boomboxes

Before today, the TDK brand meant only one thing to me: mixtapes. Just the mention of it makes me nostalgic for peeling the cellophane off a 5-pack of cassettes, like a fresh pack of cigarettes.

It's been at least 15 years since I dubbed a tape, and honestly, TDK has been off my radar ever since. That is, until today, when they dropped by CNET to show off the coolest-looking portable speaker I have ever seen in my life.

When I saw TDK's latest Three-Speaker Boombox (seriously, that's their name for it), I think I may have squealed a little. Priced at $499, set for unveiling at CES, and due out in January, this sonic beauty hits on all cylinders--combining sound, features, and design in a way makes my audio nerd heart swoon.

Under the hood, you have three drivers: a 15-watt woofer at the center, flanked by two 10-watt stereo speakers with edge-driven tweeters at their center. Because the speakers aren't covered by a grille, TDK utilized woven carbon fiber speaker cones that can stand up to the elements. All together it's 35 watts RMS, which doesn't sound like much--but you feel every watt. Turned up just halfway, it's a house party.

Feature-wise, you're looking at iPhone/iPod support (via USB), AM/FM radio, USB stick (MP3, AAC, WMA), and a slew of aux input options, including RCA, minijack, and a 1/4-inch instrument input that can be blended with the other audio for instant karaoke/block party high jinks. The unique audio support for iPhone and iPod takes the digital signal from the dock connection and decodes it to analog using TDK's own integrated converters. The company also throws in an EQ with 5dB of cut and boost, represented on an OLED display on the front and controlled using the system's oversized aluminum knobs.… Read more

LAS VEGAS--We've seen a handful of iPod boom boxes with retro styling--the Lasonic i931 and Altec Lansing Mix iMT800 come to mind--and now JVC is joining the party with the RV-NB50 Kaboom.

This newest Kaboom keeps the CD player, FM radio, and tubular design of the earlier Kaboom model (first launched in 1998), but it adds the requisite iPod dock and line-in port. The Kaboom can also play back digital audio files from USB drives. JVC throws in a shoulder strap too, so you can blast the Kaboom's 40-watt speakers on the go. The unit will be available … Read more

Back in the 1980s, when portable audio was synonymous with "cassette tapes," boom boxes were a mainstay of music culture. While luggable, battery-powered speaker systems still exist today, they tend to be somewhat dainty iPod speakers. Altec Lansing's $300 Mix iMT800, meanwhile, aims to mix and match the best of the old and new. It has the look and feel of an old-school, crank-it-till-your-ears-bleed boom box--albeit a rather stylish one--but it boasts an iPod/iPhone dock (and it's GSM-shielded to boot, so you don't need to flip the iPhone into airplane mode).

While this can … Read more

For those who like getting loud in places where power outlets are hard to come by, the Roland BA-330 delivers all the comforts of a full-fledged stereo P.A. system using just eight AA batteries.

Just how loud are we talking? Cranked all the way up, the BA-330 can hit a 109dB sound pressure level--roughly the equivalent of standing next to a jack hammer. The eight AA batteries can deliver up to 10 hours of continuous power, although probably not at full blast (plug-in AC power is also available).

The front of the system offers four 6.5-inch and … Read more

We start off with probably the weirdest opening ever. Where was I going with that? Your guess is as good as mine.

That opening sets the tone, though, since we jump right into Dong's promised dating advice from last week that's completely full of fail. Seriously, don't try this at home, or on the street.

There are bad segues and then there are bad segues. This one here is probably the worst ever, and we deliver it to you, unedited, raw, real. Real dumb.

From fail dating advice, to fail segues, to something that is potentially full … Read more

PlayStation 3s, iPods, and Wiis are the toys of today's tots, but I still hold a soft spot in my jaded heart for Legos. Brick by brick, they taught me the value of patience and creativity, and you know what? They didn't cost $200. That's why I'll always support these toys, even when they release a boom box with a CD player and analog radio.

The boom box is 10 times the size of the classic eight-knob rectangle and features two 1-watt speakers on the front faceplate. The big knobs on top control the volume and … Read more

The ZS-E5 boombox unveiled for Sony's 2009 line show is a bit of an oddity. Instead of slapping on an iPod dock like most of today's portable speaker systems, this little toadstool-esque music box keeps things simple with a CD player, aux input, and AM/FM radio. The CD player works with CD-R/RW discs and includes an LED track number display and large buttons.

Sure, the features are basic, the design is a little cartoonish, and the handle is a little small (for grown-ups, at least), but the $40 price is right on target. The ZS-E5 boombox … Read more

Jasmine's back and has no problem falling into her old habits of forcing her opinions on others. This week, she and Donald discuss the new D2 from Cowon, an intriguing new artist package from iTunes, and the joys of 32GB of flash memory.

Also this week: check out a boombox with legs that encapsulates all that was the 80s and get some follow-up info on some CES MP3 players.

Listen now: Download today's podcast… Read more

First off, massive geek respect to anyone who's managed to hold on to their "Empire Strikes Back" AT-AT Imperial Walker from childhood. But it takes a geek visionary to tastefully slap a boombox into the side of one and paint the thing K.I.T.T. black. This thing is like an '80s nostalgia heart attack. If you know who did this, give them a hug from me.

(via Boing Boing)