JVC RC-M90
Introduced in 1981, the JVC RC-M90 is one of the most coveted boomoboxes. It is on the "want list" of almost every collector, and due to its high prices on Ebay, it appears that many collectors are still hoping to acquire it even after years of searching. The competive atmosphere for acquiring an M90 is so intense that in years past, serious bickering and arguments erupting over bidding strategies and claims of backstabbing behaviour was frequently seen in internet user forums for boombox collectors. It is possible that more friendships have been ruined over this model than any other. While envy often rears it's ugly head, in reality, there is no entitlement to owning an M90 in this day and age of open auctions and internet search engines where anybody can research the value of a particular item before buying or selling. It's merely a fact that any sale, especially something as collectible as this, is fair game for whoever is willing to bid the highest. The M90 has caused many sneaky backroom deals, where people submit secret offers in the attempt to pull the rug out from someone else. For this reason, we cannot give you an average price range for this model. Ebay is not very transparent with the data they provide. You used to be able to see who bought something or placed a bid. Not anymore. You can't even learn the selling price if a best offer was accepted. If someone submitted an offer and the buyer accepted, the page just says "best offer accepted"...It doesn't show the price. Fortunately, most "serious" collectors have already procured one, and therefore the demand from those people has probably tempered. But new collectors constantly enter this hobby, and they always look for "the best" or "most famous" boombox, which explains why M90 prices are so high. Especially from Russia where the asking prices are ridiculous pipe dreams. But I suppose sellers can always hope and try.....
In the case of whether such frenzy is justified for a boombox, many collectors are of the opinion that the answer is a resounding yes. In the search for best of the best this one would either give any competing model a run for it's money, or just outright trounce it in performance and aesthetics. These factors coupled with it's deserving reputation translate to demand outstripping supply and hence the high values and fierce bidding competition.
Sound-wise, the M90 most definitely deserves high praise, but that's to be expected, being JVC's top of the line model. Even the next lower model, the M70, is no slouch either, being in the opinion of many the ultimate mid-sized top dog. Bass is mellow and deep even at fairly low volumes, especially with the Loudness feature enabled. Highs are crisp and well defined, with excellent projection. The sound clarity is amongst the very best in boombox, and this model has power to spare. It is powered by two Matsushita/Panasonic AN7156N amplifier chips. Output is a claimed "2x20W Max", and "2x30W Music Power", although no testing parameters were given. Some would argue that there are models such as the Conion C-100 that are louder at max volume setting. While that might technically be true (we are unaware of any head to head SPL measurement tests), those models simply can not match the sound clarity and/or volume at any competing output level when distortion levels are kept at or below levels deemed acceptable by serious audiophiles.
Features include a very generous 8-band tuner on the JW suffix models. The Victor (Japanese domestic) model includes a 2-band tuner. A cassette door cling or sticker is often seen adorning the glass and we have seen stickers with either the caption "Big Power" or "40W".
While the knobs do not have the "detented" action found on many hi-fi products, that's typical for a boombox. Boomboxes need to compromise between weight, performance, and cost. Overall however, the final component set chosen for what this model was designed for was perfect. It does indeed possess a grand set of features. However, one feature that is curiously absent is a "Wide" stereo setting. This would have given it greater perceived stereo separation and spatial ambience. Perhaps the reason JVC decided not to include it was because the M90 is already a big/wide model, or because JVC wasn't happy with its previous attempt at this feature (the "Biphonic" setting), which many collectors believe did not sound as good as the Wide setting offered by competitors such as Panasonic and Sanyo.
The original cardboard box and accessories are very rare and hard to find. Here are some pictures of them. The JVC R-15E remote control shown below, while not a "standard" accessory, fits this model perfectly and allows wired remote control of the cassette deck.
JVC put a very high quality cassette deck into the M90. It is a Full Logic 2-Motor controlled deck with the following features:
- 5-program music search function
- Record and play timer
- Metal or CrO2 tape capability
- Dolby and Super ANRS noise reduction
- High quality heads
- Automatic or manual recording level with separate L/R controls
- Very low wow & flutter of only 0.05% WRMS
- Frequency response of 30 to 17,000 Hz when using Metal tape
The rear case has generous ventilation slats, a 10 x "D" cell battery compartment for portable operation, and a full complement of inputs and outputs.
Top and Bottom Views:
One thing that is often debated about the M90 is the original color of its woofers (JVC part number HSA2005-01J). It is believed by some collectors that they were originally blue. It has also been suggested that they were originally dark gray. The truth is, both bluish and dark gray versions have been seen. But all of them are blue when viewed from the backside, so maybe the front color was blue originally, and over time it faded or otherwise changed to gray. Now, the RC-M70 model did in fact use blue speakers, however on that model they're made of simple blue paper. The M90 however uses "urethane laminated speaker cones." While the cones themselves are made of blue paper, they were laminated with urethane on the front side, giving them better moisture protection. This explains why all examples of the M90 have blue colored cones when viewed from the backside, but varying colors when viewed from the front. Depending upon the color of the original laminating material, the color could range from blue to dark gray. In all likelihood, a transluscent grayish urethane film of varying transparency was employed initially. In any event, the debate may never be settled, but one thing is for certain, extremely well-preserved examples still remain with bluish or grayish speakers, so both can be considered correct and unaltered. Chalky light blue examples are also seen occassionally, and those examples are almost certainly the result of the urethane lamination having faded from the sun, much like one sees with plastic headlights on cars. Whatever the case, if you want to paint your M90 speakers blue, the best paint to use (in my opinion) is Dupli-Color Vinyl & Fabric Coating, color Medium Blue (HVP112).
The woofers on the M90 used a ribbed design without a separate surround. This results in a tight speaker cone, and through the normal aging process the cone surrounds can eventually develop spider cracking and sound degradation. While standard foam replacement surrounds can be installed, such a repair will alter the look and original performance. Here is a link to an example of an M90 speaker surround failure and it's replacement/repair: JVC RC-M90 speaker surround repair
Replacement speaker surrounds, service manuals, and owner manuals for the M90 can be purchased through the following vendor:
AnalogAlley.com
If you need a new antenna, try the FS-12H antenna from Russell Industries, it has an identical appearance and the same number of segments. The only difference is that its collapsed length is about 1 inch shorter.
If you need a new battery door, cassette door, or knobs, you can buy 3D-printed copies of them HERE.
Also highly collectable is the 'Radio' album by LL COOL J, featuring the M90 on the cover. These are available on record, cassette, and CD.
It is common for people to want to try and recondition and repaint their M90. The closest paint match for the front cover is listed below. It's not recommended for touchups, but it's great for a complete re-spray.
Grey:
1993 Mazda
Code: Z4
Silent Silver - effect
603899 IE
Click HERE to return to the JVC page, or HERE to see the list of all manufacturers.