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    The 20 Most Iconic Boomboxes of the 80s That Defined an Entire Generation

    If the 80s had a heartbeat, it would be blasting out of a chrome-plated, shoulder-mounted boombox the size of an emotional support suitcase. These machines weren't just radios, they were identity statements. They were portable nightclubs. They were the original Bluetooth speakers, except instead of Bluetooth you had Knobs and dials, and instead of portability you had back pain. And we loved them.

    This was the age when every teenager dreamt of walking down the street in slow motion, neon windbreaker billowing, a boombox pumping out beats that let the entire neighborhood know: Yes, I have arrived, and yes, I am playing "Take On Me" again.

    So let's crank the volume knob to "Are you trying to summon the cops?" and revisit the most iconic boomboxes of the decade that invented loud.

    Author image for John Summers John Summers
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    • 01

      JVC RC-M90

      06 BIG POWER O JVC
      via stupid dope

      The crown jewel. The "King of Boomboxes." Sharp edges, monstrous speakers, and power levels that could legally be classified as a warning.

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    • 02

      Sharp GF-777

      G O RP
      via Boombox collection

      The twin-woofer legend. Looked like it could transform into a Decepticon at any moment.

    • 03

      Panasonic RX-5600

      SOFT SOUCH MECHANIM METAL TPS Panasonic Canuck Audio Mart
      via Canuck audio mart

      Huge, heavy, and loud enough to alter the weather.

    • 04

      Lasonic TRC-931

      Y 2 PHONES VOLUME BAND GRAPHIC EQUALIZER▸ BAND FUNCTION EACT AUTO REVERSE LASONIC TRC-931 A-8 BTAPE AUTO STOP SYSTEM AUTO REVERSE MIC evoke
      via SimpleLifeDesignLabJapan

      Pure hip-hop history. The one you saw in music videos and instantly said, "I need that."

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    • 05

      Conion C-100F

      CONION • rockybergen.com
      via rockybergen

      The boombox that said: "I refuse to be subtle." Lights, switches, chrome, chaos.

    • 06

      Sanyo M-9994

      FULL AUTO STOP CUPOWER METER SANYO
      via Hugo Hamelin

      Beloved for its punchy bass and sleek profile. It was the "cool kid" of boomboxes.

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    • 07

      Sony CFS-99

      LEVEL SONY LACT 8887 ATS MEA RADIO TLANG TAGE AUD A
      via vintageaudio

      When Sony decided to go big instead of sensible. Great sound, classic styling.

    • 08

      Hitachi TRK-8200HR

      MICROPHONE LED LEVEL INDICATOR, DOLBY NR FM REGENCY MODULATION 875 90 92 94 96 98 100 102 104 SWAY 60 70 80 100 120 140 MWave LW LONG WA 530 600 299. 800 1000 1200 140 WoT 2 150 ALLOUIS 200 250 300 350 106 108 MH 180 MH 1000 kHa KH O O Stereo SPEAKER SYSTEM STEREO RADIO CASSETTE RECORDER HITACHI 16W DRPS DOLBY NR SYSTEM 4-WAY LED LEVEL INDICATOR AUTO/MANUAL P ФНІТАСН (KUNGY] COSYSTEM DOLBY NOISE REDUCTION SYSTEM MICROPHONE 2WAY 4SPEAKER SYSTEM Stereo O DRPS PROGRAM O RESET MOXING VOLUME MIXING M
      via sendle

      Known for its surprisingly powerful radio reception. Could tune in stations from parallel dimensions.

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    • 09

      Toshiba RT-SF12

      TOSHIBA SUGAR STEREO SF 12 SOFT EJECTAUTO STOP MECHANISM
      via it-cube39

      Ultra clean design with serious audio quality. A true sleeper hit of the decade.

    • 10

      Crown CSC-950

      FMY MOLLROS 88 90 92 94 96 98 100 102 104 106 108 M SCALE LCD METER CROWN BATTERY COUNTER AUTOMATIC CrO2 AUTO STOP SYSTEM 700 1000 200 220 1400 1600 500 hift www.de
      via stereo2go

      Heavy, rugged, and visually iconic. The kind of boombox you'd trust in a fight.

    • 11

      Dynasty / Skitronic ES-555 “The Breakdancer”

      W-DECK 1 MEE 100W 2 LAY SYSTEM PLAYBACK STOP FFWD A EJECT PAUSE RECORD PLAY PERSONAL DISCO COMPONENT MW-530 600 700 800 1000 1000 00 00 PHONES POWER CONT PLAY 7-BAND EQUALIZER REC/PLAY TAPE COUNTER 000 DYNASTY PERSONAL disco COMPONENT Disco LITE A TUNING-
      via TechnoGold Audio Vintage

      If you grew up anywhere near a cardboard mat in the 80s, you saw this thing.

