The boombox was commonly heard of in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and was originally designed for on-the-go music. Its suitability depended on its compact size, weight, battery life, and, last but not least – the style.
This ‘booming’ device is now back in fashion. But while its predecessors were briefcase-sized, the modern-day boomboxes have advanced to slightly more lightweight versions. Boomboxes, today, are loudspeakers in small enclosures with loud bass. Bluetooth and rechargeable batteries are some of the functions classic boomboxes did not have.
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What is a Boombox?
As mentioned, the boombox is a portable music player that was very popular four decades ago before Walkman replaced it. It was introduced to the American market in the late 70s. During this time, a lot of music was traded around by cassette in the post-vinyl era.
The boombox played a significant role in helping music be traded around, and music was, for the first time, mobile. Before better car stereos came into the picture, or Walkmans for that matter, this was the only way to share your music and listen on the go.
The rise of the boombox specifically helped hip-hop culture grow. It was a significant contributor to not only the hip-hop aesthetic but also its influential booming bass, which inspired many of the early hip-hop acts of the era to come up with that sort of music. It was not only a recording machine. Many hip-hop artists were seen carrying a box on their shoulders, and some even wrote songs about the boombox.
What did the Boombox Feature
It featured one or two cassette tape recorders, an AM/FM radio, and, further down the line, it also featured a CD player. Because the desire for heavier bass increased, so did the boombox’s size and shape. The heavier and larger the boombox was, the louder the bass got.
Initially designed for portability, it often came in a single plastic or metal case with a handle, much like a briefcase. In this article, some of the boomboxes take on the retro style. Today, the look of the older Boombox designs is of much interest to collectors who seek out the bulkier, more briefcase-looking models.
Cultural Significance
The 80s boombox had a cultural significance. It became closely linked to hip-hop culture, including street dancing and the rise of hip-hop music in the US. If you wanted to take your music on the go, the old-school boombox was the “must-have” accessory.
A boombox, sometimes referred to as a “Ghetto Blaster,” was made up of:
- Two loudspeakers or more
- Radio tuner
- An amp
- Last but not least, a cassette player
Modern boomboxes have many new functions and specs that the older ones did not have – Bluetooth capabilities are one. Bluetooth boomboxes have filled the same function that an old-school Boombox did – a shared collective experience of portable music. The Bluetooth boomboxes incorporate designs of the 80s boombox.
Some of today’s Bluetooth boomboxes have AM/FM tuners, can double as a guitar amp, and even have cassette functionality.
The Best Modern Bluetooth Boomboxes
To help you decide on the best boombox, we’ve written in-depth reviews on the best models. We looked at key features of each boombox, such as power output, weight, and waterproof ratings. We have also listed some very affordable options for the best boomboxes.
1. JBL Boombox 3
Power:
136W
Waterproof:
IP67
Weight:
26.2 lbs
Dimensions:
22.24″ x 10.08″ x 12.76″
The JBL Boombox 3 is the company’s improvement on the Boombox 2, which made massive waves in the portable Bluetooth speaker market. The Boombox 3 is similarly built to the previous model, holding a high level of weather resistance, loud drivers, a companion app, and more.
Design and Build
At first glance, the Boombox 3 looks almost identical to its predecessor. A major advancement is the integrated carry handle being upgraded from plastic to aluminum, and the grip has been improved, making the otherwise large and heavy speaker a little easier to carry to your next gathering. The JBL Boombox 3 is fully resistant to dust and water. However, the speakers face downwards when floating, meaning it won’t sound good in the pool.
Sound and Performance
The Boombox 3 carries JBL’s classic warm and inviting sound signature, which can be customized using the JBL app. Some upper treble content can be slightly harsh at higher volumes, but it isn’t worth worrying about. The JBL Boombox 3 sounds great for streaming any audio content.
