Over the moon

Nice additions for sure!!  That Panny looks mighty nifty and having owned just about all of those JVC's from that line up I can attest they do sound terrific.  As you mentioned though, they won't run you out of the room. 

Grats on your scores!  Great prices for those too in the condition they're in.

Bargains mate...well done

Mornin Gents dug out my other panasonics to see if they still worked and to see what they are like and yup there fine after about 4 years of not using them...

i remember some time in the early 90's buying one of these new, i think they were about £200... i was working at an old peoples home doing the grounds etc... i remember taking the panasonic with me quite a few times playing albums like s xsperess etc with the guy in charge of gardening in his garage, great times lads

That's a beauty Lad!! I don't care much for double cassette decks but that one I would love to own

Salutation

Hey, Radio Raheem, that's a neat-looking portable that you found and bought on eBay: the Panasonic RX-CW55L. And at a decent price, one nods. Good find, it seems, but ...

Radio-Tuner Issues

Now, I'd ordinarily knit a brow -- ah, my brow -- over a fact. That fact is that this dual-deck cassette-recorder has only one shortwave band. Typical of yesteryear European-market tuners, portable and otherwise, a second SW band is replaced by a longwave band, providing coverage of characteristically European broadcasts -- in this case, from 150 KHz to 285 KHz. The compacted, 6 MHz-to-18 MHz shortwave band is more frequencies-crowded than the SW1 band usually is with a multi-shortwave-band radio cassette-recorder. But, perhaps atypically, the RX-CW55L comes with a fine-tuning control. That gives this unit a fighting chance at the listenable tuning of shortwave broadcasts, though the fine-tuning thumbwheel might not aid longwave DX'ing. And, speaking of controls, one either atypically prefers thumbwheel controls in their boomboxes or one incidentally -- or insistently -- adds a thumbwheels-equipped machine to one's collection.

Tape-Deck Times

This is one of those post-"Golden Age" portable radio cassette-recorders with a façade that gets me thinking: too much. That is, too many controls like DIRECTION TAPE 1 and DIRECTION TAPE 2, too much insignia like OPERATION/BATT with more TAPE DIRECTION notation. But, hey, that's what no-flip-over, auto-reverse technology in dual-deck 'boxes comes with: ample signage and a goodly switch count. And the compact area of the façade will obviously limit the spacing of the controls and their signage. Besides, some Stereo2Go members will point out that all those switches and signs are part of the fun of using, of exploring the machine.

Talkin' Quartz

I note that this Panasonic alternately runs on ten batteries -- "D"-cells, right? -- and on one AA cell that presumably powers the digital QUARTZ TIMER. As has been said before, it's useful having such a feature in a boombox. It replaces a missing or malfunctioning clock radio or standalone alarm clock. It can help one time recording from radio to cassette or to time Deck 2 to Deck 1 dubbing. It can even tick off the hours that a naughty student spends jiving to mid-Seventies sounds in one's bedroom instead of studying.

The Rear Data Plate

The rear data plate also shows that this Japan-made stereo runs on 35 watts in A/C mode. That's eight watts more -- 25% more watts -- than what a JVC RC-M50JW uses, one shrugs. Along with presumably newer-technology speakers, it seems that the Panasonic RX-CW55L is a decidedly louder unit. One thing that this Panasonic and an RC-M50 share is the somewhat atypical black-digits-on-white-rollers tape counter. As well as a single antenna -- or "aerial," as it's known where you lit upon this "boombeam," Raheem. Oh, and I call it "boombeam" here because I started thinking that the long, low-slung, squared looks of the 'CW-55L remind sleep-needful me of an I-beam or the like. (Shrug)

The Main Control

Where's the POWER switch? That's what I've been asking as I keep looking over the front of the Panasonic RX-CW55L. My hunt for a clearly positioned POWER control is part of the reason why I've taken so long in composing this message post. It's not that prominently red, slit-like switch right beneath the condenser microphone, tempting as it is to say "Yes it is!" No, that switch is the XBS control, for the Extra Bass System. And it's not the white or off-white, concentric-circles artifact next to Tape 1's RECORD key; that circle isn't even a control. I have started to suspect that the ON/OFF function lies with the TAPE/OFF switch, one of the ten white-notched, squared black controls ranging from Tape 2's CrO₂ control to the SW band-selector key. Maybe Panasonic engineers had space-saving concerns in mind. But that power-control position is anticlimactic at the least and awkward at the most.

