Latest news with #DolbyB
The Verge
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
This modern cassette boombox will lure you in with glowing VU meters
We Are Rewind, a Paris-based company that has relaunched the cassette player with modern features like support for wireless headphones and rechargeable batteries, has announced a larger boombox version. Streamlining the design of the portable stereos that were popular in the '80s, the €449 (around $500 USD) GB-001 can function as a Bluetooth speaker and stream audio from a mobile device. But its most appealing feature is its ability to play and record to cassettes, potentially reviving the mixtape for another generation. The GB-001's cassette deck mechanism features a user-adjustable motor with internal speed regulation for accurate playback. It also has a 'noise reduction circuit' that emulates Dolby B so it can properly play tapes recorded using that older noise reduction system without any loss in sound quality. It can record on tapes, too, from external sources that include a wired microphone or a pair of mics connected wirelessly over Bluetooth. The GB-001 has four speakers — two 'powerful woofers for extended bass response' paired with two 'soft dome tweeters for refined voices and treble.' We Are Rewind describes the GB-001 as having a 'natural sound signature' so, unlike the boomboxes of the '80s, it's not going to drown out lyrics with overpowering bass. And in keeping with current trends in audio gear, the GB-001 includes a 'spatialisation function for a wider, more immersive stereo image.' A rechargeable, user-replaceable 3,000mAh battery provides up to 10 hours of playback through the speakers when playing a tape, or up to 15 using an external audio source. That jumps up to 15 and 28 hours, respectively, when using headphones, but We Are Rewind didn't specify if that's through the 3.5-millimeter audio jack or Bluetooth. Even if you're not in need of its cassette capabilities, the design of the GB–001 still makes it an appealing alternative to Bluetooth speakers that often look like beach toys. It not only has a retro-looking folding carrying handle, it also sports a pair of functional analog VU meters that are backlit with a soft warm glow. For those of us who grew up enamored with the design of stereos from the '70s and '80s, the VU meters alone could help justify the splurge.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
We Are Rewind Cassette Tape Boombox Revives A Classic Vintage Music Format
With a retro look combined with brand new tech, the cassette tape format continues to make a bit of a comeback. We Are Rewind GB-001 is following on from the global smash of the original WE-001 portable cassette player. T While vinyl record sales have seen a resurgence of the old format in the last decade, the venerable cassette tape has also seen an increase in sales by more than 400% during the last decade. Admittedly, that's figure build on a low base where the format almost entirely disappeared, but there's no doubt that interest in the classic 1970s analog tape format has been rekindled. The GB-001 is a new boombox cassette player and recorder that rivals home speaker systems because it's also a Bluetooth speaker and delivers sound with a full-spectrum stereo soundstage because it had separate left and right woofers and tweeters. Whether you're listening to old-school cassettes, using a wired connection or streaming music over Bluetooth, the GB-001's two woofers for extended bass response and two soft dome tweeters for a sweet treble, are powered by 104W of output. We Are Rewind has also added a few special features to the GB-001, such as dynamic power control to reduce distortion, refined equalization for a more natural sound signature and a spatialization function that creates a wider and more immersive stereo soundstage. This new boombox has a premium cassette deck mechanism, complete with a user-adjustable motor that includes internal speed regulation. The deck also includes a noise reduction circuit that emulates Dolby B, enabling it to play pre-recorded Dolby B cassette tapes. For recording and playing tapes, the GB-001 can handle both Type I and Type II Chrome cassettes with optimized biasing. This feature ensures low noise recording and, according to We Are Rewind, the best possible frequency response. The GB-001 also has an active AC erasing head. The GB-001 sports two backlit analog VU meters that provide visual feedback on playback and recording levels and it also has a microphone input with an adjustable level for capturing live recordings. With the strong look of an iconic 1980s boombox, the GB-001 has a sleek and neo-retro design. However, beneath its retro look, the next-gen boombox has plenty of modern technologies, including Bluetooth 5.4 and a rechargeable battery that can be easily replaced. The boombox can be connected to any analog audio source via a 3.5mm AUX input for playing music from a radio tuner, turntable or even a MiniDisc. Users can listen to their favorite tunes by streaming over Bluetooth from a smartphone or computer. If the idea of a classic 1980s boombox that can play cassettes and handle Bluetooth streaming, as well as an analog input, then the new We Are Rewind GB-001 could be the answer to many people's dream by turning almost any space into a concert venue using the microphone input. It's also possible to plug a guitar into the GB-001 and use it as a guitar amp. Finally, there's also a dual wireless microphone system for acting out those classic 1980s rap battles. The GB-001 Boombox is available now from We Are Rewind and is priced at £379 / €449.
