When I first joined this site, some months ago there were two people who seemed to be harping on, uncontrollably about their favourite machines. There was Lav Loo and his Philips D8614, and Radio Raheem with his Kaboom. 

I had the opportunity to listen to a D8614 while visiting Stereo Mad, and had to get one. 

This weekend, after talking to Chris (Deliverance) I decided to buy a Kaboom because my girlfriend will soon be teaching aerobics classes again and needed something loud for that and I found an RV-NB10B at a reasonable price and it's fully working and looks tidy.

Oh My God!

This sounds absolutely insane! The styling is not what you would call traditional but that seems like a good thing. The rule book was totally destroyed when they designed this and what a triumph of engineering it is. It thumps hard, the mid and treble are not overwhelmed and it's just so musical and did I say LOUD?

Mr Raheem; you are right on the money. This thing achieves 9/10 of what the other well known JVC's do for 1/10 of the price. Plus, louder and without distortion even at maximum volume.

As an example of purely functional design this is genius, and I love it!

Thanks for the advice guys.

I still want a Tosh WX1 though..........

i know they are not a boombox as such or collectable i only have one but i still laugh when i use it plenty of bang for peanuts !    i paid more for a pinch roller off jvc than i paid for the kaboom posted   

glad you got an 8614 Nick, wise move

the kaboom you talk about well.....let's just say i heard Dels at the box meet we had last summer at Docs house, unbelievable bass no question.

congrats

its the only portable boomer --that makes you FEEL the bass --

even at the lowest volume --these are the ultimate pumpers 

Yeh I heard the Kaboom and the D8614 for the first time at the meet and was impressed by both.  What amazed me about the Kaboom was that if you put your hand at the end of the tubes at the back you can really feel the air moving even when its not loud so those bass speakers must really travel some!

I am not alone in my admiration for this thing then! 

The one I got (NB10B) has tape and cd and I see that the '20' version does without the tape so I wondered if anyone knew if this was the machine at it's best? Is there a more powerful one that still has tape and cd but does without the gimmicks that the DP200 of which Radio Raheem spoke has?

Since my other half will be nicking this one soon I was going to start looking for the 'ultimate' Kaboom....

Thanks.

kaboom.....smartie tube with speakers,don't matter how good it sounds it's never going to be anything like what a 80's boombox is meant to be! if you want better sound than any 80's box can offer then get a hifi!

as for m90's... anyone given the chance would have one....period

rant over

Lee,

As far as I am aware the Kaboom is a 90's machine and is therefore not ever trying to be an 80's boombox. As you are well aware, I am an avid fan of 80's boxes and enjoy them very much but as it turns out; although completely different in design and function the box in question is really good and offers brilliant value, so what's not to like?

I have hifi as well, and each device serves it's purpose. I understood that in the 80's (and I was there) the purpose of the boombox was so that you could take your music with you and share it wherever you went. Since you brought up the M90 again, I wonder how true to the original idea that was and how many people actually took them outside at all? Don't get me wrong, I would like one too..

If the moderators would like to state that we cannot chat about anything other than 80's boxes, I will tow the line. 

If my appreciation of another boombox has upset you, I apologise. Life is too short.

lol  on the other hand what's wrong with smarties? they've been around ever since 1937...

kabooms are a nineties machine like nickfish says and are easy to find in the wild imho.

if i came across one i would buy it simply to trade it... they do have a following,

all said they are a jvc..

1st.  (Your's (NickFish) is supposed to come with the) Wireless MP3 Connection -- By connecting your MP3 player via a dedicated wireless transmitter (included), you can listen to your favorite music files on the system.

Do you have this item?

2nd there is Seven other model's without the gimmicks

The RV-NB10 for the UK market didn't include the little FM transmitter, as it didn't meet EU regulations. I know because I bought one of these new.

It does have a 3.5mm aux in jack & a lead included to plug in directly.

Thanks Isolator,

I was wondering about that because i did not get one. I did get the remote and original strap though which is a bonus ad I have been playing MP3 through the 3.5mm plug to great effect!

Does anyone have a link for some info about the various other models?

Brief Kaboom history lesson:

1990s on:

- RV-NB1 ... RV-NB20 (& many inbetween):
lots of different models with the same form factor (casework) & same amp & speakers, but adding new toys, such as mp3 CD compatibility, different colours, etc. & finally removing the tape deck.

- RV-DP100 & RV-DP200:
even bigger than the above Kabooms, with drum-pads, scratch wheel, built in rhythm generator, etc. has a slightly higher power output than the standard Kaboom. Effectively has a 3 band EQ (Mid & Treble control & the 6 level superwoofer control) instead of preset EQ settings.

- RV-B55 & RV-B550: "kaboom lite" a smaller, Kaboom looking JVC, with only 2 speakers & bass reflex ports. 550 has light-up speakers (a la discolite)

there was a gap in production in the early 2000s.

2000s on:

RV-NB50 & later:
A new Kaboom with proper iPod compatibility, but with smaller woofers & less quoted power output. Looks similar.

Best way to tell: bass ports are at the bottom front, left & right.

