seen these on the bay, looks like they're made for export for countries that still use cassettes a lot, if the can produce these little mono boxes why not something a bit bigger and beefier? is there just no market for monster sized boxes anymore? what do you guys think?

I think there is a market for decent retro looking new boom boxes. After all it works for retro looking cars (Fiat 500, New VW Beatle etc). If they did it well I don’t think the market would be confined to us enthusiasts either. Bush tried it with a 1960’s radio, the TR-130. The modern version was crappy compared to the original but it sold well enough. Just imagine if someone did a decent attempt at a proper ghetto blaster, say a radio cassette with additional MP3 playback. Something that was built like an M-90! I’d go for it!!

Me too seb! Lasonic's i931 and it's varients is the closest to what you describe. I was tempted but got one of the 80s Lasonics instead. Like the bush radio, the build quality just doesn't match the originals. If someone launched a box with modern technology merged with an early 80s build/design I  and  probably most here would snap one up even if it was £300 plus! However we are such a minority I don't think this will ever happen

I just think peeps are too lazy to want to carry monster size boxes around these days, apart from us mad lot

You are probably right, shame though!!

Speak for yourself Lav...I'm plenty lazy I assure you of that

With a few exceptions obviously

I love the fact that old boomers are so heavy, however I have not houffed one about for miles before! just one room to the other or to the car and out at the other end! This is where modern technology could come in without sparing build quaulity!  Good speakers don't seem to require such giant meaty magnets anymore and an USB charging system could do away with the weight of 10 D cells! thats got to be good for shaving 3 or more KGs off the weight and I'm pretty sure new transformer/regulaters are about half the size they were 30 years ago(anything else I've missed that made old boomers so heavy?). Put that in a sturdy but lighter weight case and we should be good to go!

Maybe we should all form a company and make them!!

I also like the fact that the old boxes are built like tanks

I think it's just the quality that made them so heavy tbh, everything now is cheap and lightweight for cutting cost

Similar boxes of Sony and Panasonic and a number of other unknown brands are available in stores in my place right now.