Get A Grip

One also notes the shorter, suitcase-like carry handle of the RX-CW55L. Contrast that with the longer, near-full-span handle of the JVC RC-M50 that I at times feel has the heft of a farm gate. A pleasing sign of "old school" quality, on the one hand. On the other hand, it's not the most upstanding of citizens when it comes to boombox carry handles. I suppose your 'CW55L doesn't have that problem, Raheem?

Loud And Clear (And Well-Spread)

I might as well say here that the detachable-speakers format of this three-piece unit offers a pretty good chance at creating true stereo reproduction of sound. The speakers have wires which connect to the rear of this Panasonic's electronics block by four fasteners, two red and two black. The speaker wires look long enough to let those AFD "cubes" spread far apart enough to "out-stereo" even the biggest -- or widest -- of one-piece boomboxes such as the Helix Wheely 5000, the Clairtone 7987, the Conion C-100F, et cetera.

Conclusion

I could go on about the vertical BALANCE slider control and so on, but sleep (and other needs) will not be denied for much longer. Do excuse this first-post-in-a-while "wall of text."

hey easthelp, you couldn't find the on off switch because there isn't one my man, you must have great eysight because i couldn't spot all these things on my 60"" 4k monitor lol, that's the only thing i don't like about this box, it kinda cheapens the whole thing lad but hey at least it has dolby NR

Salutation -- And Comparison

I also started taking a look at your other eBay obtainment some hours ago, Radio Raheem. It's a JVC PC-V66 that was apparently located in Stoke-on-Trent, somewhere in west-central England. The first thing that I think when I see such a portable stereo is: it reminds me of this other JVC model that is arguably more exciting and more ambitiously equipped. I first saw an image of the other JVC model here on Stereo2Go maybe in 2015, an image that had been scanned from a black-and-white catalog. I kept forgetting what the model number of the other JVC is. So it's a relief that at least a couple photographs of it appear in the Google Images search results when looking online for more images of your PC-V66, Raheem. That unit, of course, is the JVC PC-V2. (No offense meant, Raheem.) Why "arguably more exciting"? Here I shrug: partly because of the PC-V2's two shortwave bands -- reasonably assisted by a fine-tuning control -- and partly because of the built-in CD player that I hope is at least as good as that of, say, the no-tape-deck JVC RD-T7.

Commence Scrutiny

Moving on: one notes that the PC-V66 is one of those post-"Golden Age" -- indeed, post-"Classical Age" -- boomboxes. It is, quite obviously, in all black with gold (or "bronze") and red insignia trim. There is hardly any chrome about this machine, except for the telescopic antenna, for the battery bay's coiled "D"-cell contacts and for the rear-cabinet screws. One also notes the more-rounded, tone-on-tone carry handle, spanning probably somewhere over half the width of the entire, apparently three-piece unit. One also notes the twin, opposite-ends rectangular red-lettering keys: the left-hand one, apparently, for JVC's 3D Hyper-Bass Sound technology and the right-hand switch for POWER. The visual and physical prominence of the latter feature rejects the potentially awkward inconspicuousness of the TAPE/OFF switch of your other, aforementioned eBay purchase: the Panasonic RX-CW55L.

Top-Down (And Returning Comparison)

The top of the PC-V66 isn't too cluttered. It most notably has a simple, single pair of CD/LINE IN jacks for PHONO connectors; a TAPE (PLAY)/FM MODE notch switch; a three-position FUNCTION switch -- a wider version of the partly slotted, partly knurled-trough control of the TAPE (PLAY)/FM MODE switch -- as well as a headphones jack and, of course, that big, apparently precision-assuring VOLUME knob. Its size kind of reminds me of the also-sizeable volume knob -- perimetrically lit with an amber LED -- of our old, since-discarded Sharp System 8800 component-style stereo set.

