Observations & Critique: It should be “spiritia-booster”
The minute you see the box you’ll start wondering if you paid too much. Inside an outer brown shipping box is a layer of tissue paper and then the typical (for that era) two-tone box of a Tamashii exclusive. Cutting some tape and opening the box reveals the diminutive sound booster, a black clip to connect it to a VF-19Kai toy, and instructions. The sound booster works in flying mode with any Tamashii Stage Act display stand so it would have been nice had one been included.
This accessory was released in August 2010 and retailed for 2,950¥ at the same time as the accessory bundle for the VF-19Kai which retailed for 2,100¥. Diehard Mac7 fans who purchased a Hi-Metal VF-19Kai for 7,000¥ toy were eager to snatch these up. Yamato’s 1/60 VF-19Kai would cost 22,000¥ and the sound booster would add another 10,290¥, so there’s a value aspect to the Hi-Metal line. One of the big compromises for the price is size. At roughly 1/100 scale, the Hi-Metal VF-19 is 21 cm long in fighter, 15.5 cm tall in battroid, and weighs only 110 grams. Bandai later released a Hi-Metal R version of the VF-19Kai which was vastly superior to the original Hi-Metal toy, relegating this toy to completionists or bargain hunters. The Hi-Metal R VF-19Kai is compatible with this original Hi-Metal Sound Booster but it has a slightly different finish, more matte than glossy, so it’s better to purchase the Hi-Metal R reissue. The Hi-Metal R reissue of the Sound Booster also includes different accessories; check out my separate review.
While the sound booster is very small it’s also very clean in its presentation with some nice painted on detail. The top interior surfaces are made of a clear rubbery plastic which gives a very nice impression. There’s solid detail work inside the booster. The VF-19Kai is a colorful toy so it was nice to see the sound booster carry the theme. Together the two pieces make a very nice display piece (for those not immediately turned off by the design).
Yamato upped the ante by including additional detail panels and by positioning the Sound Booster lower on the VF-19Kai’s back in battroid mode. The Yamato Sound Booster can also be installed on the VF-19Kai in fighter mode using an attachment part while the Bandai Hi-Metal is incompatible with fighter mode.
When Bandai reissued the Sound Booster for the Hi-Metal R line, the made the blue lighter and dropped some of the paint applications. I much prefer the look of the original Hi-Metal Sound Booster to the later Hi-Metal R reissue.
The sound booster transforms nicely from a flying vehicle to a backpack amplifier and speaker system for the VF-19Kai. The transformation is smooth and easy with some design elements that help conceal the transformation methodology. When installed to the VF-19 battroid, the connection is firm, outperforming the Yamato in terms of playability. You do not need to use the stand to support the combined VF-19Kai and Sound Booster in battroid but your poses will be limited due to the higher center of gravity.
Unfortunately, converting from a flying Sound Booster to a backpack is not perfect transformation. you’ll need to remove the antenna from the Sound Booster and find your battroid connector part.
One oddity about connecting the sound booster in battroid mode is that the battroid shoulders need to be angled backward slightly for the shoulder covers on the sound booster to fit properly.
It’s also a shame that Bandai didn’t have the forethought to make it so that the sound booster could attach in fighter mode like the Yamato version can. Since the sound booster already has a hole on its bottom (for use with a display stand), it would have been a simple matter to make a fighter mode connector.
If you want to display your Sound Booster in flying mode, you’ll need to purchase a Tamashii Stage Act display stand or use the display stand in the sold-separately accessory bundle.
The only durability issue I could find was that one of the plastic pink reflective pieces inside my boosters was loose and could pop out of its proper position. It very simply pops back into place so I don’t really consider this much of an issue but it certainly could become one if someone popped the piece out and was unable to find it. The Yamato Sound Booster feels like its made of higher quality plastic.
While I enjoyed my sound booster, there’s no question it is limited in both function and appeal. It makes for a more impressive, though still small, display piece. It’s not versatile and it doesn’t add much to the fun factor of the VF-19. This one was for diehard Macross7 fans only even before the Yamato, Hi-Metal R, or DX efforts.
Original Post Date: January 18, 2012
May 13, 2015: Updated to HD with video review
November 23, 2025: Updated to 4K with comparison to HMR
I never saw Macross7
did they use sound booster in empty space ?!?!?!?!
Yes they were used in space but the name is misleading. They don’t boost SOUND (which is non-existant in space) but rather “sound energy.” The main singer/character of Macross Seven generates an energy with his singing (“anima spiritia”) that, if memory serves, helps defeat the bad guys. I can’t remember if his singing causes the brain-washed soldiers of the ProtoDevlin to lose their will to fight or if it actually hurts them… it’s not a series I’m dying to rewatch. You may enjoy knowing that this same character has a gun that shoots speaker bullets so his speakers can penetrate enemy mecha and they’ll be forced to “Listen to [his] song!”