I just picked up a nice little Panasonic RX-F3 manufactured in either very late 1983 or early 1984. Sounds good for such a small unit. It only has two approx 3" speakers. It's also got aux input jacks on the side, which is something I've never seen before on such an old and small unit. It apparently outputs 3 watts per channel. Does anyone happen to have one of these cute little boomboxes?

http://www.stereo80s.com/images/gall...-f3f_1_big.jpg

No, I have several Panasonic boomboxes, but I've never seen one like that. Looks nice.
An "aux" input in the early 80s would probably have been for either a turntable, or a CD player; handy for Ipods, etc., now.

Here's an Ambience F10 - aux inputs and handles chrome tapes. Heavy unit. Got it DOA, hasn't made it to the bench yet.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/...97e_z.jpg?zz=1

I have a 1980s-'90s vintage Panasonic boom box I rescued from the trash area behind my apartment a couple years ago. Don't recall the model number offhand and can't even find the unit -- it's under my bed somewhere, but it's late as I am writing this and I don't want to make a lot of noise trying to find it. The boombox looks to be in pretty good shape; the radio works (the FM antenna is missing), but the single cassette deck doesn't (probably a bad belt). Haven't gotten around to fixing it yet, or at least looking inside to see what might be wrong with the deck. Oh well...one of these days. :D

Don't bother to dig it out.... "Carnac the Magnificent " guesses: "Model RX-S5400" :D

(From post # 53 on this thread)
jr

shamsz
 

for portable cd players (pcdp) might I suggest the Sony D-NE330. This is a 2006 model released in the U.S. last month, so it might be hard to find at first, but check bestbuy and walmart. It has 15mW headphone output, which is stronger and louder than most pcdp headphone outputs so you get less distortion at higher volumes. It plays mp3s you burn on a data disc.

Never bought from walmart
 

wow this thread is old

Here is one of my mini boomboxes. Bought it off ebay for a good price.
Comes with box and manuals.
Works and sounds perfect !
Has a mini EQ on front Panel and "Space Sound" adjustment, which widens the stereo sound.
Made in Japan

video: http://youtu.be/9CQGjoCysCQ

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Wow very nice indeed!!!

I would love getting another radio like I had in the 80s!

I think this is it but im NOT SURE!!

Toshiba RT-90S

http://img2.etsystatic.com/016/0/687...43630_qsrt.jpg

Does look familar!!

Nice catch Robb! Immaculate as usual...

I forgot there was a boombox thread here!
I'm still enjoying the ones I have, but the good ones are getting harder to find.

I should say good deals on the good ones are getting harder to find :-). There are still plenty available, on ebay for outrageous prices.

I still have a 1982 vintage Sharp GF 5252, that I bought with $ from my first ever paid job... I was 14..

Here's my rare 1981 Realistic SCR-4 Boombox or model 14-774
Retail price was $159 USD
Made in Taiwan for Tandy, Radio Shack
Nice heavy well built unit
Measures 7x14x2

Video: http://youtu.be/k3_iYUCktyE

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Robb has a time machine.........

.

my first "stereo" was a 1982 vintage Sharp GF-5252. Still have it but its a bit battered, it went through a lot, including falling 6 feet onto concrete cracking the circuit board in half. had to put in a lot of jumper wires...it was $135, but I wished I had had $20 more for the GF-5454 with shortwave. Used money from my first ever job, helping my dad extract honey for his beekeeping sideline.

Nice photos, Robb. Saw one of those (I think) yesterday in Goodwill, sounded great but I have no room for any more gear right now :tears:

hello..Normally I don't collect boomboxes but a friend of mine given to me this thing and I need a schematic for it.. it works but not completely....here is the picture.

Panasonic ,model : SG-J500 - 120V - 60HZ

http://i38.servimg.com/u/f38/16/43/78/89/panaso10.jpg

I've got the same box, but I don't have the schematic either.

okay ..well I changed the belt for the turn-table...it runs but the radio itself does not work properly, probably some caps to change...

Thanks for that link to the service manual you sent to me, Marco. Mine has not needed service so far (knock on wood), but it is always good to have the manual in case it breaks in the future.

They are cool little boxes that perform decently when they are working correctly.

No proble ElectronicM..:)

FOUND THIS FOR $40 LOCALLY LAST WEEK :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZSwbCW5s-E

Very nice, Robb. 80s-early 90s JVC boxes always sound great (to my ears, anyway) and usually have above average radio reception.

Pix of my $40 M90

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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