Drivers and Technical Specs
The JBL Boombox 3 carries a 4.5-inch woofer, two 3.2-inch midrange drivers, and a pair of 0.8-inch tweeters to deliver crisp, full-bodied, and exciting sound for any music style. The battery life is advertised at 24 hours but provides almost 30 hours of playback on a charge of just over four and a half hours. The built-in power-saving function automatically shuts down the speaker after 20 minutes of inactivity, which greatly helps preserve battery life.
Audio Connections
On the JBL Boombox 3, you’ll find an auxiliary input and a USB-A output to charge mobile devices. Unfortunately, this speaker runs Bluetooth 5.3 and doesn’t support voice assistant technology.
Why The JBL Boombox 3?
The JBL Boombox 3 is arguably the best sound money can buy on this list. It has the same classic JBL sound as most other JBL speakers. The IP67 weather resistance rating means this speaker can throw down the beats on a street corner or at a beach party. The battery life seems to be better than advertised by the manufacturer, which is a nice surprise, and the companion app will help you tweak the sound to your liking. If you’re looking for a great modern boombox, this is it.
Launch Date: June 15, 2023
Product Age: [DatetimeDifference startDate=”15.06.2023″ endDate=”now” format=”a”] days
2. Soundcore Boom 2
Power:
80W
Waterproof:
IPX7
Weight:
3.65 lbs
Dimensions:
11.65 x 7.28 x 3.98″
The Soundcore Boom 2 is an upgraded, waterproof boombox-style speaker for indoors and outdoors. While it maintains the style and size of the original Motion Boom, it introduces new features like customizable lighting and improved sound.
Design and Build
The Boom 2 is compact and lightweight, weighing just 3.65 lbs. Its durable plastic shell is weather-resistant and has an IPX7 waterproof rating, making it safe for poolside use or sudden rain. It even floats.
Colorful lighting effects around the bass radiators give a vibrant aesthetic and it can be adjusted through Soundcore’s mobile app. Available in three colors (black, green, and blue), the Boom 2 is built for both durability and style, with rubber stands that keep it stable during playback.
Sound and Performance
With an SPL of up to 93.3 dB, the Boom 2 provides impressive volume with clarity across the range. While it doesn’t deliver powerful deep bass, the BassUp 2.0 feature adds punch to low-end frequencies, enhancing genres like EDM and hip-hop. Users can fine-tune audio through the Soundcore app’s 9-band EQ and presets, allowing for customized sound profiles.
Battery Life
The Boom 2 has solid battery life, tested at nearly 17 hours with varied volume and lighting settings. While slightly below the manufacturer’s 24-hour claim, it holds up well for extended playtime and fully recharging takes just under 5 hours.
Mobile App
Soundcore’s mobile app provides control over lighting, audio customization, and EQ adjustments, offering users flexibility for tuning sound. With the app available on iOS and Android, users can tailor settings to their preferences, enhancing the speaker’s versatility across different types of audio content.
Why The Soundcore Boom 2?
Overall, the Soundcore Boom 2 builds on the success of its predecessor – the Motion Boom, delivering portability, style, and solid performance, especially for outdoor and social settings. It offers comprehensive weather protection despite its lightweight and easy-to-carry design.
3. Tribit StormBox Blast
Power:
90W
Waterproof:
IPX7
Weight:
12.01 lbs
Dimensions:
6.41″ x 15.94″ x 8.89″
The Tribit Stormbox Blast is an affordable and portable boombox-style speaker with built-in RGB lighting, thrilling bass, and fully waterproof features – perfect for any party scenario.
Design and Build
The Tribit Stormbox Blast is a well-built portable boombox-style speaker. While it is a little heavier, the built-in carry handle allows for one-handed carrying. Metal grilles protect the drivers and the ports with a tight-sealing rubber flap, promoting a higher degree of water resistance. The Tribit Stormbox Blast can float in water, and the onboard RGB lights can add atmosphere to any party and can be controlled and customized using the companion app.
Sound and Performance
The Tribit Stormbox Blast is an overall good-sounding Bluetooth speaker. There’s a definitive boost in the low end and the upper highs, which improves bass response and clarity, but the midrange is compromised slightly. The Tribit companion app allows you to customize the sound signature using a graphic equalizer or presets, and the speaker is fitted with a built-in bass enhancement function called XBass.
