The Japanese made Pioneer SK-400 boombox dates to 1982 and retailed for around $250. It produces 22 watts and is one of the more attractive boomboxes out there with its wide profile and clean look. Pioneer also made the SK-600 which had a digital clock/timer/sleep feature and a 2-way speaker system. Here is the SK-600 boombox:
The SK-400 also came in a brushed steel color with black speaker grills as opposed to the champagne color shown above.
The SK-400 has two 5 inch (12cm) speakers.
On the left side of the attractive AM/FM slide rule dial is a working LED Level Meter. Other LED indicators show Stereo, Tuning, Tape, FM/Aux, and AM sources. There’s a tape counter and reset button under the cassette door. Overall the front panel is exceptionally clean and uncluttered.
A Mic and headphone jack are located on the side panel and there are jacks for external speakers as well.
Top panel controls consist of large matching Volume and Tuning controls along with a Balance slide control.
Inside the cool looking flip-up door on the top are the Tone control, Mixing Level pot, tape transport / eject buttons along with a Music Search function and Record Editor button. Direct source selector buttons include Power, Tape, FM/AUX, and AM.
The ten segment telescoping antenna swivels at its base and tucks in when not in use. The chrome plated handle folds down if desired.
The rear panel will accept a 300 Ohm external FM antenna along with AUX inputs, and LINE OUT jacks as well.
The Pioneer SK-400 will operate on 8 Size C batteries, the AC power cord, or a special DC power adapter. The SK-400 dimensions are close to 19 3/4 x 7 x 4 1/8 inches (502 x 178 x 104). The SK-400 weighs 10.6 lbs (4.6kg)with batteries and 9.7 lbs (4.4kg) without.
Overall the Pioneer SK-400 is a nice smaller sized boombox. It has all the basic features you’d want and a couple cool novelties like the flip up top panel.
The Pioneer SK-400, is like a stripped-down version of the SK-650, which has dual analog VU meters for recording and viewing actual off-air VU levels of AM / FM stations, as well as cassette and AUX sources. Like the SK-650, the SK-400, must be a very rare boombox. In 1983, I’ve only know one other person, besides me, that had the SK-650. If, you find any of these Pioneer boomboxes in good working order, you’ll want to keep it forever.