I've just added this model to my collection. I've been looking for one of these ever since I first saw a picture of one, when I joined this site in 2006. I am writing about every possible feature I can think of. I've taken photographs to illustrate the different features I'll be talking about. Before I start, here's a picture of my RX-5500. It's in superb condition.



Build Quality

The RX-5500 is a solid radio. There's no better way to describe it. It feels heavy for it's size. Everything looks and feels high quality, especially the brushed aluminium around the knobs and switches. The toggle-type selectors feel very solid, not plasticky and flimsy like the controls on the majority of modern portable radios. The knobs feel quite stiff to turn. This adds to the high quality theme, because ones which turn much easier don't seem to feel as though they would last nearly as long. Here are a few pictures of the controls.





The cassette door is tough, and is covered with brushed aluminium. The cassette keys are metal, and are protected against damage which could be caused by the unit falling on it's front, by a metal bar underneath.



The radio antenna is of high quality. It's thicker at the base than others I've come across, and slots right down inside the case when not in use. The shape of the tip is definately a plus point.





The rest of the case is well made, and it doesn't creak when the unit is moved about. The handle is strong, and could probably take five times the unit's weight. The chrome ends (one of which can be seen in the picture above) are very shiny and look high quality.

The Panasonic name on the front is pressed into the aluminium from behind and is therefore raised.



Features

The RX-5500's feature count is pretty impressive. Being slightly bigger than the average mid-size, this is by no means a large unit, but has the same type of features as the best quality full-size units. The list of features are as follows:

-Tape counter
-4 band tuner (FM, MW, LW, SW)
-Separate bass and treble
-Real tweeters
-Adjustable recording levels for left and right channels
-Dolby NR
-3 position tape-type selector (CrO2, FeCr and normal)
-LED meter/indicator
-Indicator selector which switches between VU meter and battery/tuning strength
-LED indicator for Dolby NR
-Voltage selector on rear of case
-DIN line in
-Phono sockets
-Earth connector
-Mic and remote sockets
-External speaker sockets
-External antenna connections for FM and AM bands

...amongst other things.

Most of the features listed above are shown in the following pictures.







Design/looks

A lot of thought has gone into designing this unit, and some good materials finish it off brilliantly. It has the best 'classic boombox look' out of all the units in my collection. It looks high quality all over, which I think is very important for a boombox. The layout is very symmetrical, featuring round tweeters placed above the woofers at the edges of the case, and a large tuning knob. All of the main controls are located on the front, which I think looks better and more professional than top-mounted controls. This model would have looked better if it had twin centrally mounted antennae in place of just the one. If they folded down into case like the existing antenna, I may have even called it 'the perfect looking boombox'. The front has a very natural boombox look.



I particularly like the Dolby NR LED indicator above the tape deck.



The rear of the case is simple, and the centrally placed external antenna connections and information plate make this part of the unit look symmetrical too.





The battery compartment on mine has never had leaky batteries, and the original foams are present. It takes eight D-cells.



Sound Quality

This is a very good sounding unit, well balanced, with very clear treble.
It has enough bass, but not as much as I was expecting, so if you're looking for something to shake the windows, the RX-5500 is NOT for you. That said, it's not short on power, and does a great job when playing at higher volumes. The bass is great when it's playing loudly, it only really lacks at lower, or 'normal' volumes. Despite being far from my bassiest sounding unit, it's still one of the best sounding. It sounds more like a small home Stereo than a portable. It has a high quality sound, with good definition and clear highs.

Overall

The RX-5500 is a very good unit, a must for boombox collectors. Nobody should fail to notice the high build quality and great looks. The unit is a pleasure to use, and all of the controls are straight-forward. The LED meter looks brilliant in full swing.



A few more pictures...







This one's another keeper, as you've probably guessed. I'm a big fan of this model, and can say that this is my new favourite box, even above my Sharp GF-777.

Thanks for reading,

R.A.

________________________________________________________________________________

Beautiful pics and a great review R.A. that was very enjoyable and informative to read. I also love the look of this box, I think it's looks very traditional and classy but also very well built. Thanks again for the magazine quality review very inspirational

Brian

The right oldy Nat/Pan.
Nice job RA, Thanks.

Nice review RA, makes me want to get mine out and service it. I haven't cleaned or used it since I got it.

nice one RA --

Panasonic assembled their A TEAM for that box ---it must have been like "lets make a good one"

could not be any more solid or well designed -

anyhow - your great review has now made me foolish for trading my real nice 5500 to sinister --

for a bunch of strange,odd parts --
which i didn't even need

quote:

your great review has now made me foolish for trading my real nice 5500 to sinister --

for a bunch of strange,odd parts --
which i didn't even need

you said you hated it and it was nothing but junk!!! thats why you traded fo the M90 eject button

i love my 5500!!!

are you in cahoots with RA ???

------like- duh -
he waits till i ship it --and THEN pops on with this great review

HA HA !!!!

Very well written! I enjoyed it! Matter of fact, I'll read it again! Pardon me...

great post and pictures , thanks for taking the effort to make a great detailed review , enjoy that panasonic !

yes i have to agree 100% great post the radio is great,, had a chance to test one out very good

Love the 5500! But now you've got me curious. I wonder what the difference is between your LE and other versions. Longwave, for sure, but anything else...?

quote:

The bass is great when it's playing loudly, it only really lacks at lower, or 'normal' volumes.