Drivers and Technical Specs
The Tribit Stormbox Blast is kitted out with 4.2-inch woofers and 1.2-inch tweeters, and when driven by 90W of power, it can get reasonably loud without jeopardizing sound quality. The battery can last for just over 30 hours and recharges fully in less than 4 hours, and the speaker has two power-saving features to preserve the battery life further.
Audio Connections
An auxiliary input allows for cabled connections and a USB-C output for charging mobile devices. While this is mostly all you’ll need, I would have liked to see some voice assistant compatibility or stereo (TWS) pairing, too. You can pair two source devices simultaneously using Bluetooth 5.3.
Why The Tribit Stormbox Blast?
It is hard to beat the Tribit Stormbox Blast on sheer value for money. It is an overall good-sounding speaker with an incredible battery life, upwards of 30 hours. The built-in RGB lights add a little flare to the speaker, and the IPX7 rating is sufficient to ensure you can safely carry your Blast to almost any outdoor party, wet or dry.
4. Sony SRS-XG500 X-Series Bluetooth Boombox
Power:
30W
Waterproof:
IP66
Weight:
12.32 lbs
Dimensions:
18.1″ x 10.07″ x 8.46″
We love the Sony SRS series of portable Bluetooth speakers, and the XG500 X-Series is no exception. This speaker is a boombox-style speaker with tons of party-friendly features that also make it a fun speaker to have around the house.
Design and Build
The Sony SRS-XG500 X-Series adopts the classic boombox speaker design, and while it’s on the larger end of the portable spectrum, the built-in carry handle removes the hassle of taking the speaker around with you. The ports are guarded by a rubber flap, awarding the speaker an IP66 weather-resistance rating, but I must say that while it is able to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, I wouldn’t push it too far, as the speaker is mostly wrapped in fabric, and the carry handle feels like it may be hollow on the inside. I’m pretty satisfied with the design of this speaker, but it can be a little bulky, considering how much volume it is able to push. If you like the look and feel of this but want something a little smaller, check out the XG300 model.
Sound and Performance
The sound quality offered by the Sony SRS-XG500 X-Series is decent, and the Mega Bass and ClearAudio+ modes allow for some customization along with the companion app’s presets and graphic equalizer. This is a fairly bassy speaker with an emphasized low-end response. A weak point of the XG500 is perhaps the dynamic performance, which sees some artifacts occurring at higher volumes, particularly in the high frequencies.
Drivers and Technical Specs
The Sony SRS-XG500 X-Series has a 4.3-inch woofer and a 0.98-inch tweeter. A midrange driver or a slightly smaller woofer would have improved this speaker’s sound quality, but adjustments can be made on the companion app to compensate. The battery life is impressive, reaching a playtime of around 30 hours, and a quick 10-minute charge will provide 3 hours of playback.
Audio Connections
Loads of fun can be had here if you’re like me and enjoy having additional input options. An auxiliary input and two USB ports can charge mobile devices or play music. There’s also an ¼ inch input, which can be used for an instrument or microphone for karaoke, campfire jams, and more. The speaker also incorporates RGB lights around the drivers for an enhanced party atmosphere.
Why The Sony SRS-XG500 X-Series?
The SRS-XG500 has many party features and is a great speaker around the house. It has a great battery life and is quick charging. The Sony SRS-XG500 has all the necessary connectivity options, but the IP66 rating, though not completely useless, lags a little behind some if its peers.
5. Sony Portable Bluetooth CD Player
Power:
4W
Waterproof:
N/A
Weight:
1 lbs
Dimensions:
5.5″ x 15.2″ x 2.7″
If you enjoy collecting and listening to music on CDs from time to time, the Sony Portable Bluetooth Digital Tuner 87930 is a great hybrid boombox-style media player that allows for various connectivity options in an incredibly portable and lightweight unit.
