Owner's Manual Or Service Manual?

[PostEnder]

After all the browsing online and communicating with members on another fan website, I am still not sure that I should invest in a service manual for my JVC RC-M50, as opposed to finding and investing in an apparently far rarer owner's (or "user's") manual for the product. A user's manual would describe the usage of the stereo in an accessible, non-too-technical manner. That is not something that can be readily said about the service manual, which has diagrams, schematics and charts that are clearly oriented towards repairers and engineers.

Even so, if I were to buy a service manual, I wonder which version I should invest in: the print version -- a 1980s copy presumably sold on eBay or an entrepreneurial reprint -- or a downloadable (PDF) version? I know a leader on the other website has competently stated his view, but are there other ideas here on Boomboxery.com?

 

[Superduper]

Save your money. It really sounds like you have no need of a service manual, nor are you personally capable of putting it to use, although at some point in the future, if your radio fails and you desire to have it serviced, the service center might need it to repair your BOOMBOX. Sometimes, they have it, sometimes, they will purchase one to effect a repair, and sometimes, they might ask you to procure one. In any event, if you don't currently need one, just wait. Your BOOMBOX might never need repair, although it's hard to fathom the cassette deck not needing service in the future, if it doesn't already need it

As for the owner's manual.... once again, save your money. Unless you just want it for collectibility or nostalgia/sentimental reasons, it won't be a whole lot of use. These aren't really complicated machines with tons of unintuitive buttons or controls. Virtually anything you need to know about it is pretty easy to figure out, and if there is any feature you can't figure out, you can probably find something about it in the archives here, or just ask. 99% someone will know.

BTW, I am the owner of AnalogAlley which you already visited, and I'm not telling you not to buy because I don't need the business. Rather, it's useless to you until such time that you need it. But if anyone in the "other site" is suggesting that you buy a manual so you can "share" it, please don't.

 

[Reli]

If you decide to buy a PDF copy, then only buy it from Analog Alley, because the other sites sell crappy quality PDF's that are hard to read.

 

[PostEnder]

I know this message of mine is some two months late in coming. But thanks for the replies, guys. I suppose Superduper is right to advise really getting to know my portable radio cassette-recorders simply through usage of them. The chances of them no longer being able to play or record to audiocassettes or of these audio machines blowing up in -- or near -- my face due to my pressing the wrong darn buttons aren't sky-high ... are they?