The 1980s called and it wants you to dig out your old cassettes. If you miss a time before music streaming when the latest chart-toppers could only be heard on the radio or if you nipped down to Woolworths to pick them up on cassette, then this brand new boombox could be just the thing you need to blast those tapes once again and relive your youth.
Nostalgia-focussed firm We Are Rewind has just announced its GB-001, a boombox with retro stylings but features modern specs with a modern cassette deck mechanism, microphone input with adjustable level for live recording straight to tape, as well as Bluetooth and a 3.5mm audio jack so you can use the powerful speakers to play tunes from your phone or even a vinyl turntable.
Two volume unit (VU) meters on the front show playback and recording levels in fine retro fashion, plus – mercifully – it’s powered by a rechargeable battery, so you can leave the old days of churning through batteries behind you.
The boombox has all the physical buttons and controls you need to play and record as well as adjust bass and treble and control the balance.
“Unleash the energy at your next gathering and transform any room into your own concert venue,” We Are Rewind said. “Sing along to your favorite songs using the microphone input, or plug in your guitar and use the system as an amp. And yes, the dual wireless microphone system enables you to create your very own rap battles.”
The GB-001 retails for £379, which is a little pricey, but consider how much more functionality this has than your old tape player. Not only can you dig out your tape collection from the loft and take a trip down memory lane, but you can place this good-looking gadget pride of place in the lounge and use it as a Bluetooth speaker with your iPhone or Android phone, or even practice your guitar licks before your next gig.
Whether or not you’re ready to record a rap battle is another thing entirely. At least if you’ve only committed it to tape it can’t leak online. Then again if you have bars to share, the tape player will gladly play them at max volume after the fact thanks to stereo sound with separate left and right woofers and tweeters.
It all means picking up the GB-001 could give your tape collection a new lease of life, if you still have them on display or, more likely, tucked away in a box in the attic. If you want a way to revisit your old music that will also be a genuinely useful music hub for your home, this could well be the ultimate boombox.
We Are Rewind also recently released a new edition of its WE-001 portable tape player that recalls the ubiquiotous Sony Walkman, so the company knows a thing or two about resurrecting the old format. Rival firm FiiO has also hit the headlines recently thanks to its portable CD player based on the old Sony Discman, proving physical music formats aren’t dead just yet.
You can sign up here to find out when the boombox goes up for pre-order as it’s not on sale right now.