a:

what do i call them ?

ghetto blaster
boombox
boxes
or some thing else ?

is there any difference in a boombox and a ghetto blaster or just two names invented by companys ?

b:

what years are the twin ariel big box's from/to
and then the like of the 3d80 long box's from/ to - and what year did the cd player join the ranks and are these also collected by members ?

cheers all - B

OK, I'll have a go...

a:
what do I call them?
- any of the above works here.

Boombox/ghettoblaster are interchangeable terms for a portable audio system with varying capabilities (radio, cassette, CD, etc.) & sound output.
I think the generally received wisdom is that if it can play sound, be carried (has a handle) & can run on internal batteries, then its a boomer

b:
twin antennas are usually only found on pricier boomboxes - usually the larger ones, but some expensive minis have them too.
They seemed to dissappear across the 80s, when boombox production costs started to be cut (I wonder if there's a "Twin Antenna" search filter in the BBDB?)

CD players started to appear in the early 80s in expensive boomers, but became more commonplace in the mid-late 80s, right when the looks were starting to get more rounded.
Yes, lots of us collect CD boomers too. IMHO they're a bit more useful day to day. If a boombox has a proper aux/line in it's also very useful... for plugging into a computer , iPod, etc.

Cheers mate - just the info i was looking for

by the way where abouts are you in surrey - do you do the carboot rounds ?

cheers B

Back in the 70's, we just called them BOXES!!! The term "BOOM BOX" was being used in the late 80's/early 90's.

I remember seeing Twin Antennas during the late 70's & early 80's. Pioneer's larger SK series had Twin Antennas!!!

CD Players joined the ranks during the early 90's. I never got into them at first because they were just too delicate to walk around with, especially with all of the skipping and whatnot!!! It really got on your nerves!!!

'NUFF SAID