Obsolete BB's Re-Launched Under Different Brands?

[MyOhMy]

This is my Hitachi TRK-8130E:
View attachment 21297


.....and below




is a...........................




Roberts RSR 100!:
.
View attachment 21296
http://www.shizaudio.ru/audio/./data/media/18/Roberts_RSR_100.jpg

Seems to me that a quick revamp of the 8130E's speaker areas & tuning display with a partial change of colour can breath new life into the model - NOT! Personally speaking, I think the Roberts version is a mess and proof that a decent BB can't be rebadged with a few not-so-subtle changes and be a runaway success. There are other images online to show that the Roberts version is from the same fabrication mould as the Hitachi.

Any thoughts on this and are there any other known examples of a disasterous mistake by a (wannabe) brand trying to ride on the back of another brand's success (or not)? Maybe I have this wrong and the licence was sold or, perhaps, Hitachi is a parent company?

All I know is that I was horrified when I saw the Roberts version !

 

[Hisrudeness]

This is my Hitachi TRK-8130E:

TRK-8130sm.jpg


.....and below

Many boxes were made with multiple brands on them in the same factory. I guess to cater to different markets and save money on tooling and parts.

A small thread on it.

http://www.stereo2go.com/topic/what-s-in-an-aka







is a...........................




Roberts RSR 100!:
.

Roberts_RSR_100 again.jpg
http://www.shizaudio.ru/audio/./data/media/18/Roberts_RSR_100.jpg

Seems to me that a quick revamp of the 8130E's speaker areas & tuning display with a partial change of colour can breath new life into the model - NOT! Personally speaking, I think the Roberts version is a mess and proof that a decent BB can't be rebadged with a few not-so-subtle changes and be a runaway success. There are other images online to show that the Roberts version is from the same fabrication mould as the Hitachi.

Any thoughts on this and are there any other known examples of a disasterous mistake by a (wannabe) brand trying to ride on the back of another brand's success (or not)? Maybe I have this wrong and the licence was sold or, perhaps, Hitachi is a parent company?

All I know is that I was horrified when I saw the Roberts version !

 

[trippy1313]

I'll say your Hitachi looks much cleaner and classier. But I kinda like the Roberts too. I've never seen it before but I like seeing boxes that they actually put some color on. Besides the common silvers and blacks.

Don't get me wrong, I love the silvers and blacks, but it's cool to see some color too.

 

[MyOhMy]

Yes, I can see your point and agree. In this case it's not so much the tuner panel or the round speakers, more the shade of brown that doesn't seem to compliment or enhance the overall aesthetics of the BB. A sympathetic metallic colour would have been better than a sort of strange mid brown. Metallic colours I would have considered would be a medium to light green, a darker 'gun metal' grey, a light blue or even a much lighter shade of brown with a darker shade of silver for the speakers. May be it's just my eyes but I just don't see how this particular colour sits with the silver(ish) elements on the Roberts version with has also retained the original Hitachi silver top panel. It looks..............'odd'!

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

Hitachi all the way.

There are many AKA's out there of many brands. Usually stripped down, low end, low fidelity entry level boxes.

Now, with that said....I would still rock that Roberts

 

[caution]

Just like other markets where intellectual property is important, you had some that ripped off other boombox designs without shame, and also those that played by the rules and secured a proper licensing contract from the company that originally designed it. I wouldn't be surprised if some boombox makers made more from this than selling actual boomboxes.

 

[Styleking]

The one good thing about most AKA boxes is that they usually share a lot of parts that can be used for replacement and at a cheaper price than the original.

 

[Reli]

I prefer the Roberts version myself. Once you collect more than 20 boxes you start to realize how boring they look if they're all silver and gray.

 

[Ambience]

Brown and chrome? Yeah, I dunno. Maybe trade the chrome for gold on the Roberts, it'd look pretty crazy, but I think it'd compliment the brown better.

I bought a JCPenney box for about 5 bucks, it had the look (albeit rather cheap) and sounded okay. Interestingly enough, the back read "Made in Japan", so I opened it up to find everything inside was actually Toshiba! I think these types of boxes are interesting and cool. Maybe we should create an AKA thread if there wasn't one already.
The real deal, Toshiba RT-80s

My knock off.

 

[trippy1313]

I dunno. I think the brown has its place. Maybe an every weekend camper, or the guy who likes to paint everything Camo, (I know a few).

It's not the greatest color, but I don't think it's too bad really.