sanyo needle meters topbuildquality dual-antenna flywheeltuner powerful 1-piece phono-input lighted tuner Sanyo M-9994
The Sanyo M9994 (also called the Sanyo MR-X965 in Japan) is an all-time favorite among boombox collectors. It was introduced in 1978, and it's one of the best-sounding, best-built boomboxes ever made. This model is always in high demand with collectors, so prices can be a bit on the high side. The example below was owned by this author and sold on eBay in 2007 for over $600, however it had been fully restored, including a complete replacement of all the capacitors.
The M9994 has a robust, almost military-like design that prioritizes function over bling. The front is dominated by 3 old-school analog meters. The one in the upper left corner measures tuning strength or battery strength. The two below the cassette door measure power output. Those two meters are covered with an acrylic plate that appears to be glued on. But the acrylic plate on the tuner dial can be removed via the 4 black thumb-screws. There is also a nice green tuner light, however you must hold the button down to see it. The standard M9994 has an AM/FM tuner, while the "K" model has shortwave too.
The M9994 was designed during the late 1970's when manufacturers still believed that people wanted high quality. It feels very solid, and it doesn't creak when carried. Every control clicks with precision, like home hifi gear. There's a heavy flywheel behind the tuner knob that allows you to spin it very quickly.
The output power is 2x7W "max" and 2x5W "continuous". The woofers are 16cm diameter, 2.5 ohms. The tweeters are 5cm diameter, 8 ohms. The tweeters can swivel, allowing directional focusing of the high frequencies. Some M9994's have a "Midtone" button that significantly boosts the midrange frequencies, making this boombox quite the screamer for extended range outdoors use. But some other M9994's have a Loudness button instead of the Midtone button. It's more than just a relabeling of the button, because the tonal effect of that feature is entirely different.
In Sanyo literature, the M9994 was described as being part of the "Professional" category, whereas the other Sanyo boomboxes were lumped together into a separate category. So we believe this model was intended for professionals wanting a high-quality portable recording device. Fresh out of the box, it came with external, hand-held microphones with plastic stands that could be fitted into the slots on the upper corners of the boombox. Because these microphones were external, people could put them anywhere within a room, enabling more accurate recordings. Sadly though, most all examples of this boombox are missing their original accessories, including those microphones. Another feature that enables accurate recordings is the Input Volume knob, which attenuates the entire input signal (line-in, phono, etc).
A Service Manual for the M-9994 can be purchased from this vendor: AnalogAlley.com
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No hobby activity satifies me more than the restoration of a boombox. Unlike collecting objects like coins, rocks, stamps, etc which does nothing besides sit in an album or behind plastic, a boombox is something that you can interact with. You can carry it, cuddle it, fiddle with it, listen to it, show it off. And the restoration.... ooo giving your favorite subject a bubble bath, the sweet smell of a fuming soldering iron... it's like heaven. Here is my story of the restoration of a Sanyo M9994. |