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    • 12

      GE 3-5267A

      FM 80 DO 02 00 0100 600 800 102 104 100 1200 1000 109 M MOO 1800 TUNING POWER UNDA BASS THE BALANCE VOLUME SELECTOR TAPE MA COLATER MUSIC LOCATION SYSTEM- MLSB GENERAL ELECTRIC FWO STOP/C MAX ALE TAPE SELECT METER LEFT ELECTRONIC METER SYSTEM BATTERY ROHT 1400 TRANSPORTABLE MUSIC SYSTEM MANUAL RECORD LEVEL CONTROLS RON
      via Spats Bear

      Affordable, durable, and everywhere. The people's boombox.

    • 13

      JVC PC-550

      JVC DOLL JVC 4 BAND STEREO TUNER 23 25 " 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 35 40 50 000 104 JVC 이놈 JVC JVC BANRS DOG MEEC STEREO INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER 23 TUNING▸ CRAVER COUAMER 95 18 FOREIGNER RECORDS PLAY PU Auto Reverse AUTO REVERSE STEREO CAMMETTE DEC FUNCTION SELECION MONTOR PHONG FUNER SOUND ERECT AMER PHONES VOLUME GRAPHIC EQUA SILV JVC
      via Cassette2Go

      Modular, futuristic, and very "I'm in a sci-fi movie about DJs."

    • 14

      Sharp VZ-2000

      1001 Hi Fi THE STEREO MUSEUM 332223323 444 w
      via 1001hifi

      Yes, the vertical turntable boombox. Yes, it played vinyl. Yes, it was insane.

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    • 15

      Aiwa TPR-930

      5 LW MW SW AFC COUNTER AIWA AUTOMAT 700 900 BOO ECM
      via kikuyumoja

      A premium boombox that audiophiles still point at and sigh romantically.

    • 16

      Sanyo MX-920K

      META SANYO
      via MusicalFanatik

      Big speakers, rich bass, a perfect 80s silver finish and Microphones!

    • 17

      Toshiba RT-SX1

      BATTERY O FM 88 92 96 100 104 108 MHz AM 530 600 700 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 FUNCTION TONE BALANCE VOLUME MODE/BEAT SHI STEREO PHONES NEW PAUSE TOSHIBA STEMA CAME
      via Internet Archive

      Had a very distinct "spaceship control panel" energy.

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    • 18

      Lasonic TRC-975

      HIGH FIDELITY 317 MICROPHONE Sumlo LOLENESS BASE SYSTEM ARP POWER FM FREQUENCY MODULATION SCALE 88 92 96 100 104 108 AM AMPLITUDE MODULATION SW SHORT WAVE 53 60 70 80 90100 120 140 160 4.0 4.5 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10 11 12 LBS BEAT MODE TAPE OD RADIO AML MC MXVOL VOLUME KON MN MAX L 10 BAND GRAPHIC EQUALIZER VUSOUND LEVEL LASONIC TRC-975 DOUBLE CASSETTE TAPEA PEC PLAY STOPIEJ PAUSE MAX MHz SCALE x10 KHz MHz TUNING ° DOWN CDli HIGH FIDELITY
      via rewind audio

      Bigger, louder, and flashier than real life. A cult favorite.

    • 19

      National Panasonic RX-7000

      POWER ALANCE OUNG SOUND National Pinasente AMETAL AMBIENCE 回
      via Vintage 1980s Boomboxes

      Old-school styling meets great build quality. A classic for collectors.

    • 20

      JVC RC-550 “The El Diablo”

      0 DIAL LIGHT 29999 FULL AUTO STOP MEMORY- ON COUNTER MW 540 600 700 800 1000 1200 1400 1500 kHz SW 18 18 20 25 3.0 35 40 43 MHz Swa 43 50 60 11 12. 14 16 70 80 18 20 11 MH 22 24 26 MH KAL FINE TUNING JVC
      via GLOBAL-EXPORT-TRADE

      Tall, intimidating, and totally unforgettable. A boombox that looked like it could beat up other boomboxes.

    Tags

    1990s 90s memes retro nostalgia 80s music Nostalgia Overload 80s 90s kids 90s memory lane nostalgia memes millennial-nostalgia 1980s
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