Here are two flavors of the RS-4150 from National Panasonic.
The one with "champagne finish" is the RS-4150 FD boombox, that is going to be reviewed in this thread.
The all-black is the RS-4150 LJ boombox.
A rare boombox (I've never seen an all-black National). This was reviewed in another thread when it was purchased.
Talking about features, the main difference is that the FD is a two way speaker system and the LJ is only one way.
Also the LJ has a switch to toggle the power from AC to DC (there isn't nothing like a battery disabling switch on the AC socket).
The FD version has the switch in the AC socket like most boomboxes.
Control layout, I/O port layout are the same in both flavors.
But design is quite different altough they only differ in their sufixes.
Lets talk about the RS-4150FD
This item isn't in mint condition (some scratches) but it wasn't opened since it had been closed in factory. All inside was original.
Tape deck was working but it sounded awful.
Also the speed wasn't constant.
Sliders and switches were noisy, but working.
What I've done ?
Most of capacitors were leakaged. I replaced about the 60% of them. A really hard job, you know ...
All switches, sliders, rec bar and disabling switches around the I/O port were cleaned with contact cleaner.
Tape deck was nearly dead but working. Belts, heads and motor were original. That's I really love from National. They keep thing simple so the mecha keep working even after 30 years !!!!!
Belt replaced and tires cleaned.
Cleaning and some paint details.
============== Review ==================================================
Design:
Really one of nicest designs I've ever seen. It's size (it's a little than a medium size boombox) is PERFECT.
Control layout is classic National, with amp controls on the rigth and switches on the left.
Good quality switches, they feel nice.
It has one tone control, balance and volume
It has tape/radio/sleep switch, mono/st switch, and normal/cr02 switch.
On the left side, there the I/O port, with both RCA and DIN conectors, stereo mic, remote, speaker and phones.
Like the LJ the FD doesn't have an AUX position in the source selector ... I can't stand this ... so you need to keep pressed REC&PLAY in order to use the BOOMBOX's line-in feature.
Also, like the LJ, the FD version has a microphone holder on the left.
It has two cool needle vu-meters.
While playing, only one works to tell the battery strength.
In radio, one tells battery and the other help the tunning.
While recording, both show input level.
It weigths a lot, it's really a tank boombox.
You need to carry it in order to feel how solid is it.
Like any National, it has a multiple voltage supply with it classic rotary selector.
If you want to run on batteries, it take 6 D cells (9V).
Sound:
Good power, strong and without distortion. Good highs and good bass (better than the LJ version)
You need to play a bit with the tone control but it's easy to find the "confortable point"
Power amp is dual mono (two chips) rated to 2,7W each. Here they used LA (sanyo) chips.
Radio:
Always an excelent point in any National.
That's a four band radio without fine tunning and the classic stereo eye.
Easy to get an station tuned, that would remain locked without drift. Excelent perfomance.
Like the LJ, the FD version has two turner nedles. A strange feature ... I would prefer an AUX position ...
It has one aerial, with rear connection to hock an external antenna.
Deck:
It's ok for a medium level boombox. The mecha is a well known, simple, long life and easy to fix. The kind of mecha that works forever.
This boombox has no speed regulation (it's too early for electronic motor). Altough that, the speed is perfect once the rigth belts were installed. Motors form mitsumi always a good point.
The bad point is the auto-stop feature. I've never seen one where this function worked %100 of the times.
Conclusion
I love this National.
Enjoy !!!