Design and Build
The Sony Portable Bluetooth Digital Tuner 87930 is incredibly small and weighs only 1 pound, so carrying this around shouldn’t be a hassle. The build is mostly plastic, with metal grilles covering the speaker drivers. While it’s put together quite well, there is no weather resistance here, and I wouldn’t recommend placing this speaker anywhere it could fall. The built-in retractable handle helps make it a little more portable.
Sound and Performance
The sound quality offered here carries all the clarity and brightness I wanted to hear, but the size limitations of this speaker meant the low-end isn’t as powerful as the Motion Boom Plus or Boombox 3. This speaker has good detail, but there are better options if you’re looking for a thumping bass.
Drivers and Technical Specs
The Sony Portable Bluetooth Digital Tuner 87930 speaker has two 3.14-inch drivers responsible for full-range audio. Six Type-C batteries power the speaker and, if used conservatively, can provide up to 26 hours of playback.
Audio Connections
This is where this speaker holds a lot of value. Not only can it accept Bluetooth-transmitted media from any device, but the Sony Portable Bluetooth Digital Tuner 87930 can fetch radio signals from AM and FM stations (you can also save up to 20 presets), an auxiliary input, a USB input, and of course, CDs. There’s also a headphone output to listen quietly to the radio or CDs.
Why The Sony Portable Bluetooth CD Player?
The Sony Portable Bluetooth CD Player is not the best sounding or loudest boombox on our list, but if you have a massive collection of CDs and that’s your primary source of music, this is a good option. It is lightweight, has Bluetooth connectivity, and you can record tracks from your CDs in MP3 format.
Best retro Old School Vintage Boombox
Besides modern boomboxes, many manufacturers still design retro boomboxes, often mimicking the original 80s boombox styles to tap into the nostalgia of the era when street-style boombox parties were at their peak. Here are some of the best vintage boomboxes still available today.
6. Bumpboxx Flare8 Bluetooth Boombox
Power:
200W
Waterproof:
N/A
Weight:
12 lbs
Dimensions:
28” x 8” x 16”
The Bumpboxx Flare8 Bluetooth Boombox speaker, coming from the Bumpboxx brand – the #1 Retro style Boombox brand in the world – is a retro feel Boombox but with a modern design. It has a 12-hour playtime and a rechargeable battery suitable for those looking for a more on-the-go retro box.
Design and Build
This boombox has a stylish design, comes in various colors, and is a step up from the previous Flare6 model. Additionally, it comes with a remote control for easy access to its functions and to skip through any boring songs and keep people on their toes at the party.
There is an ergonomic handlebar and a carrying strap, making it extremely easy to take with you. This speaker is quite large with a 28-inch length and 8-inch width, but a true party starter and looks good with the LED VU display. On the front of the speaker, 9 LEDs move in time with the music, paired with your Bumpboxx logo and the classic “B” that lights up. The bottom of the box has two nice rubber stoppers to keep it in place.
Sound and Performance
Deep bass and crystal highs could describe its audio performance—a great boombox with high sound and build quality. The Bumpboxx Flare8 is louder than other boxes and would suit perfectly for outdoor usage. The bass, however, could be deeper. It tends to distort – which could become a huge issue when wanting to increase volume.
It has 5 EQ settings that allow you to customize your sound – this is a great feature, especially if you want to use a mic or guitar, as it will enable you to customize your sound, similar to the function of a mixer at a live event. The 200 watts of power does bring a lot to the table, so if you want a loudspeaker, this is the one to go for – it can go as loud as 118dB.
Drivers and Technical Specs
It has two 8-inch woofers and a 3-inch tweeter. Besides the lithium rechargeable battery and its 5 EQ Settings, it also has a “power saving mode”. Using it with the power-saving mode will decrease the output but make the battery last longer. This could be useful when you are far away from a charging point.
Audio Connections
The Flare8 Boombox has long-distance Bluetooth connectivity and 3.5 mm aux input. You can also use a USB drive to play music or use it as a charging port. It even has True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Pairing and audio in/out for linking units.
