The 5 Best Boomboxes
Whether you're reveling in some '80s throwback nostalgia or attempting to reclaim boombox culture as your own, nobody's going to take you seriously if your gear sounds weak. As you might imagine, plenty of today's boomboxes are stronger, more durable, and better-sounding than their 20th century predecessors. Here we've gathered five of the best performers out there, each occupying its own unique niche. We ranked these units based on the most important criteria when it comes to boomboxes: sound quality, portability, durability, cost value, and style.
Bosch Bluetooth Power Box Jobsite
Let the Power Flow
The ’80s were… well, the ’80s were many things, good and bad alike, but they were certainly strange. New technologies hit the streets and society was transformed as a result. The boombox is one instance of that, and hip-hop culture’s vibrance can in part be traced back to these technological developments. What can be said about today’s tech advancements?
Well, look to the Bosch Power Box, which blends the design of boomboxes of yesteryear with today’s audio capabilities. Whether you’re looking for Bluetooth compatibility, aux cable-connectivity, or USB thumb-drive readability, this one’s got it. And there’s a dedicated app for it, too. Huh. It also happens to be terrifyingly tough as far as durability is concerned – in fact, I’m unconvinced that it isn’t a DARPA invention. Try to break this thing, and it’ll break you.
Pros:
- 4 USB ports for charging devices
- Can be operated via battery or AC power
- Crisp and clear sound
Cons:
- A bit difficult to transport at 24 pounds
- Some phones may be too big to fit in protective door
GPO Brooklyn
No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn
We realize that many out there are looking for a modern unit that nods to the coolness of the past’s boomboxes. How about one that downright mimics it? The GPO Brooklyn is styled on the kind of units you might’ve seen walking down the street in Brooklyn 35 years ago. Between its cassette tape deck, needle radio tuner, top-loading CD player, and neon-backlit volume output reader, you’ll have trouble convincing anyone this thing was designed in this century. But that it was, and the proof is in its myriad of modern features, like its recording functions. The audio you capture can be exported can be exported to a USB thumb drive or directly to a cassette, where you can play it back immediately through the unit’s 40W speakers.
Pros:
- Bluetooth compatible
- Radio connectivity
- Fairly portable at ~18 pounds
Cons:
- Lackluster battery life
- Bass is underwhelming
JBL Boombox
David Vs. Goliath
Yes, the past was interesting, and maybe the present is not everything we hoped it would be, but one thing is for sure: the JBL Boombox blows away nearly every consumer-tier boombox ever made, past or present. Bask in the power of its gargantuan sound output and marvel at what its 30W built-in amplifier can make those tweeters and woofers do. We love that it touts a 24h battery life, but only takes 6.5 hour to charge fully charge.
Aside from being the best boombox ever, it also doubles as a 20,000mAh external battery that you can utilize to keep you and your friends’ devices charged at that barbecue. It can also be connected to other JBL Connect+ enabled speakers if you want to have multiple output sources (surround sound boombox party, anyone?)
Pros:
- IPX7 waterproof rating
- Only weighs 11 pounds
- Dual USB outputs
Cons:
- Really, it’s not cheap
- Speaker grills for woofers would be beneficial
EcoXGear Eco Tera
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily
Whether you’re planning that annual rafting and camping trip with your buddies or you’re heading to the neighborhood pool, you’ll have a trusty companion in EcoXGear’s Eco Terra stereo boombox. Sure, some might call this flamboyantly-colored unit something of a monstrosity, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? Regardless of how you feel about its appearance, there’s no denying its effectiveness as far as extreme conditions go. Top to bottom, it’s designed to be 100% waterproof. This includes the speakers, the headset jack, and the protective compartment where you can store your phone. What’s more, this thing floats!
Pros:
- Retractable handle
- 2 included carabineers useful for strapping
Cons:
- Volume is not optimal for all outdoors settings
Makita JobSite XRM08B
Sweet Makita
We get it. You’ve checked out the other products and lamented the fact that they all cost hundreds of dollars. Does it have to be that way?
No. The Makita offers a budget-conscious shopper an alternative without having to risk buying a dud. This one has developed a reputation for punching above its weight. Its compact design betrays its powerful output, and it manages to be pretty feature-rich, too. With a USB port for charging devices, an aux input, and Bluetooth capability, this one does pretty much everything that the big boys do, but at a fraction of the price. Also, thanks to its lithium battery, it can be used for ~32 hours without having to recharge it.
Pros:
- One of the lightest units available at 7.5 lbs
- Carrying handle is sturdy
- Bluetooth connection is reliable
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer tone controls
- Bass is muddy
Frequently Asked Questions
What features are most important in a boombox?
Back in the day, a boombox was meant to be carried around. Its portability was its stand-out feature. Never before had the world witnessed individuals carrying studio-quality speakers with them as they casually walked down the street. The effect was striking.
Today, though, the advent and ubiquity of Bluetooth speakers makes this less novel. If everyone with a Bluetooth speaker walked down the street blasting it, we’d all be pretty irritable. Cacophony at its worst.
While back then, the most important feature for a boombox would have been portability, today, this is less important. Rather, we’re looking for sound quality, durability, battery life, and features (like Bluetooth and USB ports).
What’s the difference between a standard Bluetooth speaker and a boombox?
Traditionally, a boombox would have a cassette player/recorder, a CD drive, and AM/FM radio capabilities. Today, the term boombox is used more loosely when it comes to product marketing. Now, a boombox can be loosely defined as a large Bluetooth speaker with a design that may or may not mimic the iconic rectangular shape of ’80s boomboxes. Some of them do have the oldschool features like a cassette drive, while others, like the JBL Boombox, have none of those at all.
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.