Aldi has a cult boombox on offer: The Medion MD44538 has a ghetto blaster design that looks like something from the 80s, but makes similarly expensive Bluetooth boxes look pretty old.
Table of contents
- Medion P66538: Boombox with CD, DAB and Bluetooth
- Operation requires practice
- This is what the Medion boombox sounds like
- Test conclusion Medion Life P66538 (MD44538)
For children of the 80s, radio recorders were a dream, especially in XXL format – nicknamed “ghettoblaster”. The Medion Life P66538 (MD44538) brings the dream back to life. And better yet: The boombox contains an FM radio and cassette recorder, but it also takes you straight back to the future with modern equipment. This practical test clarifies what the versatile Henkelmann can do.
Medion P66538: Boombox with CD, DAB and Bluetooth
With a width of 67 centimeters, the Medion P66538 (MD44538) makes a powerful impression, and the fold-out handle seems appropriately stable for its 6.1 kilograms weight. The angular silver design harks back to the 80s, even though many of the boombox’s functions didn’t exist back then:
- Cassette recorder: This is part of the mandatory equipment, it offers a playback option for the millions of compact cassettes that still exist and for the few new releases. Its cassette compartment opens very softly and very slowly, and it is also not the fastest when fast forwarding and rewinding.
- CD player: Where many classic ghetto blasters had a second cassette compartment, the Medion P66538 has a CD player. The silver discs need to be carefully pressed onto the spindle. Very good: The player buffers about a minute of the music playing so that it runs smoothly even in the event of vibrations.
- FM radio: The station is selected according to the old custom using a small rotary wheel; the set frequency can be roughly estimated with a wide pointer on the scale on the top edge. In the practical test, noise was often mixed into the reception; if necessary, you could switch to mono.
- Digital radio: The boombox also receives via DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcast). In most regions there are significantly more channels to choose from via digital reception; in Hamburg, for example, there are over 40. Reception was trouble-free in the test. A small display at the top left shows the selected station name in plain text.
- Bluetooth: The Medion P66538 (MD44538) also has a built-in Bluetooth receiver so that the sound can also be played from the smartphone – be it from Spotify, YouTube or any other app. The coupling was quick and easy in the practical test.
- USB and microSD: The cool box also plays digital music in MP3 format from USB sticks and memory cards. The small display at the top left can help you select titles.
- Microphones: Microphones can be connected to two jack sockets on the front for spontaneous singing or birthday greetings. Adjustable reverb spices up the voice if necessary. However, microphones are not included.
Operation requires practice
The program selection is done using two small slide switches. Anyone born in the 80s may need glasses for this. There are also tone controls for bass and treble as well as – somewhat hidden – an X-Bass button. This shows that the boombox is made up of very different assemblies without a common operating concept. But fortunately, if anything is unclear, a thick and understandable manual can help. Recordings are possible on cassettes and in MP3 format on USB and microSD cards, such as CDs and radios. If you want, you can even digitize recorded cassettes. The power is supplied via a power cable or with eight batteries or size D rechargeable batteries.
This is what the Medion boombox sounds like
The generous dimensions of the Medion Life P66538 (MD44538) benefit the sound quality: two large woofers are installed on the right and left, the rectangular panels above are not just decoration, there are actually two tweeters behind them. This gives the boombox a pretty crisp sound. The treble control can be set to three o’clock, otherwise the playback will seem a bit tired. The X-Bass button gives the low tones more pressure and has a better sound quality than the boombox. Against Bluetooth speakers The giant can easily hold its own in the price range between 150 and 200 euros, especially since the stereo imaging is decent due to its dimensions. When recording on cassette, deep bass suffers somewhat and the typical tape noise is mixed in. But you can easily transfer a new CD for the cassette radio in the old Opel.
Test conclusion Medion Life P66538 (MD44538)
Young people of the 80s would have given their last shirt for a boombox like this. The crisp sound is a pleasure to listen to; contemporary program sources are on board with radio and cassette. In addition, the Medion Life P66538 (MD44538) offers the latest equipment with Bluetooth, digital radio and CD. You have to get used to the operation, but the fun is definitely worth it. The retro boombox will be available in Aldi’s online shop from January 4, 2024. The price: 179 euros.
