Boomboxes

Boomboxes—Pros and Cons

A boombox is essentially a radio with a cassette and/or CD player. You can listen to classic broadcasts, and when you get tired of them, you can simply switch to your favourite CD album or insert an increasingly popular cassette.

How to Choose the Ideal Boombox?

Choosing a boombox to suit your needs is not so difficult, but there are a few parameters to keep your eye on.

Are You Looking for a Cassette Player or a CD Player?

Every boombox speaker comes with a radio, so you must decide if you want to play retro cassettes or more modern CDs. The best boomboxes usually support both.

• Radios with CD players are used by the vast majority of listeners. CDs are still a very popular and affordable format.
• Cassette players are particularly suitable for music enthusiasts who are returning to listening to music on cassettes after a long hiatus.
• Children's radios and CD players have a special, more colourful design for little ones to enjoy listening to fairy tales in bed.

If you are looking at radios with CD players, pay attention to the supported audio format. Most players support MP3, and you can also find devices that play WMA (better sound quality) and AAC (for Apple devices).

What Radio Frequencies Do Boomboxes Support?

The built-in tuner in a boombox speaker is, of course, very important as it determines what radio wavelengths you can receive.

• AM radio was nearly discontinued in the UK in favour of DAB digital radio. However, it was given a stay of execution until at least 2032, so you can still tune in to around 600 licensed stations.
• FM ("longwave") is currently the most widespread band. You can use your boombox to pick up around 300 BBC and other commercial stations.
• DAB+ is the designation for digital radio broadcasting. It looks like most major radio stations will switch over to DAB+ in the next ten years.
• RDS (Radio Data System) is designed to transmit and display small amounts of digital information, such as the name of the station, song and artist.
• SW ("shortwave") radio operates somewhere between the FM and AM bands. It can travel extremely long distances and is used mainly by amateurs these days.

What Can I Play on a Boombox?

If you don't want to use a boombox to listen to the radio and would rather listen to your own music, you have several options. A boombox with a cassette player is the way to go if you love analogue sound while, if you prefer digital music, look for a device with a CD player plus SD card or flash drive support. Modern boomboxes often allow you to play music from a range of sources.

Travel Boomboxes Need Batteries

Another important parameter is the power supply. This can be either from a cable connected to the mains or via batteries, which may often need replacing. Most modern boomboxes allow for both methods. Some also feature a backup battery that keeps the correct time in the event of a power failure. If you plan to take your boombox with you everywhere you go, you will need one that runs on batteries.

Think About Design and Dimensions for a Home Boombox

If you aren't planning to share your music with everyone in the vicinity, you can look for a home boombox. In this case, the design will probably be important to you. You can filter our range by colour to find the perfect boombox for your living room or bedroom. If you're struggling for space, you can also narrow the selection by width, height and depth in millimetres.

Boomboxes—Other Useful Features

Boomboxes don't just play radio and cassettes—some allow you to connect a USB or smartphone.

• Boomboxes with Bluetooth connect to smart devices—perfect for listening to digital audio.
• Boomboxes with USB provide another form of digital listening. However, you must have your audio on a flash drive.
• A remote control for your Boombox always comes in handy, especially if you are relaxing on the sofa or in the garden.
• A retro boombox is usually a cassette player with a classic design from the 1980s—the golden era of cassettes.
• Portable radios are battery-powered, so you don't have to worry about finding a plug socket.
• NFC allows you to pair your phone and Boombox via Bluetooth instantly.
• Automatic tuning finds all of the available radio stations in your area at the touch of a button.
• A microphone can turn your boombox into a portable karaoke system—perfect for parties.
• Boomboxes with projection brighten up children's rooms by projecting colourful images onto the wall or ceiling.