sharp gf models with a z on the end
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JT Techno
Member (SA)
I hope he won't mind me quoting him here but the font of all knowledge on these matters, Metad, recently advised on a similar thread in a parallel forumverse somewhere that...
"Z stands for the world wide version, the same as X-version, before 1980.
Units with Z are multivoltage, and manuals for them in various languages.
As far as I know, Sharp started to mark boomboxes with Z in 1980. GF-666Z was the first. Funny enough, GF-555 made in 1980 marked with X, but GF-666 of 1980, already with Z."
I hope this helps you with the facts here - thanks to Metad for this very informative detail
"Z stands for the world wide version, the same as X-version, before 1980.
Units with Z are multivoltage, and manuals for them in various languages.
As far as I know, Sharp started to mark boomboxes with Z in 1980. GF-666Z was the first. Funny enough, GF-555 made in 1980 marked with X, but GF-666 of 1980, already with Z."
I hope this helps you with the facts here - thanks to Metad for this very informative detail
Zippy
Member (SA)
My GF-777H has voltage selection, too. Also, Japanese models mostly differ somewhat more from what we are used to while European / US American are mostly the same. I also think that X models are more exclusive editions (in Europe and in the US) as they supposedly have more power and most of the time look slightly different, have more chrome / different speaker grills.
I think all that doesn't support Metad's thesis. I'd still say it's just the radio bands. And with some smaller / earlier models maybe also DIN / RCA.
I think all that doesn't support Metad's thesis. I'd still say it's just the radio bands. And with some smaller / earlier models maybe also DIN / RCA.
Beosystem10
Member (SA)
I don't get how,, if the Z (or the X before that) models were truly a "World" device, they would leave out the LW coverage that's essential for the UK and RoI markets along with France, where there is still plenty of unique material on the Long Waveband?
In most cases where a radio is modified to suit non-European markets, the Long Waveband is left out and replaced by the Trawler Band, a SW spread that's virtually pointless outside of the UK's territorial waters as international fleets use SSB and most non-commercial receivers - even Grundig's most popular ones - came without SSB adaptors! I mentioned Grundig because their Yacht Boy radio is a prime example of that apparent contradiction as the LW was left out and replaced by an extra SW spread for the US market.
But no boombox that I've been able to identify ever had a SSB facility so that extra SW coverage was almost pointless.
In most cases where a radio is modified to suit non-European markets, the Long Waveband is left out and replaced by the Trawler Band, a SW spread that's virtually pointless outside of the UK's territorial waters as international fleets use SSB and most non-commercial receivers - even Grundig's most popular ones - came without SSB adaptors! I mentioned Grundig because their Yacht Boy radio is a prime example of that apparent contradiction as the LW was left out and replaced by an extra SW spread for the US market.
But no boombox that I've been able to identify ever had a SSB facility so that extra SW coverage was almost pointless.
JT Techno
Member (SA)
Hi Zippy, Hi Beo,
Again, I can only quote further from what Metad stated on this topic previously
"E is version for UK market, it operates only from 240v ... Also, the manual is only in English language" and "H is version for other European countries. It's multivoltage - 110,220,240v, and the manual in other European languages"
"Both of them, E and H, have tuner with LW frequency, cause LW broadcasting was very common mostly in Europe. This is why the world version X, for other countries, has no LW frequency."
Hope this helps
Again, I can only quote further from what Metad stated on this topic previously
"E is version for UK market, it operates only from 240v ... Also, the manual is only in English language" and "H is version for other European countries. It's multivoltage - 110,220,240v, and the manual in other European languages"
"Both of them, E and H, have tuner with LW frequency, cause LW broadcasting was very common mostly in Europe. This is why the world version X, for other countries, has no LW frequency."
Hope this helps
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