For the first time, renowned German technology brand (and inventor of the world’s first television) Loewe has moved outside the gogglebox, from home tech to portables, with the lauch of the klang mk1 wireless Bluetooth speaker.
It has long championed the visual quality of its high-end range. Take the bild 9 for example – a television inspired by art deco and Bauhaus sensibilities. Like the bild 9, klang mk1 is pleasingly minimal, with a streamlined control panel. The pocket-sized dimensions, however, are all new, and belie the impressive sound quality housed inside, in which Loewe has kept to its quality audio benchmark.
Two high/mid-range speakers and two mid/base passive membranes are concealed inside stainless steel housing, which has undergone rigorous inspection to achieve its lustrous aesthetic. First sandblasted, followed by a high-tech colour application process (involving the ‘vaporising’ of various components), the casing’s finish is extremely durable. An over-the-top touch, rose gold models are housed in plating made from over 80 per cent real gold, ten times as thick as typical gold plating, adding an extra layer of desirability.
But the market is a crowded one, with Ruark, Beoplay and Tivoli all launching impressive portable speakers this year. Loewe hopes the klang mk1’s generous 12-hour playtime will help sweeten the deal, which comes courtesy of a set of re-chargeable lithium ion batteries, brought to life by a below average two-hour charge time.
Technicalities aside, its Loewe’s commitment to striking visuals, paired with its legacy as a respected tech-design pioneer that seals the klang mk1’s success. A self-professed ‘miniature masterpiece’, it certainly seems to have amped up the volume on portable speakers. Find out for yourself when it hits shelves this June.
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Loewe website
-
Denmark’s BIG has shaped itself the ultimate studio on the quayside in CopenhagenBjarke Ingels’ studio BIG has practised what it preaches with a visually sophisticated, low-energy office with playful architectural touches
-
Ruark Audio and Revo give the CD player revival a fresh spinRuark Audio’s new R-CD100 and the Revo SuperCD are joined by two more quirky devices to revive those classic discs
-
The new Ford Capri wants to tap a vein of Gen X nostalgia. Does it succeed?We ask if the all-electric Ford Capri can capture the swagger of its much-loved but rather oafish predecessor
-
The Fender American Ultra II combine made-in-the-US quality with contemporary techA deluge of new products from Fender shows the iconic guitar manufacturer still knows how to innovate and entice
-
Moog’s mood-altering Labyrinth and five more new synthesizers and sound toolsExplore soundscapes and ambient realms with these new synthesizers and other desktop composition tools for shaping all forms of audio
-
From Tangerine Dream to cult PlayStation hits, eight books chronicling the art of noise and playWe explore eight titles that get under the skin of music history, technological evolution and the art and experience of digital culture
-
San Diego-based audio specialists Wrensilva update their elegant Record ConsolesWith new materials, upgraded electronics and input from three industry greats, the new Wrensilva Standard and M1 Record Consoles are the ultimate in audiophile furniture
-
A new limited-edition Rhodes piano and Gibson doubleneck guitar aim for the starsThe new Rhodes Mk8 Earth Edition piano and Gibson Jimmy Page EDS-1275 Doubleneck guitar revisit classic instruments at a price
-
20 of the best CD players as the compact disc comeback continuesWe expand our guide to the best compact disc players with a fresh selection of good looking and great sounding models
-
Six new ways of making music, from sonorous start-ups to note-perfect classicsOur music technology round-up showcases six new ways of making music, from a piano designed to blend into the modern home to sophisticated effects units and an all-in-one DJ system
-
Loewe Technology takes television design in a new direction with the IconicThe new Loewe Iconic is an OLED TV featuring innovative materials, bold design, and a powerful sound system
