JVC M90 Boombox from 1981. King of Boomboxes! Check out the #1 collectible stereo hi-fi boombox!

[@fb6performance271]

I still have my Panasonic boom box i got for Christmas in 1980 when i was 13. Boy i remember the arm pump you got with it cradled in your arm with the music blasting in your face. I met a girl with it walking the boardwalk in Wildwood NJ cranking Rush..Moving Pictures cassette...the gold ol days

[@ryansmith7974]

Rad! That's amazing you took care of it all of this time. Or did it take care of you?

[@fb6performance271]

@ryansmith7974 I have the RX 5150 with the, " ambiance " sound. I was just reminded it was in the series Stranger Things. I remember seeing it on an episode and was like, " I have that same boombox". I just also saw what they are selling for on ebay an d was like...Holy crap. 400-700 dollars.

[@stereoniche]

Since 1980! Well, it shows you also take care of your gear. If that thing could talk! :-)

[@bigdenbox]

This is the most unexpected and pleasant birthday greeting 👍 Thank you very much!

[@stereoniche]

Happy Birthday! :-)

[@richardwhite2344]

That is a absolute beuaty. I have never seen one quite that large but I remember them so well. Thanks so much for sharing

[@stereoniche]

Thanks for watching!

[@davidbailey6350]

I bought new and still have a JVC KABOOM box, CD and Tape… Still cranking out good sound

[@mornax]

The "L" designation is for the European market, which means that you'll have a DIN connector for line in/out. By the way, this is not a true "new in box" unit. The decal on the deck door is a reproduction. It's positioned too low, and the font is different. Google for images of the M90 and you'll see what I mean. Also, the decal over the right speaker never came with the M90 and was created by a collector. The protective plastic over the dial and deck glass is also likely not original.

[@stereoniche]

Thanks for commenting. I pointed out in the video this is NOT a "new in box" unit, so thanks for reconfirming. BIG thanks for pointing out the speaker DIN connections on the back as being for the Euro market, I missed that detail.

[@jeffbrooke4892]

Boom boxes, for me, demonstrated the capabilities of digital sound. I remember when CD players came into vogue on boomboxes. My first impression was how good CDs sounded on a piece of gear one would hardly consider hifi. And the reaso was the superior signal to noise ratio CDs had over tape. That meant the amp did not have to struggle amplifying any of the noise that was inherent in tape. It was just signal, or sound.

[@stereoniche]

It was probably the first CD player for many.

[@eighteenin78]

I have had a JVC RC M70, the M90's iconic little brother, since 1980 and two Cerwin Vega High Energy 3 ways with 10" woofers. It sounded amazing - for what it was. It ran on AC or 10 D cells. I could give many stereos a run for their money. - although not a match for the premium systems. I was the only one with tunes when the University had a rare power outage.

[@stereoniche]

There were many times when I was in college in the 80's that the only tunes were brought by those that had these large boomboxes. They certainly ensured the tunes kept playing!

[@adaboy4z]

I just picked up the same small Boom box Just audio showcased. It has great sound nice bass from those ports. Paid $12 at estate sale.

[@stereoniche]

Nice score!

[@CP-kb1du]

August 1983 Purchased my J90 for ..$632.00 CDN with remote still have it .... these are selling for 5K -6K today

[@cnhhnc]

Ha, ha! I remember those. I had a much smaller one, an AIWA that I used as my main stereo in Grad School. Bought it in 1983. Still works today. Not the cassette deck because that needs belts. Really good FM tuner in there as well as RCA inputs and outputs and speaker outputs. So you could power external speakers-nothing too power hungry though. I eventually hooked up some Realistic Minimus 7s to it. Got me through a number of years back then. Also bought quite a few cassettes then. Mine had a glass recording head. And variable Loudness. Since I was in NYC. The FM stations were legion! Good times!

[@stereoniche]

They certainly had their place to keep the music going.

[@jmfloyd23]

Boomboxes were awesome on band trips in high school and at pool parties.

[@stereoniche]

Absolutely! Instant party, just add batteries! :-)

[@marcdich]

Oh by the way on your big gigantic JVC boombox I haven’t seen one since the 1980s a friend of mine owns but just to let you know when you mention microphones right above your speakers and right below the tweeters on the right left side is a little screen area that’s your internal microphones. All the big radios had them back there and some of the small ones had them and they were great on pick it upfrom the room they had a very super super sensor microphones on them and it recorded in Stereo big deal, so yeah you don’t necessarily have to have my external Mike’s but these got built-in

[@stereoniche]

Thanks for chiming in to the conversation. You may have missed it, but I commented on the internal microphones at 12:44 in the video.

[@MichaelYates]

Was a big fan of boomboxes and had a collection of Sharp GF series including the GF-777 wish I would have kept a few of them now

[@stereoniche]

Seems there is quite a bit of boombox interest out there among collectors.

[@martintrujillo8785]

Nice One beautiful JVC do heavy 61 watts of power.

[@stereoniche]

Thank You!

[@frankorandle]

I had bought one new in 1983. Mine did not live on a shelf. It could not be carried on the shoulder or in the arm. It was too big and very heavy with 10 D cell batteries in it that did not last long with the amount of bass that unit could put out.

[@Ryan96se]

This is a nice example for sure. You are correct about the decals. The placement on the cassette deck door is too low and not original. The speaker decal is a reprint. It is in nice shape physically for sure. Having the box and foam is excellent. One thing that also adds to the value is a working cassette deck. If you decide to sell, it would be worth it to have that repaired if not working. The increase in value will more than justify the cost of the repair. You have a nice example there. It has been well taken care of for sure.

