Boomboxes: features and best models

Life in the modern world is hard to imagine without music. We hear it everywhere - on the radio, TV, on the streets, in shopping malls and even in our head, just put on headphones. In order to listen to it even more comfortable, the modern industry offers us a wide variety of receivers, speakers, music centers and acoustic systems. However, even 30 years ago, it was often possible to meet young people on the streets, having fun with loud music coming from the then-dimensional and unsightly boomboxes.

So what is it - a boombox, and why is the fashion for them in modern society gaining momentum with renewed vigor?

Boomboxes, also known abroad as jumpboxes, are portable music centers. They usually work either from built-in rechargeable batteries or from batteries.that have to be replaced periodically.

Initially, they were quite large boxes, on the front side of which there were two large speakers and two pull-out players for audio cassettes. By and large, everything that a device is like is a stereo tape recorder. Some especially "modern" models had the ability to listen to FM radio. A little later, by the 90s of the last century, they began to be supplied with CD-players, due to which the size and weight of the models significantly decreased.

The first generation of boomboxes appeared thanks to Stacy and Scott Welfel in 1975. They created the first of its kind portable loudspeaker in a wooden enclosure, incorporating a pair of mid-range speakers and a car radio. The idea quickly spread around the world, and within a few years the leading music companies around the world presented their versions of boomboxes.

Although this invention was a real breakthrough, it remained in the shadows for quite a long time, and only began to really gain popularity in the 80s of the twentieth century, which was facilitated by such street movements as hip-hop and break dance.

Another name for boomboxes is ghetto blasters.... Depending on the context in which it is used, it can be considered both offensive and encouraging. From the name it becomes clear that it originated in those quarters of the United States of America where the African American population predominates.

In addition to the name of portable speakers, the word "ghettoblaster" is used in the name of a record company and a magazine. In addition, it is a designation for a dark-skinned movement associated with the development of hip-hop, rap, funk and other cultures.

The popularization of street sports and other activities has undoubtedly played a significant role in the development and modernization of boomboxes. Thanks to the opportunity to take music outside with them, young people began to show people their musical and dance talents.... It was now possible to exchange tracks and record anywhere.

The development of radio and television only increased the desire for self-realization among the younger generation, which means that this pushed the popularization of boomboxes. As soon as built-in FM receivers began to appear in them, portable speakers began to appear in families far from street subcultures.

Nowadays, boomboxes are rarely found anywhere.They are being replaced by portable high-power speakers that can literally be stowed away in your pocket. but connoisseurs can still find players on the market equipped with modern devices, for example, the ability to work via Bluetooth, with a flash drive and even a radio... Many of them even outwardly copy the style of the 80s for the sake of older users.

In the electronics market, you can buy a boombox that meets any of your needs, whether it is listening to music via a PC connection, decorating a room with a retro music system or even karaoke.

We present to you an overview of the best models of modern boomboxes.

• CD boomboxes from Sony. One of the leading companies in the production of modern electronics presents as many as three different models of boomboxes.

• SuperSonic Retro. It is these cassette recorders that are often shown in popular films. In addition to simply listening to radio or cassette recordings, they allow you to digitize them and record them on a USB flash drive or memory card.

• Crosley CT200A. This inexpensive device by foreign standards is equipped with everything you need. It has a built-in cassette player as well as FM and AM tuners. You can even connect a microphone or headphones to it, and there are controls for high and low frequencies on the top of the body.

• JBL Boombox. This powerful mini boombox from a renowned speaker and speaker company does not come with a cassette or CD player, but it can connect via Bluetooth to your smartphone or PC.

But how to use a boombox if you don't have cassettes or CDs for your player at home, but only a smartphone or PC?

Here are instructions on how to connect it to your computer.

1. To start determine which audio input jack is used in the boombox... It can be jack, mini-jack, or AUX.

2. Purchase or, if you already have, use the appropriate adapter... Insert one end of it into the connector on the back of the system unit. It is usually green with a headphone icon. The other end of the wire must be inserted into the connector on the boombox. It is often labeled “Audio IN”.

3. On the computer system, the boombox will appear as a playback device. Adjust the audio volume and you're done... Use it in the same way as you would use regular speakers.

If connecting via Bluetooth, make sure your boombox is turned on and ready to pair (usually indicated by a lit indicator next to the Bluetooth icon). If this is not the case, then there is a special switch to enable Bluetooth. In the phone menu, select the name of your boombox from the list of available devices and establish a connection. Now you can play your favorite music from your phone through the boombox without connecting them with wires.

For an overview of the KLIVIEN boombox, see below.