Sony CFS-2050

The CFS-2050 was a stereo radio cassette recorder "boombox" that was part of the "my first Sony™" range of audio products available for children (ages four and up), in 1992, and assembled in Malaysia. It sports a 2-band AM/FM radio that has very good reception quality. The audio power output is a respectable 700 mW per channel through a 3-inch diameter 3.2 Ω loudspeaker. This radio cassette is large with dimensions 420 mm × 223 mm × 106 mm, and mass 1.9 kg with batteries, so before you go to eBay to buy it, make sure your whippersnapper will be able to carry it. This is a multi-page article so be sure to view all the pages showing its electronic engineering.

The "Sing Along" feature of this radio cassette was that it could mix the microphone input with the cassette playback allowing you to sing along karaoke style. Usually the cassette would play the sound track and the little whippersnapper would sing along to that. This unit also has dual microphone inputs so that a pair of whippersnappers could sing along together. This is ideal if you would like to encourage your child to become a singer, but it is equally just good fun.

This radio cassette has the same tape transport mechanism as the MF-2050. Consequently, the CFS-2050 has full auto shut-off system that cuts power when the tape reaches end during playback, recording, or fast-forward / rewind operations.

Cost / eBay

These units were expensive at the time of introduction; however, the production figures were still high due to a time of booming world economy of the 90s. These radio cassettes did not take it kindly to knocks, drops, or if thrown down the stairs, and consequently very few survived. A common problem was with the aerial stem breaking; therefore, many of these will be missing the aerial.

A scratched broken unit missing an aerial might sell for twenty pounds and could make a good renovation project. A working one in fair used condition with scratches might sell for approximately fifty pounds. A unit in mint condition or having had minimal use, with the original box, paperwork, in good working order can sell for over one hundred pounds and even more depending upon the day.

Usually millionaires of the 90s era buy these vintage toys for their children, and there is a huge collectors market for "my first Sony™" audio products. If you missed out the first time in the 90s then this might be an ideal opportunity to get one. The links below will show you the inside views, and the electronic engineering involved in the production of this unit.

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