[@stereoniche]

Thanks for the input and confirming my suspicions. From another comment earlier, this appears to be a Euro model, I assume UK, perhaps. I do plan to have it thoroughly checked out and brought up to full working, if needed. Then I will market it for sale.

[@BostonMike68]

I watched the video because I was curious how many watts it put out and the size of the woofers and more about the performance and stats but nothing was mentioned but other things like it takes batteries where mentioned multiple times which was frustrating .

[@stereoniche]

Just type this into Google and it will pop right up at the top for you: JVC RC-M90 specs

[@zulumax1]

I think they are counting the cam motor for the soft logic controls, as the third motor. Misleading marketing, like transistor count in early transistor radios.

[@stereoniche]

Probably right, but someone also pointed out that the ANRS is misspelled too, so quite suspect! :-) Just a sticker though, not really anything to be worried about overall.

[@pervertedalchemist9944]

It's hard to believe, but these boomboxes were petitioned to be outlawed in New York because they were so loud. Now they are highly sought after.

[@stereoniche]

It got a LOT more quiet with earbuds. :-)

[@LynnKorte-ve4qf]

Do you remember those Power Plus 6x9 amplified car speakers that housed there own amps,and cross overs ,along side the heavy magnet ,,goodness they hit hard ,,just give them a source and hang on ,they where also ,,on and powered off. as I switched on and off from a switch you mounted on your dash that came with them

[@LynnKorte-ve4qf]

Who sold them and do they still make similar models yet today

[@stereoniche]

Unfortunately, I do not recall them, but maybe someone here will chime in with an answer.

[@ACBMemphis]

Very nice looking boom box, I've got a JVC home deck from '79 that has just "ANRS" no mention of Dolby. Interesting that this boom box labels it "ANRS---Dolby B" - I guess they eventually lost the NR battle and had to pay Dolby those licensing fees like everybody else...

[@stereoniche]

I think that was eventually the case.

[@Mrsteve4761]

I also notice that 'Super ANRS' (Automatic Noise Reduction System) is misspelled as 'ARNS' on the hype sticker. Putting that thing on your shoulder, Scott, as was done in the past will likely necessitate a visit to your chiropractor!

[@stereoniche]

Good catch on the "ARNS"! Also, especially heavy when loaded with 10 D batteries!!

[@Justplast]

love JVC very nice you would have paid big on this

[@stereoniche]

In 1981, over $500, so it was TOTL in that year.

[@jobos98]

There is a Brand new Mini version of the M-90 here 👇

[@stereoniche]

YES!!! I should have mentioned that this model is so coveted some replica models were released some time ago. Thanks for mentioning it!

[@AlexMitchell-sj4sb]

Everyone seemed to have one in the 80s and you are right, very few actually went on the streets, most sat on a shelf. Ten D cell batteries weren't cheap! Plus it rains alot here in UK lol. This is definitely the King of Boomboxes when it comes to prices online, I think they go for at least £1000+ here. Do you have any other recommendations for cheaper boomboxes? I understand Panasonic made good ones into the 90s.

[@stereoniche]

This is not my ... Niche! :-) But, in general, I think Panasonic was probably the most prolific manufacturer of boomboxes, so you cannot go wrong with one of their models. My advice for home audio is to always try to buy in person to check things out because shipping is so risky, but with these, you can probably do just fine buying online and having it shipped without issue.

[@AlexMitchell-sj4sb]

Thanks Scott.

[@amirnawazkhan7618]

How much price mop have

[@amirnawazkhan7618]

How much price mop have

[@AlexMitchell-sj4sb]

@amirnawazkhan7618 how much price mop have? I dunno, been awhile since I bought a mop. Maybe £3-5?

[@sidesup8286]

I think thart most, but not all people bought those to be sort of a showoff. Some bought them hoping the loud noise would make them stand out and make them chick magnets, but more often than not, the annoying loudness, meant to be impressive, kept "chicks" at a measured distance. You didn't mention what the original price was, or anything about what the current going rate is for them now. I once saw one advertised, and one of the main selling points the seller used was "No sand inside."...Real nice to know! Music on the go was needed by some people. When Sony introduced the Walkman cassette player; lp sales actually took a big dip presumably because of it, many decades ago. Cassette was bigger than most people realize, and even during peak years for both lps and cassette, cassette often sold better than lps. People more concerned with sound quality chose lps; but most people weren't into sonic, same then as now; and they chose the cassette format.

[@stereoniche]

The MSRP for this one was over $500 in 1981, so it would have been a bit of a statement piece for some, I think. That was a hefty amount.

[@CaptainDarrick]

I wonder what such a beast, in great condition like this one, would sell for these days ?

[@stereoniche]

Well, having the original box, it would be in the upper levels of the range.

[@CaptainDarrick]

@@stereoniche Would you ever consider selling?

[@stereoniche]

@@CaptainDarrick Not really in my wheelhouse, so yes. Send me an email: [e-mail]

[@CaptainDarrick]

@@stereoniche Actually, I'm not in the US , so the postage costs would be horrendous as well , but I must admit, I am tempted

[@colinreid8979]

L..... probably the added long wave, maybe for Europe?

[@stereoniche]

Sounds logical to me.

[@Mainsail76]

We called these "ghetto blasters" back in the '80's, which would be frowned on today. We didn't mean anything negative by that name. I'll always remember the image of dudes carrying these behemoths on their shoulders with the old school hip hop blaring out.

[@stereoniche]

That was quite a stereotype in the day.

[@eighteenin78]

@@stereoniche Ha ha ha