Latest version has DAB tuner & Bluetooth.

see: http://www.jvc.co.uk/product-list.php?id=100143

Thanks for that. It looks like I got lucky and found the best equipped one first time!

The '10' has MP3 CD, Tape and remote. The DP would seem to be more powerful but with so many features I don't need and some tacky graphics to go with it.

I will look for another one now.

Cheers.

Nick

Like isolator42's Brief Kaboom history lesson;

Here are 2 similar different links of the Kaboom's

http://support.jvc.com/consumer/product.jsp?pathId=37&archive=true

or

http://support.jvc.com/consumer/product.jsp?productId=PRD3603000&pathId=37&archive=true

You stated that you are  (looking for the 'ultimate' Kaboom....)

Would you Like to know, Just What the "Ultimate Kaboom" is out there

Nope!

TWO Kaboom's

I believe that there is another Portable boombox, that has the characteristics of the Kaboom's Bass at any Volume if only it had similar sized speakers would it then be comparable or even equal in bass sound output

Mmm,

I had concluded from the JVC site that the NB1 is the one to go for, and two would be at least twice as good! Thanks.

And what of the other mega bass machine about which you tease?

Glad you inquired

The Telefunken Studio 1M - If it had Larger Woofer's it would Sound so much better as it Definately has the Power  to reporduce the Music accurately  

Also showing the Puny Philips D 8614

Thanks traveler, 

I do in fact have both of those machines!

The Studio 1M is so lovely to look at that I forgive it's early onset distortion! You are quite right; the speakers are just not big enough. I have thought about modifying the speaker enclosures a bit and putting something else in there but don't want to change it's looks. I will try it tonight with some Wharfedale Diamond 10's connected and let you know what happens! Anything bigger is probably asking for trouble...

the studio 1m is da box

Got to hear the Kaboom at redbenjoe's and must admit i listened to dozens of bbx's that day and its by far got the crazy hard punch bass even at lower volumes.   BUT for me the high end/tweeter territory was pretty dismal especially compared with a M90 or several other units. 

yup, treble performance has long been the Kaboom's Achilles heel.

Generally, on a full-size Kaboom, if you select the "Rock" (I think) EQ setting & go easy on the superwoofer volume, you can get a decent balance of sound. However, no real way to turn the treble up is a problem. 

This is where the Drumpad Kabooms score over all the others - with a proper treble control. The looks are even more insane than the full-size Kaboom, it's even bigger & it weighs a TON.

Thankyou Nick...you need to buy the dp200....better clarity than all other kabooms...although other kabooms are great too...and if you don't like those stickers on the dp200 on the front...they are removable.....enjoy your kaboom son

@ NickFish  Dont waste your Money getting a DP200  - Instead buy a couple of tweeters and 2 crossover's and install them yourself,

Like ( Stormin Normin did for his in these Two links provided below ) - Another Master Technician

Kaboom tweeter upgrade... index.php?board_oid=193392314111653483&content_oid=206903681962905530

Racoon Kaboom index.php?board_oid=193392314111653483&content_oid=204510991650457115

(( See the Pictures here ))

That may be a good idea traveller......on the other hand they come up for next to nothing had one for £20 other for £70....my most expensive one was £150 and that was my boxed one....but i admit i did make the seller an offer and he took it

the thing about the dp200 that makes a BIG difference is no dreadful acs and it has proper bass and treble

You dont have to use the acs as it has a switch for it on/off

The full range forward facing speaker's are Small full-range little woofer's - Not really tweeter's - So adding treble attenuation to them isn't really gonna help the treble all that much   When was the last time you heard woofer's reproducing HIGH Treble sound's ( law of physic's ) wont really allow it...

Adding REAL tweeter's is the only True way to go to get that extra schrill treble sound that you may be missing from the rest of the music that you like

Racoon Kaboom index.php?board_oid=193392314111653483&content_oid=204510991650457115

(( See the Pictures here ))

Although those small, forward facing speakers on the kabooms do have a rolled edge, they are full range drivers rather than woofers.

All the mids & highs are coming from them. Their tiny size put me off buying a Kaboom for over a year. No idea how but they make a real racket to match the big 6 inch woofers on the ends...

ey up Isolator...top of the day to you....i find the treble on the dp200 ample it matches most boomboxes i have had....better than the crown 970 aiwa 880 etc...

im gunna have to post my boxed one up but can't at the moment....ever had a 50inch plasma on top of you???? not fun

i'll let you know in a bit Nick...i can check the instructions....although i think 4ohm should be fine

check out this picture i just made of the Specification's from the pdf of the JVC RV-NB1 from this location

http://support.jvc.com/consumer/product.jsp?pathId=37&archive=true

 Should answer most questions

Thank you Sir...saves me the job...it's awkward doing anything wright now with my damaged arm

Thanks for that. 6w per channel is not much to work with but the speakers I have in mind go to 22K instead of 15K so should lift the treble a fair bit. I will let you know how it goes.....

and the Winner was in "Cassette" the  JVC RC-NB1

the jvc dp200 kaboom is the best kaboom on cassette....knocks all other kabooms into touch....but i don't need to tell anybody that do i lol