Nice, Now I Want a Subsequent-Gen, Cassette Tape-Enjoying Boombox

In the event you’re tremendous nostalgic for the times of analog, trendy Bluetooth devices in all probability aren’t reducing it. You may’t choose Bluetooth up; you possibly can’t see it; you possibly can’t… neglect to rewind it after which have to attend to start out your favourite album over once more. Fortunately, IFA 2025 is right here, and the sky is the restrict, which implies we now have a contemporary boombox that may play honest-to-God cassettes whereas nonetheless leaving room for the comfort of wi-fi music streaming and hi-fi audio.

We Are Rewind’s GB-001 is billed as a “next-gen” boombox, and outdoors of getting a built-in cassette deck that performs tapes, it may possibly additionally document on cassettes, which is a large win in your subsequent (very anticipated) lo-fi album drop. The corporate goes out of its solution to guarantee us that the GB-001 isn’t only a gimmick; it’s additionally constructed to ship hi-fi sound with separate left and proper tweeters and woofers that mix for a complete of 104W of energy. Couple that with options like “dynamic energy management,” which is designed to decrease distortion, and a “spatialization” operate for “a wider, extra immersive stereo picture,” and—on paper—you’ve bought your self a boombox that will really earn the “next-gen” advertising and marketing.

Equally as vital because the sound and the enjoyable analog options is the look. I’m a giant fan of the symmetrical rectangular construct and the black colour with a tiny pop of yellow on the buttons. My favourite half is the 2 backlit VU meters, which present your playback ranges but in addition ranges for recording, which is legitimately helpful when utilizing a mic. Talking of helpful, there’s additionally an included mic enter which you can alter the degrees on for when recording reside sound.

If all that analog goodness isn’t reducing it, you’ll be comfortable to know that the GB-001 has Bluetooth 5.4 and a battery that’s each rechargeable and replaceable. We Are Rewind says you’ll get about 10 hours of playback in tape mode and as much as 15 hours when listening in aux mode, although figures are depending on quantity, and I’m not completely clear on whether or not aux mode and Bluetooth battery are the identical. These aren’t the perfect battery figures on the earth, however tapes, folks, come on.

I’m dying to do this factor out, however preorders aren’t open fairly but. We Are Rewind has introduced European pricing; the GB-001 begins at £379 and €449, and truthfully, that’s not as dangerous as I’d count on for a cool-looking machine that type of does all of it—cassettes included.