Will a neu-vintage boombox kill the vintage box market?

[Mustey]

If someone comes up with a boombox that has the 80's vibe but also will be: Brand new, using new technology and you'd even get warranty on it - wouldn't that deter all the "lightweight" 80's aficionados? I mean, they'd get something that sounds good and probably plays better than the OG stuff, at a price that would certainly beat the collectible OG stuff.

Therefore, my conjecture is that only a few boxes will remain desirable, the ones that were really well made and can compete with the newer ones in terms of sound.

Thank God acoustics and the anatomical shape of our ear hasn't changed, so that the 80's stuff still sounds good, if it was made good to begin with.

On the other hand, nothing wrong with moving on and letting the new and better take over the old and decrepit.

As a side discussion: Isn't it soooo sorry that the Crosley Cruiser was such a flop? It looks nice and, on paper, offers all the features you need but what a shoddy quality!
I was going to buy one but when I saw what people think of the sound and how it gouges records, I just bought a decent turntable and amp... Too bad I couldn't get the Crosley, my current vinyl setup is NOT portable and does NOT have 50's looks

 

[MyOhMy]

What does 'OG stuff' mean?

To me your question is akin to asking a car collector if new cars will kill off collecting old cars. From me it's a big fat no.

 

[Hisrudeness]

From what I can see there are more and more collectors coming into the market with a view to collecting the classics.
Whether new boxes come out or not doesn't really effect the collectors market. That's the same with a lot of antiques/cars etc.

 

[caution]

No. Apples and oranges.
"Letting the new and better take over" makes no sense, the point of collecting is nostalgia.
Modern boxes are good for something different and good sound, but it's not the reason we collect them.

 

[Mustey]

I wasn't talking about entirely modern gear. I wasn't comparing a wireless speaker to a Conion
More like a boombox intentionally made to look and feel like 80's, but inside you'd find brand new electronics and application of the slight advancements made in speaker design.

More like what Morgans are to Austin-Healey's

 

[Northerner]

I think it's more likely to have the opposite effect...new models with old school looks will boost the demand for the real thing

 

[Hisrudeness]

Raleigh Choppers and Krate muscle bikes all had reissues in the late 90s and early 2000s. I think they sold ok but collectors still really wanted the original stuff. The prices still reflect this. These are also iconic designs.

Things like boomboxes, classic cars, vintage posters, classic bmx's and other push bikes can all be reworked. The difference is they're not original so therefore less sourt after amongst their collectors.

If you find one of these in the barn or shed and it's a proper 70s one...

 

[SLO]

Some of the new models that have come out recently do deliver really great sound, for instance the DJ Tech and the bumpboxx. I love my DJT, but no matter what new product comes out, I will always be an old school junkie.

Like Eric said, its all about the memories of our youth and nostalgia for myself, and countless others. Analog for life

 

[Radio raheem]

The new stuff may have better sound but on the whole it's not built to last as i found out with the tdk 3 speaker....i doubt they will ever make anything that has the appeal of 80's boomboxes, just take one thing thats that the new boxes are rechargeable, well i for one don't want that id rather stick in 20 d cells instead..nothing will ever replace the old school boxes and the memories etc, who needs a 2000w bumpboxx, well not me and im not picking on the bumpboxx....as one member said the old school boxes will be the ones most people will stick with on the forums until we are gone

the only thing i see that might kill the vintage market for most are the prices

 

[jimmyjimmy19702010]

It's all about Nostalgia for many. Nothing you buy new today will give you a direct link with the good times and memories you formed 30 years ago!

The other issue with anyone making devices today is the public's resistance to spending the high retail asking prices that buyers would happily accept in the 70s and early 80s. So the 'over built' build quality that was common years ago cannot be provided these days due to cost restraints.

Sound quality is king for me over styling and bling so DIY is the only way I get my fix. I've tried all the new BT speakers and Lasonic's 'i' offering but these devices just don't get the job done when high sound quality is the goal.

So no, nothing made today will affect values or people's ongoing enjoyment of their awesome 70s, 80s boxes.

 

[Mustey]

Good, because my cassette player count has been growing exponentially in the last few days :O
BTW, I've seen a Schwinn (68 I think) in the last vintage show in Newbury, about a month ago. It was for sale and went for 350. Perhaps it wasn't fully original or something but it flew right off the shelf at 350, no bargain...

 

[davebush]

I think collectors like us guys get more atatched to the old stuff because of the nostalgia part and what we had growing up

 

[Radio-Active]

Like all collectibles. The best stuff will be prized and valuable. The rest will be forgotten.

 

[Transistorized]

I think for the old school owner it will be just like owning an antique car. In its original form won't out perform the modern stuff but you hang your arm out the window and people look at, wave and appreciate it because it's a cool piece of history. You can't just go to the store and buy that anymore.

My thought would be, if they're duplicating a box made 30 years ago today, that must mean they know how cool the originals were

I would like to add they are doing the same thing with cars. All the new ones are made to look like the old school 69 era. For those who own the originals it just raises the cool factor and value even more

 

[trippy1313]

I think for the old school owner it will be just like owning an antique car. In its original form won't out perform the modern stuff but you hang your arm out the window and people look at, wave and appreciate it because it's a cool piece of history. You can't just go to the store and buy that anymore.

My thought would be, if they're duplicating a box made 30 years ago today, that must mean they know how cool the originals were

I would like to add they are doing the same thing with cars. All the new ones are made to look like the old school 69 era. For those who own the originals it just raises the cool factor and value even more

Very excellent point. I have a few classic cars myself, my profile pic for example.

Obsolete, and really, less practical, absolutely.

Totally fricken awesome and cooler than modern cars, absolutely.

Subject to opinion of course.