Frequently Asked Questions

What's a boombox?

A boombox, also known as a ghettobox, ghettoblaster and jambox is a self-contained, portable stereo system capable of playing audio via an AM/FM receiver or built-in audio tape player. It almost always has the ability to record audio onto cassette and can serve as an amplifier for separate audio components, like a turntable or microphone. The audio from any of these sources drives internal stereo speakers.

When was the first boombox built? When was the last one built?

We don't know the answer to the first question. We place sale of the first device that can be classified as a boombox to 1976, when Marantz marketed their Superscope. Panasonic and Sony followed suit shortly after. Boomboxes are still being manufactured today, but lack the soul of those desribed on this site. We place the time of death on the true boombox at 1985. Who knows, perhaps these manufacturers might re-issue some of their classics. We're holding our breath.

What's the best boombox ever made? Best brand?

This is an unfair question, but visit the Holy Grails page for the most sought after systems. Their desirabiliity has much to do with the number of functions, sound quality and aesthetic appeal. Panasonic arguably manufactured the greatest number of classic boomboxes, though Sony and Aiwa consistently sold high-quality systems with fine cassette recorder mechanisms. Marantz is well respected for audio recording.

I searching for Brand xxx Model xxx. Where can I find it?

Like most any material thing, Ebay is your best bet to find what you're looking for quickly, but expect to pay far more than you should (we sometimes refer to it as Epay). Other great places are thrift shops, flea markets, and stereo repair shops. You'll probably pay a fraction of an Ebay price in these forums. You might try posting your wants on our Classifieds page.

My favorite boombox is in need of repair. How do I fix it?

This is the top question we get. Depending on how many people come forward with tips, we might make this topic its own FAQ. By far, the most common failure we see is with the cassette mechanism. Many, many systems "in the wild" or on Ebay will be described as "perfect" with the exception of the cassette drive, which doesn't work, "but probably just needs a belt." Don't be decieved by the seller's confidence! Belt replacement can be difficult, perhaps impossible if you plan on relying on your local stereo repair shop to do it. You might be able to determine if a broken belt really is the culprit: engage the play button and listen closely for a motor. If you hear it, it may indeed be a broken belt. If not, you could be looking at a more detailed repair. Remember that a broken belt is not the root cause for all tape drive failures. Many pricier systems utilized a power-assisted control system (in this system, the cassette controls need only be touched, rather than pushed, motors do the rest of the work), which is also quite prone to failure. In any case, if a piece in this mechanism is phyiscally bent or broken, you will need replacement parts. The authors of this FAQ owned two systems with this power-assisted cassette mechanism. In both systems, the drives were "stuck" in the play position. Our local repair shop successfully revived the system in both cases. Other common ailments include static-y audio when adjusting the volume or balance knob. This can be remedied with a blow of compressed air into the suspect control. Broken antenna? Radio Shack sells replacements for less than $6. You can probably find one that's even longer than the original, if radio is your thing. Aesthetic problems like missing controls, scratches or cracks are impossible to resolve, unless you have a spare boombox you can part out.

I don't plan on attempting to fix this boombox myself, where do I get it repaired?

This is where brand name is important. You're more likely to find replacement parts for the popular brand names, like Sony and Panasonic. Stay away from broken ghettoblasters made by obscure brands. Depending on the shop, they may not touch the system without a service manual, and again, brand name ghettoblaster service manuals are more prevalent than obscure brands. That said, finding a shop that will do the repair can be a task in itself. Contact local stereo & TV repair shops and inquire. We've had very good luck with a local VCR repair shop, but given the nature of VCRs these days, these places are hard to find. Certainly inquire about hourly rates for repairs==some "audiophile" shops will accept the job but charge $70-80 per hour for repair. Are you prepared to pay for 2 or 3 hours of service plus parts to get that system fixed?

Don't be glum, enjoy your boombox for its aesthetics, or better yet its radio tuning capability!

That's right, don't forget about the quality radio receiver in that boombox. Many enthusiasts appreciate this part of the ghettoblaster the most, arguing that the selectivity and sensitivity of the tuner cannot be found in any portable audio device built today. Try out the shortwave tuning band, if you've got one. There's a wealth of information to be discovered on shortwave, including the radio show run by the authors of this website! You've also got a ready-built audio receiver and amplifier! Plug your tv, game system, turntable, computer sound card into your boombox and enjoy rich quality sound!

How much is Brand xxx Model xxx worth?

We've identified some variables that impact the desirability and dollar value of a vintage ghettoblaster. They are (probably) in this order: size (bigger is better); sound (not necessarily quality, but quantity, in terms of number of speakers-numerous, large speakers are better); functionality (auxilary inputs, LED meters, lighting effects, or exotic options like a turntable, motion-triggered alarm are nice); color (the more silver and chrome, the better; metal weighted dials and switches are symbols of quality); tuning (AM/FM at the very least, shortwave bands, often denoted as SW1, SW2, etc. are desirable); brand name (Sony and Panasonic seem to be tops).