Be nice, this Christmas, rewind! While the race for end-of-year gifts began with Black Friday, 20 Minutes look back and press “Play” to suggest some ideas for nostalgic audio gifts.
London calling: Revival Petite speaker, by Roberts
In dusky pink, sky blue, midnight blue, or black: there is bound to be one of these Revival Petite speakers that will catch your eye! But in the ear too.
Not content with manufacturing audio products for many years look vintage, the Englishman Roberts has never neglected their sound quality. This Bluetooth speaker (but also FM and DAB +) broadcasts its sounds with certain talent and a good bass/treble balance, even for such a small size (7.6 x 12.4 x 7.3 cm for 430 g). On battery, its autonomy can reach up to 20 hours. 149 euros.
Tape on me : lecteur de cassette We Are Rewind
Do you have any audio cassettes left in your cupboards? Created by two young French people, the We Are Rewind player.
A worthy descendant of the Sony Walkman, the device with impeccable manufacturing quality integrates a battery under its aluminum shell, is Bluetooth compatible and even has a recording function. By connecting headphones (wired or wireless), the player resurrects our old recordings, reminding us to what extent the analog sound was warm, had a texture that we have somewhat forgotten and a welcome dynamic… even if it there’s a little breath! 149 euros.
Vinyl addict: MIC300TT chain, from Thomson
With its MIC300TT system, Thomson is pulling out all the stops by offering an old-style belt-driven vinyl turntable that can do much more.
In addition to the pancakes (45/33 rpm) played using an Audio Technica AT-3600L phono cartridge, the device has a CD player on the front, a USB player, an AUX input and is also Bluetooth. Thomson doesn’t seem to have forgotten anything. Oh yes: the MIC300TT does integrate a tuner, but is not DAB +. A lesser evil for equipment that is also capable of encoding vinyl records into MP3 on a USB key and which looks pretty in the living room! 189 euros.
Ex-fan des eighties : Ghettoblaster P66538, de Medion
Eighties nostalgia? With its P66538, Medion brings the Darons’ boomboxes up to date with this opulent radio whose iconic design will appeal to many.
With a power of 20 watts, the device includes a CD player, an audio cassette player/recorder, and an FM tuner. To stick to the times, it also has an SD card slot, a USB port (both allowing CD or radio recording) and is Bluetooth 5.3. As it should be, an X-Bass function allows you to annoy those around you by making the walls vibrate! 199 euros.
Rock’n’roll attitude : casque Monitor III A.N.C., de Marshall
Delivered in its rigid protective box whose textured coating recalls the aesthetic codes of its manufacturer, the Monitor III ANC headphones from Marshall are obviously also distinguished by a look that many consider to be iconic.
But also by its record autonomy: up to 100 hours without noise reduction (70 hours with)! Foldable, very flexible, very light too (250 g) this Bluetooth 5.3 model has physical controls (including a customizable button) and an application with five-band equalizer. It also introduces a “Soundstage” function to expand the soundstage. A beautiful gift that is worth the price. 349 euros.
Good vibrations: Cube speaker, from La Boîte Concept
Cultivating its illustrious family heritage in the world of audio, La Boîte Concept has (as usual) made the quality of this Cube a prerequisite.
To be placed at the end of the sofa, this speaker (49 x 47 x 35 cm, for 17 kg) offers several finishes (oak, walnut, black) for a device with a very seventies which combines noble materials and high technology. With a power of 200 watts under three channels, capable of sound in a room up to 150 m2, it is Bluetooth 4.0, has mini-jack, RCA and optical inputs. Its exceptional sound reproduction flatters the ear as much as its design does the retina. From 1,290 euros (oak finish).