Another addition that makes this a special Boombox is its microphone input and the wireless mic that comes with it. If that was not enough, the Flare8 doubles as a guitar amp. It has a knob for an echo effect that you can use with the microphone or your guitar.
Why The Bumpboxx Flare8 Bluetooth Boombox?
The Bumpboxx Flare8 Bluetooth Boombox is designed to be a street style boombox, period. Its style and colors make it stand out from the crowd, and showing up with this at any street party brings with it immediate street cred. It can double as a guitar amp and has a wireless microphone, perfect for a rap showdown.
7. Ion Audio 1980S-Style Portable Bluetooth Boombox
Power:
60W
Waterproof:
N/A
Weight:
8.58 lbs
Dimensions:
9.65″ x 16.73″ x 5.91″
ION Audio is another one of our favorite manufacturers of audio products, and this 1980s-style portable boombox is a really fun speaker with an old-school feel and features.
Design and Build
Adopting a classic vintage look and feel, the ION Audio 1980s Style Portable Bluetooth Boombox can also make for an eye-catching decorative piece when it’s not in use. I love the VU meters, AM/FM radio frequency slider, old-school knobs, buttons, and switches. The speaker has a built-in carry handle and is fairly small and lightweight. As for durability, I wouldn’t recommend getting this speaker wet. You should also ensure this speaker doesn’t drop, as it doesn’t offer much resistance to falls.
Sound and Performance
The sound quality of this speaker is good enough to enjoy radio, cassette tapes, or other audio media, it has a vibrant sound with a fair amount of bass. While the ION Audio 1980s Style Portable Bluetooth Boombox doesn’t offer anything too special in audio reproduction, it does what a good boombox is supposed to, giving a full sound that can easily be carried in open spaces.
Drivers and Technical Specs
The ION Audio 1980s Style Portable Bluetooth Boombox accepts six D-type batteries, which provide a battery life of around 30 hours, depending on how you use the speaker. While true to the 1980s, D-type batteries could ideally be replaced with a built-in rechargeable Lithium-ion battery.
Audio Connections
The ION Audio 1980s Style Portable Bluetooth Boombox can accept several connectivity options. Aside from high-quality Bluetooth transmission, you can also connect to AM or FM radio stations (and rip radio signals onto cassette tapes!) or use a wired connection such as an auxiliary cable. My favorite part about this speaker is the ability to play cassette tapes. There is also a built-in microphone (for Bluetooth hands-free calling) and a headphone output.
Why The ION Audio 1980s Style Portable Bluetooth Boombox?
ION Audio has a solid reputation in manufacturing party and tailgate speakers, so it’s no surprise to see them venture into the street boombox niche. Their 1980s-style boombox has a nostalgic look and feel and is loaded with connection options, including a cassette tape player. It has a good battery life and delivers a vibrant sound with a fair amount of bass.
8. Studebaker SB2145B 80’s Retro Street Bluetooth Boombox
Power:
10W
Waterproof:
N/A
Weight:
8 lbs
Dimensions:
5.5” x 18” x 10”
The Studebaker SB2145B is a true party speaker with a multi-color LED EQ that should excite everyone at the party. It is portable and has several connection types for music streaming – 3.5mm auxiliary and Bluetooth. This old-school boombox looks authentic with Studebaker’s effort to bring it back to the 1980s.
Design and Build
Nostalgia, nostalgia, nostalgia! This is the speaker of choice for sparking memories. Studebaker built a vintage Bluetooth Boombox with this Retro Street version. The multi-color LED EQ lights up with the music, making it a great party speaker.
It comes in 4 colors: black, silver, red or rose gold. The 80s style has returned with this SB2145B Retro Street; it has a convenient carrying handle and a built-in rechargeable lithium battery. The dimensions are 10 inches in height, 18 inches in width, and 5.5 inches deep.
Sound and Performance
It plays CDs and CD-R/RW and is a fun speaker with good sound performance. On its front, you have a master volume, treble, and bass controls and control for your mix’s left/right balance. The FM radio works well. The sound of this radio is decent and would boost the mood at any gathering. Why not load your old CDs and simultaneously add a nostalgic touch to the party?