Continuing Comparison

The third image of the four images posted on eBay by the seller of this portable stereo isn't frightfully clear. But one seems able to make out that the JVC PC-V66 consumes 25 watts in wall-socket mode. A Google Images check of the model's data-plate close-up confirms that impression. Same power usage as our August 1994-made Sharp WQ-CH1500, a similarly near-chromeless, dual-cassette-deck, five-CD-changer machine that does not tune shortwave or come with a tape counter. Again, characteristic of post-"Classical Age" 'boxes.

More Tuner Talk

Speaking of SW bands, methinks that your JVC PC-V66 waves off any invitation to be part of that now-rare Two-Megahertz-To-Twenty-Odd-Megahertz club. I see that eBay seller ktclarke had the digital tuner set to 97.9 MHz or found it that way from the unit's previous-owner use. Something tells me that the clear but small LCD window wasn't designed to hold -- that is, to display -- those longer, five-digit shortwave frequencies. (And, by the way, 97.9 MHz is used by WSKL-FM here in northeastern Florida to broadcast Top 40 pop.)

Conclusion

Ah, again, sleep and sundry needs are being neglected. So, Raheem, let me try closing by asking you: what was the first (presumably music) audiocassette that you played with the PC-V66? What was the last music tape that you nodded in time to while the tape played on this eBay find of yours?

Bargain prices, especially as you haven't reported any problems with the boxes.

Having said that I had a look through Ebay and was surprised how many boomboxes are available for under £50, some "Buy It Now". Next time anyone complains about the prices of certain Grails we should refer them to this thread.

I have also been looking through my old catalogues trying to find them but am either I am looking in completely the wrong years, or more likely, these were top of the range boxes outside the price range of Argos and Index.   

Give it another ten years, when CDs are only sold in Charity shops, units like the JVC could well be the ones people want. By then people who either had them or wanted them as teenagers will be wanting to relive their youth.

It is interesting how styling and particularly colours change. In the early 1990s there was a second hand shop near me that sold a lot of Hi Fi separates. Their pricing scheme was "Silver Hi Fi Separates £10 each. Black £20". In the 1990s anything silver was thought to be old fashioned and almost worthless. I don't remember what they did with Marantz units which were always Champagne Gold. 

Closest I could get. Right year (1993), wrong JVC. With detachable speakers yours was probably more expensive. Catalogue is Argos so prices weren't inflated.

radio raheem (in effect) posted:

hey easthelp, you couldn't find the on off switch because there isn't one my man, you must have great [eyesight] because i couldn't spot all these things on my 60"" 4k monitor lol, that's the only thing i don't like about this box, it kinda cheapens the whole thing lad but hey at least it has dolby NR

(Sigh 'n' shrug) About the super-peepers guess: Not really, friend Raheem. I just looked the eBay-posted images of the Panasonic RX-CW55L over and over and over ...

But, hey, hooray for noise-reduction circuitry! Makes for improved signal-to-noise ratios during recording and playback, yes?

Hi longman, the ones like mine were the cheap ones, i think i have another very similar to this jvc, pc v 55 the model under this one, i remember it was priced at £99 in currys so i can't imagine mine being much more, that jvc in you're brocure seems quite expensive considering it's just a basic box with cd and this model has no hyperbass eather

This arrived today... gotta go and pick her up

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1318...e=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

better sounding than the rxc 52 but not as flashy

radio raheem posted:

This arrived today... gotta go and pick her up

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1318...e=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

better sounding than the rxc 52 but not as flashy

Panasonic RX-C60L 3-piece uk ebay 131882705483 would not ship to the US  - sigh their loss  pictures of this below

radio raheem posted:

Hi longman, the ones like mine were the cheap ones, i think i have another very similar to this jvc, pc v 55 the model under this one, i remember it was priced at £99 in currys so i can't imagine mine being much more, that jvc in you're brocure seems quite expensive considering it's just a basic box with cd and this model has no hyperbass eather

Yes. My mistake. The JVC just looks as if it would have a CD player. 
I saw your comment about it not having one later. The cheapest branded boomboxes with CD in the 1993 catalogue are a Sanyo MCDZ25L or Samsung RCD995 for £99 each. 
The cheapest with detachable speakers (but no CD) is an Aiwa CA-W70 again for £99.    

