ok guys, i was just thinking about the different features on boxes, thought id'e start this thread on different opinions on what you guys think is the most innovative feature on a box from back in the day
to me it has to be the wireless remote on the tosh s932, what a great idea, it acts as the tape deck controls when fixed on the box, and when removed, a wireless remote, how cool is that for 1983 i think, another one would be the double tape deck, or the angled bass driver on the sanyo big ben, i like all these things and think they are all very innovative for the early 80's, what do you guys think?

I'm a big fan of the handle.

most deffinetly Agent

An innovative feature of some boomboxes was the digital tuner, as seen on models including the Panasonic RX-7200 and the Sharp GF-9595 and GF-9797. It was a glimpe into the future for consumers, at a time when analogue tuners were to be made for years after. It was certainly very forward thinking.

Another innovative feature of some boomboxes was the spectrum analyzer, as seen on models including the Sharp WF-939 and WF-940. It was essentially a heavily developed LED meter. A spectrum analyser showed not only the sound/recording level, it showed what parts of that sound were bass, treble and midrange sounds, whereas the much more common LED meter just showed the overall sound/recording level.

And another innovative feature of some boomboxes was the removable portable cassette player (walkman), as seen on models including the Hitachi TRK-W1, TRK-W2, the Siemens RS909 and the Amstrad 8090. It gave the owner of the boombox the option of whether to carry the whole thing and share the music with everyone, or remove the walkman to listen to the music personally, without the inconvenience of having to carry a large, heavy item in doing so. It was essentially two audio devices in one.

nice write up RA, i agree with you here, all very good innovations you have listed there

Thanks, Lav. I'm hoping I've not prematurely killed your thread by listing too much!

not atall mate, im sure there's lots more innovative things to list, and if you have killed it...well everything good comes to an end one day my friend

I would have to go with the backlit LCD display on the JVC PC-55. It was very innovative at that time.

ye RETRO that is a very nice innovative feature, i was once offered that box and it was that backlight that made me tempted but i chose a sanyo mx920 instead

I really liked the Toshiba with the removable transport buttons which worked as a remote.

that would be the rts932 which i mentioned in my starter post AGENT

How about the search for the next track avialable on many sharps? i-ve seen this feature only on hi-fi decks only until then.

ye that's another cool one NEVONE, apld apss e.t.c. quiet innovative of the time

Conion's burglar alarm

What about the built in cassette holders in some of the boomboxes pretty handy

spatial stereo/ambience

Tape direction indicators

i like the back light on the tuner windows like the fisher 492 or 490 very hi-fi looking. althogh conion, m70 and others have it looks much better on the fishers.

The ubiquitous "Beat Cut" switch, now that was cutting edge.

look at the sliding digital read-out for the analogue tuner ---
sanyo 820 and 824

quote:

Originally posted by redbenjoe:
look at the sliding digital read-out for the analogue tuner ---
sanyo 820 and 824

I agree redbenjoe, probably the only box produced with that feature.

that mx824 is a real nice box, who's gonna send me 1 for crimbo

The weighted tuner dial which was used on high end home audio tuner's then put into some boombox's and the AMS music scan for the cassette real innovative thinking,also thank god for the carry strap as it was a pain on the shoulder.

ye the weighted tuning dial, that was very innovative, i loved the ones on my once sanyo mx920, and pioneer sk909L, very classy touch indeed

I'll chime in to agree on the PC-55/550 backlit LCD display - amazing for its time. That, and the advanced cassette deck on these units.

And what about spectrum analyzers...very cool and innovative feature. Found only on component-style portables, as far as I know.

quote:

Originally posted by retro:
I would have to go with the backlit LCD display on the JVC PC-55. It was very innovative at that time.

An innovative feature for me is one that actually sounds good by todays standards, most are so poor it's nice to have odd ones that are worth listing too now

Loudness and dinamic bass boost(DSL)
LED level meter and spectrum analyzer
BTL circuitry
PLL sintetizer tuner
Automatic music search on tapes

The "spectrum analyzer" and "blank skip" features on the panasonic RX-C300 was pretty innovative. for it's time....

Hey Skippy love your Panasonic sound must be killer,i've not seen one in these part's pretty kool.

I'm thinking more about a features that were innovative in the scope of boombox, rather than features simply inherited from home stereo equipment. Y'know, stuff that wouldn't really be needed on a home system.

