A boombox, also known as a ghetto blaster, jambox, or radio-cassette, is
capable of receiving radio stations and playing recorded music (usually cassettes or cds),
usually at relatively high volume. many models are also capable of recording (onto cassette)
from radio and (sometimes) other sources. designed for portability, most boomboxes can be
powered by batteries, as well as by line current.
boomboxes were introduced commercially by various companies in the late 1970s,
when stereo capabilities were added to existing designs of the radio-cassette recorder,
which had appeared earlier that decade. more powerful and sophisticated models were
subsequently introduced. they are often associated with 1980s phenomena such as breakdancing
and hip hop culture, having been introduced into the mainstream consciousness through music videos,
movies, television and documentaries. it was during this time that the major manufacturers competed
as to who could produce the biggest, loudest, clearest-sounding, bassiest, flashiest and/or most novel
boomboxes. as the decade progressed, manufacturers tended to compete more on price (often at the expense
of quality), and smaller designs (often designed for simple background listening) became more popular.
this era was prior to the introduction and cultural entrenchment of the walkman style, personal stereos
with headphones which would later displace boom boxes in popularity.