Editing Boombox (section)

==History==
The first boombox was developed by the inventor of the audio compact cassette, [[Philips]] of the [[Netherlands]]. Their first 'Radiorecorder' was released in 1966. The Philips innovation was the first time that radio broadcasts could be recorded onto cassette tapes without the cables or microphones that previous stand-alone cassette tape recorders required. Recordings of radio were still subject to interferences from automobiles and other vehicles nearby with the same frequency, limiting their overall quality.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bijsterveld |first1=Karin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ribkrdRrkkEC&dq=philips+radio+recorder&pg=PA25 |title=Sound Souvenirs: Audio Technologies, Memory and Cultural Practices |last2=Dijck |first2=José van |date=2009 |publisher=Amsterdam University Press |isbn=978-90-8964-132-8 |language=en}}</ref> Although the sound quality of early cassette tape recordings was poor, improvements in technology and the introduction of stereo recording, chromium tapes, and [[Dolby noise reduction]] made hifi quality devices possible. Several European electronics brands, such as [[Grundig]], also introduced similar devices.

[[File:Sony Cassette Corder FM-AM CF-300 - a.jpg|thumb|Sony's CF-300 released in 1970.]]
[[File:Various radio cassette recorders and boomboxes from the 1980s in Japanese shop - ラジカセ (cropped).jpg|thumb|Boomboxes manufactured in Japan and exported to the world in the 1970s and 1980s]]
[[File:Boombox-National-RX5100-dec292021.webm|thumb|A RX5100 National boombox.]]
Boomboxes were soon also sold in Japan since 1967.<ref name=Former-Aiwa-employee-survey>{{Cite web | url=https://aiwa.5volt.jp/tpr-101/#toc1 | title=国産初はクラウン CRC-9100F | author=Former Aiwa employee |access-date=January 23, 2025}}</ref> The first three manufacturers were Crown, Matsushita (currently [[Panasonic]]) and [[AIWA]], and AIWA's TPR-101 was exported from Japan.<ref name=Former-Aiwa-employee-survey /> In the 1970s, [[Sony]], [[Hitachi]], Tokyo Shibaura Electric ([[Toshiba]]), Japan Victor (currently [[JVCKenwood]]), [[Mitsubishi Electric]], [[Sanyo|Sanyo Electric]], and [[Sharp Corporation]] also began to sell boomboxes, and boomboxes soon became popular there due to their compact size and impressive sound quality.<ref>Pat Browne ed., ''The Guide to United States Popular Culture'' (Wisconsin: [[University of Wisconsin Press]], 2001), 110.</ref> The Japanese brands rapidly took over a large portion of the European boombox market and were often the first Japanese consumer electronics brands that a European household might purchase. In some cases, there were even Japanese boomboxes manufactured as O.E.M. for European brands. Japanese brands innovated by creating different sizes, form factors, and technology, introducing such advances as stereo boomboxes, removable speakers, and built-in CD players.

[[File:Chicago Pride Parade 1985 033.jpg|thumb|right|A man holding a ''C-100F boombox'' by ''Conion'', [[generic brand|an off-brand]] of Japanese corporation ''[[Onkyo]]'' at a [[Chicago Pride Parade]] ca. 1985]]
The boombox became popular in America during the late 1970s, with most then being produced by [[Panasonic]], [[Sony]], [[General Electric]], and [[Marantz]].<ref name=bg>{{cite web|url=http://www.beginnersguide.com/mobile-electronics/boomboxes/the-history-of-the-boombox.php |title=Boomboxes – The History of the Boombox |access-date=November 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308183404/http://www.beginnersguide.com/mobile-electronics/boomboxes/the-history-of-the-boombox.php |archive-date=March 8, 2012 }}</ref> It was immediately noticed by the urban adolescent community and soon developed a mass market, especially in large metropolitan centers such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C.

The earlier models were a hybrid that combined the booming sound of large in-home [[stereo system]]s and the portability of small [[portable cassette player]]s; they were typically small, black or silver, heavy, and capable of producing high volumes.<ref name=bg/> The effective [[AM/FM tuner]], standard in all early boomboxes, was the most popular feature of the early boombox up until the incorporation of [[input and output jack]]s into the boxes, which allowed for the coupling of devices such as [[microphone]]s,
[[Phonograph|turntable]]s, and [[CD players]].<ref name=bg/>

The development of audio jacks brought the boombox to the height of its popularity, and as its popularity rose, so did the level of innovation in the features included in the box. Consumers enjoyed the portability and sound quality of boomboxes, but one of the most important features, especially to the youth market, was the [[bass (sound)|bass]]. The desire for louder and heavier bass led to bigger and heavier boxes.

Regardless of the increasing weight and size, the devices continued to become larger to accommodate the increased bass output; newer boombox models had heavy metal casings to handle the vibrations from the bass.<ref name=bg/>