This modern cassette boombox will lure you in with glowing VU meters

The GB-001 is simply a modern instrumentality connected the classical ‘80s boombox with features similar Bluetooth and a rechargeable battery. | Image: We Are Rewind

We Are Rewind, a Paris-based institution that has relaunched the cassette player with modern features similar enactment for wireless headphones and rechargeable batteries, has announced a larger boombox version. Streamlining the plan of the portable stereos that were fashionable successful the ‘80s, the €449 (around $500 USD) GB-001 tin relation arsenic a Bluetooth talker and watercourse audio from a mobile device. But its astir appealing diagnostic is its quality to play and grounds to cassettes, perchance reviving the mixtape for different generation.

The GB-001’s cassette platform mechanics features a user-adjustable centrifugal with interior velocity regularisation for close playback. It besides has a “noise simplification circuit” that emulates Dolby B truthful it tin decently play tapes recorded utilizing that older sound simplification strategy without immoderate nonaccomplishment successful dependable quality. It tin grounds connected tapes, too, from outer sources that see a wired microphone oregon a brace of mics connected wirelessly implicit Bluetooth.

The GB-001 has four speakers — 2 “powerful woofers for extended bass response” paired with 2 “soft dome tweeters for refined voices and treble.” We Are Rewind describes the GB-001 arsenic having a “natural dependable signature” so, dissimilar the boomboxes of the ‘80s, it’s not going to drown retired lyrics with overpowering bass. And successful keeping with existent trends successful audio gear, the GB-001 includes a “spatialisation relation for a wider, much immersive stereo image.”

A rechargeable, user-replaceable 3,000mAh artillery provides up to 10 hours of playback done the speakers erstwhile playing a tape, oregon up to 15 utilizing an outer audio source. That jumps up to 15 and 28 hours, respectively, erstwhile utilizing headphones, but We Are Rewind didn’t specify if that’s done the 3.5-millimeter audio jack oregon Bluetooth.

Even if you’re not successful request of its cassette capabilities, the plan of the GB–001 inactive makes it an appealing alternate to Bluetooth speakers that often look similar formation toys. It not lone has a retro-looking folding carrying handle, it besides sports a brace of functional analog VU meters that are backlit with a brushed lukewarm glow. For those of america who grew up enamored with the plan of stereos from the ‘70s and ‘80s, the VU meters unsocial could assistance warrant the splurge.