After partnering with Chromeo to launch a one-of-a-kind casette player last year, nostalgia-crazed brand We Are Rewind has unveiled a new boombox, the GB-001.
Injecting the classic boombox with a modern twist, the GB-001 boasts all the classic functions of a boombox, allowing you to both play, mix and record onto cassette tapes, but can also play tracks via Bluetooth or a 3.5mm jack input. This means you can play music from your phone or laptop, making it a truly modern playback device.
But it looks like the GB-001 isn’t just your standard portable speaker; it’s equipped with four hi-fi speaker cones: a woofer and soft dome tweeter on either side.
The combined power output of the speakers is an impressive 104 watts – but, while power can be impressive, We Are Rewind knows that sometimes you have to rein things in. That’s why the company has fitted dynamic power control functions to help reduce distortion.
The GB-001 also has refined equalisation to help balance out your tracks, as well as a spatialisation function to allow for a wider stereo image.
The cassette deck is also equipped with a user-adjustable motor, allowing you to tweak the speed of playback. There’s also a noise reduction circuit that emulates Dolby B. This allows you to play tracks off of Dolby B tapes – though you wont be able to record on them. The system does, however, supports both Type I and Type II (chrome) cassettes for playback and recording.
In terms of recording, the GB-001 comes equipped with a microphone input with adjustable levels. You can also keep tabs on your playback and recording levels thanks to two backlit VU metres.
Visually, the GB-001 is on the money. The Bluetooth pairing button blends in perfectly with the power switch, tape type selector, bass & treble and balance control knobs, making it almost indistinguishable from an old school boombox.
Thankfully, the boombox also benefits from one more modern upgrade – a rechargeable and replaceable battery.
The GB-001 is priced at £379. To find out more, head to We Are Rewind.
