Today we will tell you what a boombox is. This is a kind of portable audio center. Initially, this name was given to a two-cassette portable stereo recorder with large speakers and a radio. Since the nineties, CD players have been part of the boombox. Feedback on this innovation was very positive. However, today such devices are becoming less common.
Appearance
To start a conversation about what a boombox is, it follows from the description of the first representative of this type of technology. It appeared in 1975. The device was invented by the twin brothers Scott and Stacy Welfel. As initial elements, they used an eight-track car radio and a wooden case, supplemented by built-in speakers. By the end of the 70s, what a boombox was, many people already understood, because by this time various companies had demonstrated their device options. Then quite powerful models were created. However, such players found real popularity only in the eighties, when such directions as break-dance and hip-hop culture began to develop.
Gettoblaster
It is difficult to understand the question of what a boombox is, having passed this term. In fact, it is synonymous with the traditional name, but it can mean an approving or offensive reaction, based on the context. The word “getter blaster” appeared in the United States, in cities and neighborhoods, where the black population prevailed. It was this term that became common for Australia and the UK and called portable large stereo systems. The word is also used as the name of a magazine and record company. In addition, it has become an element of a popular phenomenon in the African American culture of the 70s and 80s, which is usually associated with breakdance, rap, hip-hop and funk.
In the UK in the nineties, the use of this word was significantly reduced. It gave way to the term "Brixton portfolio." A company called Virgin Games released a game for an eight-bit home computer in 1985. Its essence is that the hero moved with a boombox along the street and fired at people to the music, forcing them to dance.
Heyday
The main factor in raising the demand for such types of devices was the types of street activity - battles and jams. In them, youth groups began to demonstrate their own styles and compete in rap skills and dance skills. This type of audio device attracted the following features: it allowed you to record, exchange tracks and dance in any convenient place. The popularity of boomboxes was heavily influenced by the media. Television and FM stations spurred cravings for amateur creativity and wide communication. Manufacturing firms have a powerful incentive. In particular, companies tried to make devices with the clearest sound and the longest battery life.
Nowadays
Today, boomboxes are almost everywhere replaced by digital players or amplifiers for mobile phones. However, for those who love such solutions, several types of devices are available that can replace them in many ways. We are talking about large digital players that can work with a flash card. Outwardly, they copy the early boomboxes of the eighties. In volume they are also not inferior. There are even tape recorder simulators for iPhone and other mobile devices. In fact, they are portable columns. There is another option for fans of the described devices: mp3-cassette, which is a player of digital files, but has a magnetic head.
Now you know what boombox is. Photos of the device are attached to this material.