I got this giant speaker of a boombox in and lucked out on not having to repair that much of it since the cassette player worked. It even came with a really nice feeling carry-case, haven't gotten a boombox with one before. Internal lights.
Awesome I really like mine. Read about repairs and see inside details here in this long thread: Sony CF-1990 JDM aka CF-490S or CF-495L serviced not exploded EDIT: To add for future readers that the bass on this CF-1990 (CF-490 or CF-495 in rest of world outside of Japan) is very strong. As one 2004 youtube video in particular shows: SONY CF-1990 boombox ghettoblaster. Note the silver metallic speaker cone movement which is prominent in this video. Now the CF-1980 (CF-480) is remarkably close as well in terms of Bass with just the 6.5-inch speaker. But the overall sound quality of my particular CF-480 is a bit better than the CF-1990. More clarity. Also better AM selectivity and sensitivity... due to tuning circuit design and 12volt CF-480 (8D battery) so more amp power than the 6volt CF-1990 (4D battery). If you can't find a CF-1990... Get the CF-1980. There were 5 versions of the CF-1980. Later models had the aluminum top panel inserts too. Readers pining for a CF-1990 would be well served to shrug and instead pursue the CF-1980 / CF-480 instead.
Thank you, realized I'll probably have to open it up since although the mech seems to be in mostly working order the auto repeat function doesn't work. Otherwise am satisfied with the condition since the seller only tested whether the radio turned on.
The auto repeat and auto rewind always get stuck because of the hardened orange grease. I cover that in my write up.
Wow, I'm jealous, I love the whole aura around this generation of BBX's. Having a recording tape deck was already big fun but then throw in MIC mixing (karaoke) and it probably also does guitars, and you have a mini "studio." At close to 50,000 yen, this wasn't for kids. I am surprised it doesn't have more radio bands. The cover is a huge bonus, those things must have been like vaporware, most are gone forever. I have a feeling the hinges (plastic) fell apart and they busted apart at the seems. My plastic's professor said Armor-All does help but it doesn't repair. thx SaaBoom!
First time I have seen the case cover for this model Sony CF-1990 (CF-490 / CF-495). Have a pristine zero damage case cover for my CF-1980 (CF-480) however. The case jacket cover has a mild vinyl / plastic type smell to it still. I believe the case covers were an optional extra and not included?
Found this, it was an extra that cost about the equivalent to $40 in the 70s and was itemized as LC-1990, also of interest they advertised an extra fm tuner/mixing mic port (TMR-3), a voice fader (VFX-3) and a bulk tape eraser among others. To add onto this I thought about getting a Cf1980 Mk5 but I decided for 1990 purely based on looks combined with the better bass response than almost all similar 70s era systems and lucked out quite recently to get one that's in really good shape with that add-on.