Drivers and Technical Specs
You should not expect hard-hitting bass from this device, but it is decently loud for its wattage. It has two 5-watt speakers. The driver specifications are not disclosed, and neither is its frequency range. The power cord for the unit is 5 feet, and the SB2145B is also easily rechargeable and includes an AC adapter.
Audio Connections
It has a front-loading CD player, which is CD-R/RW compatible. It also has Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, so it is extremely portable and easy to connect and play from any device with Bluetooth Connectivity. Should you wish, you can use the headphone jack as well as the auxiliary input. Either for recording settings or for listening..
Why The Studebaker SB2145B?
The Studebaker has an attractive retro design puts you right back in the 80s when boomboxes were all the rage. It is lightweight, simple to operate with a front-loading CD, and has four attractive color schemes. If nostalgia is one of your primary reasons for getting a boombox, then this is worth considering.
A Comparison Between Bluetooth Speakers, Modern Boomboxes, and the 80s Boombox
The modern Bluetooth speaker has many things in common with the modern boombox; however, some things are worth mentioning to differentiate them.
Boomboxes are more like portable music players paired with a cassette tape recorder, and the output loudness of a modern boombox can be just as loud as a full audio system. The addition of Bluetooth to boomboxes has made them more similar to a standard Bluetooth speaker, and the boombox has become more portable than ever, not needing to be plugged in to play.
It usually has a rechargeable battery like any other modern Bluetooth speaker, and the playtime is similar, depending on which boombox you are comparing. Therefore, you could even call the boombox a Bluetooth speaker, seeing it normally has Bluetooth pairing and other connectivity options. A modern Bluetooth speaker is normally available in all sizes – whereas the boombox would typically be a larger build.
The 80s boombox was a low-price music system initially developed in Japan in the early 70s. It aimed to provide high-fidelity sound in small packages. The boomboxes usually included a stereophonic radio receiver with a cassette tape recorder and player, AM/FM radio, and CD player – and the big deal about these so-called “Ghetto Blasters” was that they were portable.
Back in the day, the boombox used to be pretty standard – either a silver/grey metal case or, in some cases, black cases. They did not offer much in terms of design – moreover, that was also why they became popular. They were heavy and rugged and looked slightly like a briefcase, but that was the point. Carrying around an old-school boombox on your shoulder was like saying, “Let’s get the party started!”.
On the other hand, a modern-day boombox has all these functions – and more. Thanks to rechargeable batteries, Bluetooth, and other pairing options, boomboxes are more portable than ever. They can even include a power bank to recharge other devices – iPods, phones, etc. Their designs vary vastly, and you can find anything – no matter what your preference of color or material is.
How Old Is It?
More recently released product feature more modern technologies and older products are often more likely to be replaced by a newer model on the market. here;s a table of the launch dates comparative age of the products on our list.
Speaker | Launch Date | Age (days) |
---|---|---|
JBL Boombox 3 | June 15, 2023 | [DatetimeDifference startDate=”15.06.2023″ endDate=”now” format=”a”] |
Soundcore Anker Motion Boom Plus | March 15, 2023 | [DatetimeDifference startDate=”15.03.2023″ endDate=”now” format=”a”] |
Tribit StormBox Blast | June 13, 2022 | [DatetimeDifference startDate=”13.06.2022″ endDate=”now” format=”a”] |
Sony SRS-XG500 Boombox | March 23, 2023 | [DatetimeDifference startDate=”23.03.2023″ endDate=”now” format=”a”] |
Sony Digital Tuner 87930 | Unknown | |
Bumpboxx Flare8 Bluetooth Boombox | September 6, 2023 | [DatetimeDifference startDate=”06.09.2023″ endDate=”now” format=”a”] |
Ion Audio 1980S-Style Boombox | August 1, 2022 | [DatetimeDifference startDate=”01.08.2022″ endDate=”now” format=”a”] |
Studebaker SB2145B 80’S Retro Boombox | August 29, 2018 | [DatetimeDifference startDate=”29.08.2018″ endDate=”now” format=”a”] |
Boombox Buyers Guide
Size and Weight
They can vary in dimensions and be too compact, like a cube or oval box, mid-sized like a standalone speaker, or large, like a barrel-shaped boombox. Depending on its size, the weight is also to consider. A boombox is a speaker you want to be able to take on-the-go.
