids on balance.If they are not really clean sounding they can be said to be harsh as they will hurt your ears.Also I'm interested in knowing what boxes might have exaggerated extreme highs that are overly sharp.Keep in mind I'm not necessarily speaking of boxes that are really loud or have the most power though such boxes can have these attributes.
If your thinking this is a strange request your probably right
.Many people are consumed with the idea of getting the highest fidelity for their money.Indeed it is possible that companies decided to emphasize dynamics over fidelity in lieu of affording higher quality components for their designs.However,I also feel some designers might have produced such models with artificial emphasis to make their boxes sound more dynamic at the point of sale even at moderate volume levels.Whatever the real reason for this its a practice that died in the '80s.Strangely I am fond of such "designer" type sounds.Though its not exactly high fidelity,sometimes I'm craving such a listening experience.I'm sure there are others who feel the same way.As I've stated in other posts,old school sound to me was defined by excessive power,a more forward mid range,and sharp ringing highs as compared to '90s and '00 boxes.Some of these boxes output a cleaner sound such as the Aiwas and JVCs.Others did not and are the boxes I so fondly remember as "shriekers".From my experiences so far I have found them to usually be the off brands though not all off brands have this sound.
Of course bass has remained important to manufacturers through the years as it has always been considered a major selling point.In more recent years they have been able to supply ample amounts of it with cheaper and smaller drivers by the less expensive practice of porting.However,it also seems that in recent years the companies have decided to give you less mid range presence whether or not they could afford to design them with higher fidelity.I suppose this is the reason shriekers vanished from store shelves.Less mids,whether clean sounding or not, make your music experience seem more like your in the back of an auditorium rather than sitting on the front row.To my ears this makes a lot of music sound less immediate and exciting.This also serves to emphasize whatever bass a box has simply because the balance of the sound favors the lower frequencies.Designing in less highs is also obviously a good way for companies to save money.This allows a design with weaker woofers to still have a pleasing perceived balance to its sound.This is because the bass isn't competing with more presence in the higher frequencies.
For comparison purposes,here are a couple of examples of boomers having what I consider old school sound.The fidelity of their sounds differ as one is harsh sounding while the other is not.
(both from the database):
Techsonic MX900:
This box has ear splitting mids/highs even at moderate volume.In fact it is one of the harshest sounding blasters I think I have ever heard! One might think it possible to tame its sound by lowering its mid/upper sliders (1 K especially ) but this harshness still persists.However,depending on my mood and the music,sometimes I really love to listen to mine.Though it could be classified as somewhat of a weapon,rock (especially the grungier type) comes across with an emphasis and ferocity that only serves to enrich your listening experience.This boomer is a very good example of the type of ear splitting sound to which I refer.
Techsonic Z6800:
I actually have the Sankei version of this one.This model under its multitude of badges definitely has old school sound by my definition.However it is a much different listening experience than you get from the MX900.Though having a very similar balance to its sound,the Z6800 is almost high fidelity with its delivery!In my opinion this these are definitely one of the biggest sleepers in the world of boombox collecting.The sound is sweet and voice sounds amazingly clean.This box sounds so clean in fact that grungier types of music come across as a bit too "clinical" sounding.For most types of music,however, you could replace your home component stereo system with this box if you are willing to give up certain sound staging attributes of your higher quality separates.This is an amazing box that often times will go for very little on Ebay.However only it's ridiculous reserves of power and volume would run you out of the room.It is in no way harsh sounding.
Interestingly though both of these boxes have very good bass their abundance of mids might give them both an unpleasing balance to many who require a bass heavy sound.This distinction might be less evident with techno or dance music however.
Anyone who has read my posts over the years (at S2Go) might recognize I have approached this subject in various ways many times.Even so,would anyone like to weigh in on this?As I said,this type of sound got me into blasters in the first place.A list of boxes that impart a harsh shrieking character to their sound greatly interest me if anyone can contribute.Of course those feeling higher fidelity is their primary consideration when getting a boombox probably just think i have an ear for bad sound.This may be true but sometimes it's exactly what I want to hear.
B E A utiful!
.It's a shame for something to survive for decades in fine condition only to be destroyed in shipping.Its almost criminal. If I ever get another one I'm sure I'll have to pay a lot more.
! Good fidelity is obviously more consistently important to you than it is to me.I enjoy a wide range of sounds to suit my music and my moods.I don't suppose I'll ever hear a Super Jumbo,though.It's out of my price range.Even so it sounds right up my alley.