I love how the old boomboxes had lots of inputs and outputs. My fist was an early 80's GE that my dad bought in the Navy (probably on the ship) and retired it to me in the early 90's with a Technics turntable. When that died (4th grade)I upgraded to the famous Sony from the 90's with the CD inputs on the front, got a Discman that Christmas, and had a preamp for the Technics.

Just picked up this guy from a local thrift store last friday. Not bad sounding and everything works! It's a JVC PC-W47 from 1987.

Hi Trance, How do you know it's a 1987 and how do you read the S/N ?

Very good Trance!!!!!!!! :)

I had to open it up to access the back of the volume and function sliders. They were extremely oxidized and had to squirt a little deoxit in there. The back of the cassette motor said 1987. Uses a Matsushita motor.:thmbsp: The next thing I have to do to it is re-align the cassette head azimuth. Both decks sound a little out of wack.

OK thanks. yes I often see it on electric motors when I keep such parts for the case I need them..Now I'll know for next time. ;)

I got myself another boombox. This one is a Panasonic RXC36. It's a nice unit, but the FM radio has a problem. When you first turn it on, it will play in "FM Stereo" just fine for about 5 minutes. After that, the radio starts to fade in and out of stereo until it will no longer go in stereo at all. If I turn it off for about 20 minutes, it will play in stereo again, but then the cycle starts again.

Any idea what could be the issue?

Need to adjust the stereo ceramic capacitor in the radio section with a jewelers screwdriver I do this by ear although that are proper ways to do this but you need the schematic to find exactly which one it is & for this and then the service manual too of which I do not have for this model.

yes but I have slowed down by now

The thing I dont like about Boomboxs is ITS HARD TO FIND ONE WITH A MONO SWITCH!!!!!!!

I do not like stereo and I dont being forced to listen IN STEREO!!!!!

Im probably gonna be in need of a new one soon but everyone I have gotton has been WORSE than the last!


WHY WONT THEY ALLOW YOU AN OPTION TO PLAY A TAPE IN MONO IF YOU WANT??

Hmm... Drive to radio shack and get an spst panel mount switch, and install it somewhere. Short the wipers of the volume control together. Use shielded wire say from an old patch cord. This is a fairly easy modification. Or if you're really serious about mono forget the switch and just put in a jumper.

Well, why you don't use a small simple tape cassette ? they are MONO !!. your problem is solved !..

Mono boombox switch
 

Lots of boombox have a mono switch especially the older ones as you did not specify what boombox you are having a issue with. Most Panasonic's have mono switch as well as ambience and stereo in the middle.

Or, if you have the room for it, rather than a switch install a potentiometer and call it a SEPARATION control! Stereo to mono and everything in between! :thmbsp:

There are some Philips and Magnavox models that have that pot, plus expanded ("spatial") stereo! Here's an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzDl75K_gak