I am proud to present to you:

My Pioneer SK-353L on steroids

My goal was to make a classic looking high performance boombox with modern features on a small budget. All the parts are well under 100€ all together. I was first going to paint the whole body but luckily i changed my mind and kept it original with all small scratches and blemishes. They give it some character too.

Somewhat full feature list is on the YouTube video.

VU-meter mode switch:

Volume, bass, treble pots:

Custom made cassette door:

MP3 player fitted inside cassette compartment, no flash drives or cards sticking out! (I really do not like usb flash drives sticking out!)

This solution is not very easy to use, but the only working one. There is not very much room inside to install extra devices... oh, and the original eject mechanism works too.

View of led VU-meters:

Here is also a modified "Eagle C-15"-tape. Reversed the reel wall on it.

Thanks for the support.

Last but not least, the video:

good result mate, quality workmanship looks stunning love posts like this

Very cool looking. Keeping the Pioneers elegant look was a good move.

Any thoughts on the sound compared to other known boomers?

How is the battery life?

thats one of the sweetest mods we have ever seen here !!

enjoy it forever

Not one of the sweetest, "THE" sweetest. If only, boxes were actually made this way today.

terrific! 

i so much admire anybody with the tinkering touch that i devoted to them all - edited, actually   - the story of my initiation to portable madness.

it's a take on an old comic book tale and a few literary classics that i've just updated by adding Samsnite's name (last cartoon):

index.php?board_oid=193392314111653483&content_oid=289522107497005774

very cool box samsnite..gotta be the best modded box ive seen

That's magnificent ! Im going crazy right now . You did a terrific job. They could sell this box instead of those new lasonics

This is fantastic Samsnite, I agree with Lit, this is the sweetest mod yet and I love the video.

Just seen the video.

Woah... extremely impressive.

...& for that price too.

Custom job of the year, for sure  

IMPRESSIVE

*best DOOM voice*

Sure is. That vid was nice, bet that took a while to edit the angles whilst keeping the soundtrack linear etc. 10/10 all round. I look forward to the next project

I agree with earlier posts...THE BEST mod!!

Pioneer boxes just "have it" IMHO

Beautiful Samsnite!!!!!!

Top working on that Pioneer Samsnite!!!

I make almost the same modification in two blasters I have here (a C100-F case and a Unisef SZ5000 with all guts smashed), The results are impresive (special whit the Unisef)

As you using this radio on a daily basis, let us know about the duration of the battery ... ... here in Brazil, selling the same battery for almost triple the priice sells on DX.

Cheers.

Thank you thank you, your far too kind! No seriously, the words i read here make me feel sooo good. The feeling, when ones work is appreciated, is out of this world! So thank you all for the massive support and lets keep this crazy and wonderful culture strong as long as we can! And pass it on to the future generations.

What comes to battery life, i have not done tests yet. Planned to do a time lapse video with a clock next to the box in 3/4 volume perhaps... which is VERY loud so i can not do it inside our house...

WOW   amazing work!!!!!!   Love it! 

and nice track too

The looks and build quality are fantastic.  If this was available new in the shops, I'd buy it.

that's quiet unbelievable

yeah man, top notch

I have the occasion of buying an original SK 353 and I dug up this thread...Please let me know...is the "stock" sound so bad that it needed an upgrade? The box looks cool.

You have done a fantastic job with great attention to detail, it has been a pleasure reading this post. I love that particular model of Pioneer too.

My question to you is.....how much has the sound improved??? as i know in origional form it is VERY weak sounding.....btw thats TOTALLY outstanding work and dediation....can't belive i havn't seen this thread before as it's been here so long

Im new here,just found this post ! Wow top work and great video.