When I think about the 80’s and portable radio culture, I realize how different the world is today. The world of sharing music in parks and on city streets now resides in cyberspace as we share in anonymity online. The radio that marked this change from public music “broadcasting” to private consumption was the JVC PC-100 a mini unit with a detachable walkman. Now you could share your music in the public sphere, or keep it private by ejecting the cassette deck and plugging headphones into it. In many ways the descendant of the walkman today is the MP3 player, the ubiquitous Ipod. Indeed, all the radios I have mentioned here were all built with the ability to plug a portable media player into them, so you can easily plug your IPOD into these radios and mix the digital age with the warmth of analogue amplification and sound.
As portable radio desires changed, so did their design. JVC again was back in the driver’s seat in 1982with the multi piece PC or portable component systems. The PC-5, divided into five pieces with a separate radio, tape deck, and amplifier. This radio was promoted by that other famous quintuplet, the Harlem Globetrotters. JVC followed up with another superb “executive” component system, the PC-55/550. These units were portable, but really they were meant to be separated and used at home as high quality mini stereos. This unit had many special features, Dolby B and C, a 5 band EQ, speakers with ceramic woofers, wooden speaker cases for better quality sound, and most innovatively an illuminated LCD panel display that showed the many functions and options of the unit. Great sound, although ever so slightly bass shy, this multi component unit was a wonderful sounding for all sorts of music, and has one of the best tape decks ever constructed in a portable.
JVC was not done yet as they introduced their top of the line RC-M90, the radio that inspired the LL COOL J song. This was it, 8” woofers, 3” tweeters, a full logic two motor cassette deck(meaning computer chip controlled as opposed to mechanical buttons), 8 radio bands, a more sophisticated LED lit music search, and huge dimensions, 26” x 14”, this radio was perhaps the best performing loudest radio of its time. It also had Super ARNS(Dolby B) noise reduction to further refine its sound, as Dolby was all the rage. The unit also had an optional wired remote control with a 16 foot cord to enable long distance(somewhat anyway) manipulation of the cassette deck.
JVC followed up the success of the RC-550 with another great radio destined to become the classic model for most design, the RC-M70. This radio was a stereo player, with 4 speakers, two 6” woofers and two 2” horn tweeters. All the slide controls and buttons were on top, including a click down music search function and a loudness button. A great sounding(40 watts of power), cool looking unit it had tremendous build construction( a JVC trait), and great bass response at a time when bass heavy music, funk and R & B were merging their flavors to begin the Rap/ Hip Hop movement. This radio also had a special seat belt styled click in shoulder strap and even had a special carry bag as well.
JVC, or the Japan Victor Company launched themselves into the portable radio cassette player/recorder market in the late 1970’s when they released the amazing RC-550(Image 2). Dubbed “El Diablo” by the Latino community, this giant monobox was devilish. It had a 10” woofer, a 4” midrange, and a 2 “ tweeter, separate bass and treble controls, and a big strong handle as well as a shoulder strap. It had roll bars on the sides that extended forward to protect the speakers and even had shortwave bands as well. This unit was built for the streets, and signaled a change in the mindset of portable design, although not a stereo player, this unit was BIG!
When I think about the 80’s and portable radio culture, I realize how different the world is today. The world of sharing music in parks and on city streets now resides in cyberspace as we share in anonymity online. The radio that marked this change from public music “broadcasting” to private consumption was the JVC PC-100 a mini unit with a detachable walkman. Now you could share your music in the public sphere, or keep it private by ejecting the cassette deck and plugging headphones into it. In many ways the descendant of the walkman today is the MP3 player, the ubiquitous Ipod. Indeed, all the radios I have mentioned here were all built with the ability to plug a portable media player into them, so you can easily plug your IPOD into these radios and mix the digital age with the warmth of analogue amplification and sound.
