Soundbox: Difference between revisions

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*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#TAV33|Optimus Prime Supreme Mode]]
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#TAV33|Optimus Prime Supreme Mode]]
;2016
;2016
*[[Titanium Series]] Year of the Monkey [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Generations|Optimus Primal]]
*[[Platinum Edition]] Year of the Monkey [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Generations|Optimus Primal]]
*[[Cerebros (G1)#Generations|Cerebros]]
*[[Cerebros (G1)#Generations|Cerebros]]
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Power Surge|Power Surge Optimus Prime]] & [[Aerobolt#Robots in Disguise (2015)|Aerobolt]]
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Power Surge|Power Surge Optimus Prime]] & [[Aerobolt#Robots in Disguise (2015)|Aerobolt]]

Revision as of 04:18, 7 March 2023

A soundbox is an electronic gadget containing a memory device that records one or more sound clips and plays them back on demand, allowing for audible explosions, beep-wheedles, and "I am Optimus Prime".

A soundbox is a self-contained unit containing batteries, electronics, and speaker, which makes it simple to install in a toy — all the designer needs is to allow space and a grille for the speaker, and make sure there's a way to get to the batteries in one of the toy's modes. On the other hand, a soundbox is relatively large as gimmicks go, and requires a fair amount of dedicated space.

As with all electronics, soundbox technology has improved notably in the last twenty plus years. Toys featuring soundboxes during the 1980s usually also had to make space for a relatively large [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}PP3 battery|{{#if:nine-volt battery|nine-volt battery|PP3 battery}}]] and the snap connectors that went with it. Modern soundboxes are now powered by [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}button cell|{{#if:||button cell}}]] batteries, [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}AAA battery|{{#if:AAA batteries|AAA batteries|AAA battery}}]], or [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}AA battery|{{#if:AA batteries|AA batteries|AA battery}}]].

Soundboxes have also become somewhat cheaper to manufacture, given their very sparse use in lines previous to 2002. During Armada and after, the boxes became a common feature on larger figures.

Because of all these electronic whiz-bang doohickeys involved in their function, it is not uncommon to see one or more light-emitting diodes wired into the board.

Toys Utilizing Soundboxes

{{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 2 }}

|

2

|

1985
1986
1993
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Power Bots Megatron

2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019

}}

Notes

Starscream feels empty inside.
  • Generation 1 Shockwave was the first Transformers toy to feature electronic sounds.
  • Reissue Galvatron's soundbox was upgraded to use AA batteries instead of the original's nine volt PP3's.
  • Tidal Wave's Armada box noted that he had electronic sounds. He did not. Bummer.
  • Cybertron Voyager Starscream was designed with a soundbox in mind (even including the requisite speaker and battery brackets when you crack one open), but the final Hasbro and Takara versions have no electronics. Again, bummer.