30
Aug
2012
Tag: boombox
28
Feb
2012
17
Jun
2011
Engadget: New audio input capabilities are nothing new for JVC, but soon you’ll be able to show off your guitar chops alongside whatever bands you choose to idolize — so long as you’re kosher with rocking a boombox atop your left shoulder, of course. The company has announced that the 2011 offering from itsKaboom line will showcase a guitar / microphone input (1/4-inch) with mixing capabilities to allow for gigs to be played from anywhere you darn well please. (more…)
01
Apr
2011
Ubergizmo: If you were a kid growing up in the late 70s and 80s, you would have been part of the boombox generation, and probably owned one or two yourself. Well boomboxes aren’t too common anymore, due to the fact that people stopped listening to cassettes and blasting music out in public is considered more of a nuisance than anything. Well TDK has plans to bring you back into that era with their upcoming Boomboxes. Coming in 2 speaker and 3 speaker variants, TDK’s new Boomboxes have been designed to look retro as well as provide warm and vibrant music, just like how it was delivered back then. But instead of reading cassette tapes, these music players will play your music from USB drives, and MP3 players and iPhones with its built-in auxiliary ports. There’s even a port for musicians to plug in their guitars or microphones in the event that they would like to kick out the jams on the streets. No prices have been announced for the Boomboxes, but you can expect them to go on sale this April.
18
Feb
2011
Gizmag: TDK has announced the release of its Life on Record range. The new line of premium audio gear includes two- and three-speaker Boomboxes and a 360-degree Sound Cube. Each member of the line-up mixes retro styling with modern functionality, and even allows users to plug in an electric guitar or microphone for some play/sing-along fun.
Arguably the most noticeable of the forthcoming releases is the three speaker version of the Boombox. A modern take on the kind of audio blaster which sat on the shoulders of folks compelled to share the latest hip hop grooves with everyone in a three block radius during the 1980s, TDK’s flavor sports a 6-inch subwoofer and a couple of 6-inch coaxial drivers which knock out 35 Watts of full range power.
In addition to the built-in AM/FM radio, music can be sourced from media players like the iPod via the included 30-pin to USB cable or 3.5mm line-in jack. A guitar or microphone input jack also joins the party, which can be mixed in with other audio sources for impromptu performances. The retro rotary dials are joined by touch-sensitive controls, which can be used to access and play audio files on a connected external flash or hard drive, and there’s an innovative equalizer which “gives your music a visual heartbeat.”
The two-speaker Boombox enjoys similar good looks and operation, but loses the subwoofer. Consequently, the full range output is rated at 20 Watts RMS.
Both devices run on either AC power (adapter supplied) or battery power – not the rechargeable Li-ion kind as you might expect these days, but weighty D-class ones. Perhaps taking the retro design a little too far, the three-speaker system needs a dozen batteries and the two-speaker unit requires ten.
If room-filling, multidirectional sound is more your cup of tea then the 9.8 x 9.8 x 9.8-inch (250 x 250 x 250mm) Sound Cube could tick all of your requirement boxes. There are two 5.25-inch, high dynamic range drivers and two 5.25-inch tuned, passive radiators facing outwards from this neat little sound box.
The active left and right coaxial drivers are set 180 degrees to each other, and the same goes for the passive radiators, which results in sound coming from front, back, left and right. This unusual configuration is said to result in fairly wide sound stage possibilities, without the user having to give much thought to positioning.
It benefits from the same AM/FM radio setup, audio source connectivity and similar retro styling of the Boomboxes, but has a more compact design. It pumps out 20 Watts RMS and also runs on either AC power or 12 D-class batteries.
The Life on Record range will be available in the U.S. shortly. The three-speaker Boombox is priced at US$499, the two-speaker Boombox will cost US$399, and the Sound Cube comes in at US$299.
15
Oct
2008
Orbitcast: A little birdy has tipped Orbitcast with leaked photos of the upcoming Sirius SUB-X2 Boombox for Dock & Play radios.
According to our tipster, the new Sirius Boombox will be compatible with current Sirius radios (i.e., the Universal docking system).
Judging by the photos, it will also feature a front-panel AUX input and headphone jack output, similar to the SUB-X1 Boombox.
15
Sep
2008
T3: This old school ghetto blaster is Sony’s latest iPod add-on.
Known officially as the ZS-S4iP, it defies current trend of taking things smaller, offering up a breakdance-friendly box that ditches the cassette flap, replacing it with a similar slot for an iPod or iPhone, charging your player and playing your tunes through the 2x 2w speakers.
Yes, you read that correctly – not much boom in this box.
But there is CD playback (with the option to play MP3 discs) and AM/FM radio, not to mention a large slice of retro cool.