I have noticed this with most Panasonic products. It must be a design principle of theirs.

quote:

Originally posted by baby boomer:
I wonder what the difference is between your LE and other versions. Longwave, for sure, but anything else...?

Sorry to answer my own question, but logic tells me that LE must mean Longwave, Europe. I have the international National Panasonic version, the 5500F, the North American version and the National version (Japan domestic). What else could LE possibly stand for???

Anyone know if there was a Quasar version of this little sweetie?

Good read RA and she does look fantastic.

Great review, nice pics, quality b-0box.

Nice one, RA

Thanks for all the comments! After a bit of a play around with the opening post, all the pictures work now!

Thanks so much for that review R.A., beautiful work that really shows your passion for it.

This is the only National/Panasonics on my wants list (currently) and after reading your review I'll be paying alot more attention to other models. The tactile quality is something that only a review like yours can accurately show.

Thanks again rocker.



Rock On.

Excellent R.A.
I've always liked the look of this particular Panasonic.Always wondered about the sound, not anymore thanks to your very detailed and professionally laid out review.

Great review and interesting read! Thanks for the effort.

It has a classic understated boombox look, and very much reminds me of the Telefunken C100.

Thanks again!

beatbox 0r anyone --

is this the telefunken you mean ? from bbdb ------
does it have similar weight, build , sound, etc to the panny 5500 ?

redbenjoe-That looks to be a variation of my MacDonald Instruments 6-33-63.My version doesn't have the square speaker grills.Though I've never heard a 5500 I'm pretty sure it would sound cleaner judging from the sound quality of my "Mac".Though mine does sound a bit like a Panasonic 5050 or 5100,it's much less clean.

What I wonder is how a 5500 compares to a 5050 or 5100.Though both the "50" and "100" have a clean sound,they tend to hide detail in complex music when pushed really loud.

...and I would say the build quality as described by Retro matches my observations of my "Mac".

jovie -- i never have heard a macdonald of any model -- or the panny 5050 and i forgot about the5100 --
so to say the least -- i am 'out-of-it' about these

iv'e had the rx 5050 5110 and 5500 and the rx 5500 sounds much nicer than the other 2 models .

great review and photos of a classic!

Man Retro you hit the nail on the head with that review. I love mine and it reeks of quality. Much better sounding than the higher M.S.R.P. of the Panasonic Rx 5600. Thanks for the review for the people that dont have this model, so they could be on the lookout for one.

quote:

Originally posted by ash25:
Man Retro you hit the nail on the head with that review. Thanks for the review for the people that dont have this model, so they could be on the lookout for one.

You're welcome, and thanks for the comment.

What's M.S.R.P. to the 'uneducated'?

or the uneducated

MSRP = manufacturers suggested retail price--
(its just a usa thing)

Ah, that's known as R.R.P. (Recommended Retail Price) in the UK.

Thanks redbenjoe!

quote:

Originally posted by Retro Addict:

quote:

Originally posted by ash25:
Man Retro you hit the nail on the head with that review. Thanks for the review for the people that dont have this model, so they could be on the lookout for one.

You're welcome, and thanks for the comment.

What's M.S.R.P. to the 'uneducated'?

Yeah!! Guess I was too lazy to type that in. Thought everyone knew that. Sorry.

Thanks vladi.

I tried my best with this one!

ive just noticed some differences in my 5500. ill post pix now

cuz yours is a factory defect.

well i got it from you

and i got it from the panasonic reject pile

Interesting, SINISTER. Mine is the RX-5500(LE), which one is yours?

...There goes my two thousandth post.

Great review - thanks. I agree - I have one and it sounds great. Any kind members out there who have a scrapper that they could sell me a couple of knobs from (both record level knobs) - mine is mint apart from this and I'd love to get it complete!

Great review! I bought one from Ebay last week and cant wait to have it here. Maybe tomorrow.

Thanks for the comments, Ronster and drmz.

I wish you luck in finding the missing knobs you're looking for, Ronster.

Well done catching a 'fifty five hundred', drmz! You'll love it.

quote:

Originally posted by Retro Addict:
Interesting, SINISTER. Mine is the RX-5500(LE), which one is yours?

...There goes my two thousandth post.

mine is just a 5500

After reading through this thread again, I thought I'd reply to this.

quote:

Originally posted by Reli:

quote:

The bass is great when it's playing loudly, it only really lacks at lower, or 'normal' volumes.

I have noticed this with most Panasonic products. It must be a design principle of theirs.

Yeah, it was probably intended to prompt owners to crank the volume more...

...which suits me!!

That is a very and proffesional review
RetroAddict!

And a lovely radio also!

Thanks very much for the comment walkgirl!

The only problem is some of the pics just stop working and I have to scan and upload them again, which is annoying. I'm using imageshack. I'm going to give tinypic a bash and see if it works any better for my next review (whatever it might be).

quote:

Originally posted by SINISTER:

I´ve got a question about this pic. On my 5500LS the all left switch has just two positions:
RECORD Easy-Matic and Manual
It looks like your LE has 3 positions.
I´m wondering what Easy-Matic means and whats does your Mixing feature do?

the 5500 in that pic is just a 5500 not le

Yes, you´re right. retro´s le seems to have the 2-way record modes like my ls.

Anyway, can you tell me what easy-matic does?

fantastic looking box! panasonics are simply top of the line. i'd love to get my hands on this model myself.