Connectivity Options and Formats
Consider your preferred connectivity option – for instance. Not all boomboxes support Bluetooth. A boombox should support a variety of digital and analog formats – even cassettes and CDs. Before purchasing, consider what boombox you need and for what use. Some of our boomboxes are compatible with the following:
- Cassette tapes (Play and Record)
- CD/CD-R/CD-RW
- AM/FM radio reception
- Mp3 and WMA file formats
- SD Card & MMC readers
- USB & Memory stick readers
- Bluetooth
- HDMI port
- Aux-In port for connecting audio devices
Suitability and Portability
Many look for a portable Bluetooth boombox, and in this case, the suitability depends on how well the speaker can handle dust or water – should you wish to bring it with you on an adventure. Waterproof ratings are usually mentioned as IPX ratings. X refers to the dustproof rating – or rather, X means it does not have a dust rating – which is good. P refers to the waterproof rating.
IPX 7 has a high rating, meaning the device can tolerate submersion to depths of 3 meters for about 30 minutes. IP stands for International Protection or Ingress Protection.
Some boomboxes do not have rechargeable batteries and require a wired AC power supply, making them less portable than others. Some have a combination of AC power plugs together with rechargeable batteries.
What are Equalizers, and Why are They Important?
Equalizers, also known as EQ, allow you to change the audio coming from your loudspeaker by boosting or subtracting different frequency bands. This is so that instead of simply boosting the volume while playing music, you can boost the specific frequencies you want to hear more. Do you feel the music lacks bass? Boost the bass setting on your EQ.
There are different types of equalizers – some of which are simple and others more sophisticated. Some allow volume control to a specific frequency band called fixed EQs. If the EQ has three knobs – it is called a 3-band equalizer and essentially has one knob for bass, one for the mids, and one for treble. These are very common.
EQs are used in mixing music and come in different forms. Typically, these EQs are more sophisticated and target specific frequencies that could make or break a mix. EQs on Boomboxes or other loudspeakers are generally simpler and straightforward, allowing the user to adjust the music according to taste rather than mix.
Remember – if the music you listen to does not have much bass, turning the bass knob up will not magically make the bass appear. So, be smart with your EQ choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Boombox, and How Does it Differ From Bluetooth Speakers?
A boombox is a portable music player that became popular in the 1980s. It typically has a built-in radio (AM/FM), cassette deck, and sometimes a CD player. Boomboxes are known for their large size and powerful sound. Modern Bluetooth speakers, on the other hand, are often more compact, prioritize wireless streaming, and may not have radio or cassette functionalities.
Are Boomboxes Still Worth the Money?
A boombox is an investment for your spare time. It allows you to bring the party wherever you go, whether to a pool, the beach, or a house party – check out the waterproof ratings if you plan to bring it to the beach. It also works well for at-home use or in your office.
Can I Connect My Smartphone To a Boombox?
Yes, many modern boomboxes come equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to stream music from your smartphone or other Bluetooth-enabled devices wirelessly. If the boombox doesn’t have Bluetooth, it might have an auxiliary input (AUX) to connect devices using a cable.
How Well Does the Radio Work on Boomboxes?
The radio on a boombox works as well as any radio. But what do you do if the boombox you have chosen includes a radio, but the signal is poor? There are a few simple ways to improve the signal. One of these options is to plug in a 3.5mm cable to your boombox and tune the radio.
Are Boomboxes Battery-Powered?
Most boomboxes offer dual power options. They can operate on batteries, making them portable for outdoor use, and they can also be plugged into a power outlet using an AC adapter.