No worries mate....all boxes here and the rx60 rocks, just need to oil the motor

Bought this  the model up from the rx cw55,  im over the moon but my god the pound has lost it's value, worked out much more than i expected....had 4 failled attempts at getting one of these, it's the last personal grail on my list, there not rare but there allways fubar and this one is suposed to be fully working

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2222...e=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

hope you like guys

Wow this unit looks like a real Hi-Fi. Congratulations Reno, your box is a wonder

Cheers Sal, this has similar looks to the sharp wf939 which i also have but this looks much better imho, those AFD speakers are something to die for

Are these speaker the same as Sony's APM ones Reno? 

Great purchase BTW!

Indeed they are geoff my friend, well there has been a kinda nice twist here, the seller emailed me and said basically the belts were shot on one of the decks but said if i wanted my money back that was fine but also he has said he would get all the belts done if i wanted them done, so when she gets here she should have all the belts done,so im over the moon about that, honesty is a rare thing on ebay but it's very much apriciated with this seller

Wow some quality scores there Rah, I can't beleive i missed that Panny in your first post, i was on the look out since admiring yours last time!

Great scores

Thanks Tstar, hey any news on you're sanyo 920 lad? have you contacted superdouper, failing all else as a last straw maybe my engineer could look at you're sanyo, he is Very good (it's his full time job) but he takes his time and would need the service manual, im Not in the habit of this as he is very buisy but i know how much you love You're sanyo lad

very nice and expensive,what year did this box come out,how many Panasonics have you now and what is the best that you have heard,I am a big fan of Panasonic(DS30 arriving from Germany,hopefully early next week.)

cheers Stuart.

radio raheem posted:

 

hope you like guys

Yep, a very good machine, congrats! 

Hi stuart im guessing this was made in 86, not sure how many panasonics i have, about 20, 30 id say, the rarest being that white one in my av, nobody else on any forum has one, i must take it to my engineer one day but it needs so much work

the best sounding one imho is the dt680, there is a model without cd (i have 3) but i forget the mn, it's all electronic controlled like the 680 but much better as it dosen't have cd

radio raheem posted:

there is a model without cd (i have 3) but i forget the mn, 

That's IMO Panny RX-CT990, I did like that beast when I had one,

then 680 landed, now only RX-CT980 left. 

Is that the guy, RR? 

Wow that is some collection,what model is the white one cant quite make it out.I have 8 including two Japanese imports,DT60 and RX5700 I bought from DOCS,I also have the RX680 and it is my best sounding and now it has a line in,which I did last week.

The DT9 is on my list,been checking out a few on the Japanese auction websites,but the £200 shipment fee and customs hit is putting me off until I see one in perfect nick!

Mystic Traveller posted:

radio raheem posted:

there is a model without cd (i have 3) but i forget the mn, 

That's IMO Panny RX-CT990, I did like that beast when I had one,

then 680 landed, now only RX-CT980 left. 

 

Is that the guy, RR? 

 

Thats the one my friend, i have a boxed one somewhere, it's not the loudest but best sounding imho, had all the panasonics apart from the 5350

radio raheem posted:

 i have a boxed one somewhere, 

Super! The boxed one, mate?  that's the keeper definetely,

lucky you are, Not many left out there I guess even if those are from 90s.

If I were you I wouldn't sell/trade 990, just kept that machine, unless there is some bloody force majeure (touching/knocking wood 3 times). 

I was thinking of throwing the box out Mt lol, i don't really collect things for value and i need the room, i have a boxed mint dt707 aswell

Stuart im not sure of the mn of the white one in my av but it's the most expensive box panasonic ever made costing about a grand in 86/ 87 if im not mistaken, it sounds just the same as the dt707 which was superb for the time

radio raheem posted:

i have a boxed mint dt707 aswell

Also a very good one-piecer..