JVC Portable Stereo Boombox- the PC55

[braxus]

There were two incarnations of this portable stereo. The PC-55JW and the PC-550. The 550 was black and the 55 was silver. The Silver unit had slightly less power from what I've been told. I have the 55 model myself. My ex-brother in law had the 550 and was what got me to notice these units. The 55 came out first with the 550 later on.

These typically are sought after.

Has an excellent cassette deck in it with auto reverse, Dolby B and C, logic controls, type 1-2&4 tape selectors, and in the back of the tape deck- you can put 8 D cell batteries in it to power the deck by itself or the whole stereo. The deck seperates from the rest of the unit and you can screw the handle onto the deck for portable recording. Even has two mike inputs to do just that. Level controls and a decent LCD display that will light up if needed. The upper portion has the amp and tuner sections with the EQ section squeezed in. The speakers also detach and are 3 way. Not much low end on these though, but for the time its typical. I must admit todays portables really can pound out the bass. The 550 unit was rated to 25 watts per channel. Not sure about the 55.

When all is connected together- this unit weighs a ton, so I wouldn't carry it around like a typical boombox. Gotta love these units as they were made in the mid 80s. I recently got the belt replaced in my deck and it cost a bundle as the tech said it was hard to get in there. The sound quality off the deck portion isn't too bad either.

[Scorpion8]

What a beast! I've been trying to source a Sanyo "boombox" that I used to own but the ones that show up on the auction site get picked up fast. Nothing special about, mostly just nostaligia reasons, but gone are those days.

[390FE]

Braxus. That is a monster. And the old big boomboxes still go for big $$$.

As for getting better bass try hooking a set of good home or car speaker to it instead.

Or do what I did to an old Sears boombox I have. It had 6 1/2" woofers & I upgrade the woofers to the 50W 8ohm 6 1/2" poly woofers Radio Shack sold back in the late 1980s. Just measure the size & look at the ohm rating on the originals, if they are 8ohms go to a 6 or 4ohm (don't go any lower) replacement for more power out & check out Parts Express or MCM Electronics for drivers. It will make a huge improvment!!! *jammin**punk*

[koseltri]

I love my PC-55. I had the 550 as well, I gave it to a friend for his wife to use in the kitchen. It has no trouble driving full size speakers, my Monitor 10's seem to like it a lot. I've got it in the dining room driving a pair of Monitor 5's. It has a good phono stage, I've got a Sony PS-FL7 on it right now. It's tape deck is the best you'll find in a boombox, with features that equal good home decks (like a real time counter). I've got a 8" JBL passive sub hooked up that takes care of the bass problem.

[braxus]

Braxus. That is a monster. And the old big boomboxes still go for big $$$.

Last one recently sold for $500 and it wasn't even serviced.

I'm selling my PC55 due to needing funds for a move next year. Any interest PM me. I hate to let it go, but its just not getting any use here. The cassette deck part has had new belts installed.

[ke4mcl]

we lugged a similar jvc PC series around as teens. my best friends father was a cocaine cowboy and this kid had all the cool toys. we could barely carry that blasted thing when it was full of duracells. play time was about 1hr as it ATE batteries. i took it to the bahamas once and got tailed by some locals who wanted to jack me for it.

[dragonhead00]

That is a nice looking box! I used to own the JVC PC-5, which is the precursor to that model, I think. Anyway, mine weighed a ton as well and put out 40 bass-filled watts. It's in pieces now and replacing her will take some cash. At least I have my memories...*bigthumbup*

[JaeTee]

PC-55 ranks in the top five (if not the top 3) of all 3-piece boomboxes ever made.

I'd find a reason to keep it if I were you.

I have the predecessor PC-3 in my BBox collection. Very quality unit!!!

[braxus]

I reduced the price to help it sell. I got the unit out and I can test it in the mean time. I need the funds from the sale of this unit, so it has to go.

[braxus]

I checked the deck and I seem to be getting a warble out of the tape deck part. I seem to remember it doing this even not long after I got the deck back from belt replacements. Would this be a bad motor or just incorrect size or slipping belts? Seems to really stuggle near the beginning of the tape.

[390FE]

I reduced the price to help it sell. I got the unit out and I can test it in the mean time. I need the funds from the sale of this unit, so it has to go.

Do you have a link to it? Or can you tell what the starting $ is you have on it?

As for the warble have you cleaned the pinch roller?

I don't know if it has an idler tire like the home decks.

Check the capstan. Make sure the plastic retaining washer/clip is still there & is up against the bushing. I have gotten a few decks shipped to me & that washer/clip as gone, got lucky on all them & it was still in the deck & fell out while I was working on them. Reinstalled it & all was good. Also when changing belts that washer can slide out on the capstan where it shouldn't be. Just slide it back where it shoud be.

Also maybe the rear capstan adjustment screw is set wrong.

[braxus]

Check my Ebay listing for this unit. It is sold "needing repair".

[braxus]

Even though my JVC is up on Ebay, Im open to taking offers for the unit. Im basically asking $150 plus shipping and handling costs on the item. It needs repair. PM me for details if interested. Keep in mind these units have sold for $300-500 in good working condition on Ebay these past few months.