The USA Market was the largest, the crappy brands would buy a bunch of skids overseas and it wasn't too hard to get rid of them quickly. My town was kind of small, I'd see most of these for sale at flea markets from the annoying guy that was selling new import stuff. What I like are the large gaudy boomboxes, they weren't pretending to be hi-fi, they were just big and mostly ugly but they do have an appeal to them, obviously most are very collectable right now. Back in the 80's I never even considered buying one, the fake function graphics were a buzz kill. I've got a handful now and it's funny how people pick those out first. I do like some of the low-level, mid-size Hitachi Units, I recently got a Hitachi TRK-7500H (analog VU) and TRK-8100H (LED VU), these are kind of heavy but the top controls look cheap. They both have LINE-IN which is always nice. I didn't grab them for sonics, they are nice heart of the line models that looked like most of the boomers I saw back in the 80's. Hitachi are always hard to find, they didn't have a big footprint here, our markets were very competitive back then.
Here's a different one from China, it looks like late 80's but who knows? The International 8926K is a nice looking boomer, almost a copy of Sanyo or Panasonic but with funky fresh LED lights around the tiny? speakers. While the sonics may stink the unique style will live on forever. https://www.ebay.com/itm/284908778149
Sony APM-090 are some of the coolest little speakers that I think were made for Walkmans? Here's a set with the original box and carrying handle. https://www.ebay.com/itm/255613092887?
The Sony ZX-7 DD boombox has similar speakers. Even while using the unit on 4 D cell batteries, output volume is excellent!
Very rare Sony MX-10L Mic Mixing Unit for recording Walkmans. This is only the third I've seen come up for sale over the last 10 years when I started looking for them. Upload the OM if you buy it! https://www.ebay.com/itm/225065819483
Epsilon, Conion and now the Helix Version! The world's largest boombox can be yours. This is slightly different than the Epsilon/Conion Version but I think it's the same chassis? These are for bragging rights only, they're pretty lightweight builds. https://www.ebay.com/itm/275455425615
First thing that came to mind was the Hitachi TRK-550E I think Goldstar had something like that also but I can't find it?
I wouldn't doubt they all had a version, I got to see one this summer, they are much larger than the photo shows and the size makes them look cool even though the build is questionable . Put it next to an AIWA in the CB-20 Case and you'd fill up your car.
I had never heard of this before. On the Turntable and Crazy Keyboards combined https://www.ebay.com/itm/144695775539
At the opposite extreme a complete Aiwa 22 series mini system along with some giant Aiwa speakers. A good price but collect only https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334565315307
I think those speakers were an AIWA Option for the system. Mine's powering full size Klipsch Heresys's with no problem, these are a great audio option if you want to conserve space.
Olympus SP5 Speakers going for silly money. These are only the 2nd set I've seen come up for sale, these go with the Road Runner SR-11 Stereo Microcassette Player and a must have for the hard-core collector, plus they are in the box with the original? Maxell Batteries from 1982. https://www.ebay.com/itm/234706395224?
Unisef AF-6000, I don't think I've seen this dual well mini before, kind of neat looking and minty but with a silly money price tag. https://www.ebay.com/itm/165648913336?
Cap 10, never heard of it before but it looks like a semi-nice effort. More for shelf duty, I'm amazed at the buttons and layout, it has a super cool "balance" rotary dial, how many old units had a balance? This might be a pretty cool heavy unit or a plastic turd, luckily it's only $5 USD! It has a MIC input, what the heck is that for, maybe singalong but there's no MIC volume control. Check out all of the transport controls, some on the side, some on top, sweet! https://www.ebay.com/itm/354130156609?
I have a personal stereo radio with a similar balance control. Also made in Hong Kong so maybe the same manufacturer. I always feel nostalgic when I see "Made in Hong Kong" as it predates the days when everything started being made in China (mid 1990s).
A very rare sighting of a Pioneer Disco Robo J-7 for just under $1000 USD. https://www.ebay.com/itm/204089865554? I think we had a member a couple years ago that was reproducing the buttons on the top that wear out, one of the keypads looks destroyed on this one.
I'd be all over this UK Crown CSC-656L if overseas shipping wasn't a pain but I'm still contemplating maybe still getting it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/284508545687?
Another Crown oddity the Crown NP-130, I just like it because it's really small, the radio dial is backwards, and might be substantial but odds are that it's a light weight toy. The graphics look like they had extra stickers lying around, this could have had a cool front but this is what they chose to print on it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/284508545687?
I love the 70's boomboxes, Crown had some nice ones but they are rarely seen here. Another from the UK for pretty cheap, the Crown CSC-626, I bet nickeccles could make this shine! https://www.ebay.com/itm/255776290933?