If you aren’t already familiar with what a boombox is, then you should turn the pages of your history book. An entire generation witnessed the era of the boombox rise up from the Stone Age only to lost back in the history books. But the boomboxes are back in trend again. But before the boombox was completely wiped off the face of the planet, they’ve made quite an impact on the society. Boomboxes were an important part of our culture back in the 1980’s and a tool of self expression and communication among the youth. Moreover, it was used as a tool of field recording, portable home audio system, or a lifesaver for outdoor parties.

Clearly, boomboxes have made a spectacular comeback, rejuvenating the present-day musical scene. Now that the music has become miniaturized, our good-old boomboxes are too. The modern-day boomboxes, unlike what they used to be in the 1980’s, are more like a portable music player, usually with a cassette-tape-recorder/player and music as loud as a home audio system. They are called by several aliases such as a jambox, a ghetto blaster or a boomblaster. However, the evolution of technology has changed the way we listen to music along with our music listening devices. Now, the addition of Bluetooth to the nostalgic boomboxes have made music portable than ever.

What is a Boombox?

The street culture in the U.S. back in the 1980s was alive with the sound of what was colloquially termed the boombox or the ghetto blaster. Boombox is a portable, stereophonic radio receiver with a cassette-tape-recorder/player. It is a low-price music system with an AM/FM radio and CD player. Boomboxes were first developed in Japan the early 1970s and provided studio-quality sound in a small package. They soon become a popular household addition because back then, they didn’t have enough room to accommodate larger music systems in their small apartments or houses. Boomboxes first appeared in the U.S. in the mid-1970s and soon become popular among the African-American and Hispanic youth community. They had many of the same capabilities for playing music as a more expensive component stereo system.

Boombox With USB

With the advancement of technology and the rise of their smaller, portable cousins (like an iPod), boomboxes have become obsolete. Now, with the evolving musical scene, boomboxes are back in the game. The need for louder sound and more bass has once again led to the rise of the bass-pumping boomboxes. The boomboxes of today are much more advanced now. The development of audio jacks and Bluetooth technology brought the boombox back to the streets and as its popularity rose, so did the level of innovation. More advanced boomboxes now play CDs or radio stations as well as play music directly from a USB stick. It’s like a portable radio and CD player which can also play files from a USB flash drive, allowing you to carry your music anywhere you go.

Boombox With Bluetooth

The addition of Bluetooth to the already popular boomboxes has brought the music back to the streets. Just like Bluetooth speakers and other Bluetooth-enabled music players, boomboxes with Bluetooth make music more portable and easily accessible than ever. Not only they are lightweight but also provide Bluetooth connectivity to operate wirelessly so that you can play your favorite playlist directly from your smartphone, tablet, or other Bluetooth-enabled devices. The Bluetooth technology is simply a means to stream audio to the boombox from a compatible Bluetooth device such as a smartphone or a Bluetooth music player. This is why boomboxes now come with an AC charger for wall outlets, while some are battery-powered.

Difference between Boombox with USB and Bluetooth

Technology in Boombox with USB vs. Bluetooth

Boombox is a portable, stereophonic radio receiver with a cassette-tape-recorder/player and with many of the same capabilities for playing music as a more expensive component stereo system. Thanks to the evolving music scene, the idea of listening to music on-the-go is tempting, even in case of boomboxes. Boomboxes now play music directly from a USB flash drive or stream directly from a compatible Bluetooth device as a smartphone or any Bluetooth mobile device. The difference lies in connectivity and convenience.

Convenience in Boombox with USB vs. Bluetooth

While both boomboxes with USB and Bluetooth play music on-the-go, the question remains; which one’s more convenient? USB is simply plug-and-play, meaning you just have to plug the USB stick into the boombox’s USB port and you’re good to go. There’s no setup required. But Bluetooth, on the other hand, can be a little tricky to set up. First you have to turn the Bluetooth on your smartphone or any music payer and set the device as discoverable and then use the Bluetooth button on the boombox to start pairing the devices. If the pairing fails, you have to repeat the process again. But once the connection is successful, the pairing happens automatically when both the devices come in range.

Boombox with USB vs. Bluetooth: Comparison Chart

Summary of Boombox with USB vs. Bluetooth

The evolution of technology has changed the way we listen to music. The modern-day boomboxes, unlike what they used to be in the 1980’s, are more like a portable music player, usually with a cassette-tape-recorder/player and with more advanced technologies. The boomboxes of today can now play music directly from a USB flash drive or stream audio from a compatible Bluetooth device such as a smartphone or a Bluetooth music player. The difference lies in convenience and connectivity.

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