Old School Newbie

[Boombox4rudy]

Fascinated with late 1970s, early 80s audio technology, it was inevitable boomboxes would be included. I grew up with my dad’s systems, quadraphonic QRX-5500 Sansui, Technics SL10 turntable, Pioneer CT-F900 tape deck, and JBL speakers (L150 front, L50 rear). It’s no wonder vintage boomboxes finally drew me in. Now I’m hooked! Finally. What took me so long?! Attached is my first vintage boombox (now up to 4).

 

[Mixamyte 1]

Welcome!

 

[funkateer]

Yes, welcome! I'm pretty new around here, too...and my story is much like yours in fact. We're probably about the same age, for our dads to have gear like that. As a music-loving teen, I had a couple boomboxes in the early 80s (first was a Sanyo M9903K, a low-level stereo box that had shortwave)...but I always coveted a friend's higher-end, bigger, and much better-sounding (my best guess from memory of what it looked like is an RX-5500). I started reading about boombox collecting when I saw an article in the newspaper about a local musician here in Baltimore who was/is into it, posing with his collection, talking about taking them out in public etc (this was 5-10 years ago) and I decided I had the $$ for an RX-5500 at this stage of my life so why not? Usually, when I'm listening to music these days, it's via stuff I've downloaded on Amazon Music on my iPhone, and thru headphones...but there are times when you just want to hear it thru speakers, you know? (like the big job I've got ahead of me, cleaning out the basement ....I figure it'll be much more fun with a boombox booming in the background than the usual headphones).

 

[funkateer]

Yes, welcome! I'm pretty new around here, too...and my story is much like yours in fact. We're probably about the same age, for our dads to have gear like that. As a music-loving teen, I had a couple boomboxes in the early 80s (first was a Sanyo M9903K, a low-level stereo box that had shortwave)...but I always coveted a friend's higher-end, bigger, and much better-sounding (my best guess from memory of what it looked like is an RX-5500). I started reading about boombox collecting when I saw an article in the newspaper about a local musician here in Baltimore who was/is into it, posing with his collection, talking about taking them out in public etc (this was 5-10 years ago) and I decided I had the $$ for an RX-5500 at this stage of my life so why not? Usually, when I'm listening to music these days, it's via stuff I've downloaded on Amazon Music on my iPhone, and thru headphones...but there are times when you just want to hear it thru speakers, you know? (like the big job I've got ahead of me, cleaning out the basement ....I figure it'll be much more fun with a boombox booming in the background than the usual headphones).

Sorry, I should’ve written PANASONIC RX-5500 (I’ve dealt so much with this model that I think I began to take it for granted that everyone knew what make that model is…. But of the half dozen or so sub forums on here for Panasonic models, none is for the RX-5500, so perhaps it’s not as well-known as I guess I’d been assuming!

 

[floyd]

RX 5500 is a lesser known Boombox only because it's a high quality expensive unit it doesn't put out sub bass or anything like that but it has a high fidelity accurate audio reproduction and the quality of the unit is top-notch. you would think that this boom box would be a must have for any collection because it's a pretty substantial model for Panasonic. even some of the jvc's made at the same time were junk compared to the 5500.

 

[AE_Stereo]

Sorry, I should’ve written PANASONIC RX-5500 ...

Not necessarily. The born enthusiasts here know it is a Panasonic, as soon as a 'RX' is seen. And it is just enough to write like 777 or 9494 to identify some other boxes!

 

[Hisrudeness]

The IT nerds at work insist that we change email passwords every 60 days which is a pain in the ass! I’ve started using old boombox models as I can‘t think of anything else sometimes.

 

[funkateer]

Not necessarily. The born enthusiasts here know it is a Panasonic, as soon as a 'RX' is seen. And it is just enough to write like 777 or 9494 to identify some other boxes!

You’re right, I should’ve realized that; I’d noticed “RX” is used on a lot of other Panasonic models-

 

[funkateer]

RX 5500 is a lesser known Boombox only because it's a high quality expensive unit it doesn't put out sub bass or anything like that but it has a high fidelity accurate audio reproduction and the quality of the unit is top-notch. you would think that this boom box would be a must have for any collection because it's a pretty substantial model for Panasonic. even some of the jvc's made at the same time were junk compared to the 5500.

Agree with everything you're saying....it's not super-heavy bass output, but it's realy pretty good, detailed sound quality in general, which is what I like. But another reason I like the 5500 and was drawn to it is because I just love its look, you know? To me, it just looks like the ideal boombox...I like the way all the switches and knobs are across the front, near the top, but not on the actual top (i.e not the flat top surface). Something about it jus seems so classic to me...