The spatial/surround/biphonic/ambience feature is a very strong contender, as it attempted to solve the problem of the speakers being too close together.

However, for me it's the addition of one or more dedicated bass speakers, with decent BTL amps to match.
If we're honest, the vast majority of 1pc boomers (apart from the top-of-the-line stuff like the M90) suffered from a lack of bass.
Early examples addressing this issue include Sanyo's BigBen & Sharp's GF777. Later examples include JVCs Hyper-Bass series & (of course ) Hitachi's 3Ds.
I know when I got my 3D7 back in 1987, the first thing people remarked on was how much it thumped when compared to similarly priced competition at the time.

completely with Retro about digital tuners in boomboxes, at the time most home hifi components still used an anolog tuner

quote:

Originally posted by PIONEER:
Hey Skippy love your Panasonic sound must be killer,i've not seen one in these part's pretty kool.

Thanks Pioneer!
It sounds quite good,not real bassy though "IMHO".
It is very loud though........

The wireless remote has to be top notch for the 80's. The Toshiba RT-S932 is simply a step above.

defo one of my faves that tosh DAVE im surprised nobody's mentioned the vertical turntable on the vz 2000 and likes, very innovative

quote:

The spatial/surround/biphonic/ambience feature is a very strong contender, as it attempted to solve the problem of the speakers being too close together.

Some did it better than others..........The m9998 and rc838 sound horrible on Wide.....I leave them on Stereo......But the tpr950 and all of the RX's do it brilliantly.

quote:

Originally posted by Reli:

quote:

The spatial/surround/biphonic/ambience feature is a very strong contender, as it attempted to solve the problem of the speakers being too close together.

Some did it better than others..........The m9998 and rc838 sound horrible on Wide.....I leave them on Stereo......But the tpr950 and all of the RX's do it brilliantly.

yup, agree 100%. Hitachi's "Surround" on some later 3Ds really changes & mushes up the sound (& adds too much midrange IMHO), but Philips "Spatial" is much subtler & smooth sounding...

the philips spatial in my opinion is the best, it's not just the flick of a switch, it's a controlled widening which allows you to set it for your personal taste, very impressive

quote:

Originally posted by LAV LOO:
the philips spatial in my opinion is the best, it's not just the flick of a switch, it's a controlled widening which allows you to set it for your personal taste, very impressive

100% with that, LAV. As an owner of a D8634, I know just how good the variable spatial stereo function sounds. You really have to hear it to believe it. It sounds better than any stereo-wide I've ever heard.

where's VIENNASOUND ye your bang on RA, the spatial is one reason why the d8614 is my all time fave box, but there's many other reasons too, the servo controlled deck, beautiful looks, the gorgeous twin green and red led's, the overall sound, the fantastic recording capabilities, i could go on and on, but i should leave it there

quote:

Originally posted by Retro Addict:
...I know just how good the variable spatial stereo function sounds. You really have to hear it to believe it. It sounds better than any stereo-wide I've ever heard.

The jvc-pc55 gets my vote.

i suggest the likes of the casio kx 101 or sharp gf 909 with built in synthesizer as gotta be up there too

I have not read everything... But I would have to say that Sharp would have to put out a GF series... GF 9393 with digital options... SD card reader and/or Mini-Disc/CD player with it original GF 9X9X look!

Sound Okay?

sounds great BREDGEO but not for me...why...cos it has to be made in the GR80'S

I think this is kind of crazy, but definitly innovative:



edit: sorry i did not see the top message...anyway here are some photos

thanks for the pics ARAKNO 1, ye the casio was defo very innovative for the time, thanks for posting up them cool pics

And the casio also offers a rythm section, and a pretty funny one!


Also an other boombox with tv integrated, it's not the only one but it's innovative i think.

uglyness comes as standard on that jvc
tv's on boxes was innovative for sure, but no thanks, thanks for pics again ARAKNO1

Another one with built-in mini keyboard.

Enter the Sharp MR-990 Melody Searcher :

ye i actually mentioned that box at the top of this page, but i got mixed up and called it the gf990, when i should have put mr990 silly me, i just get so used to saying gf when it comes to sharp boxes great pics again ARAKNO1, thanks for posting them up

Pretty sure mine is a GF-990 LL, will check it out.