May 2025
ertonline.co.uk
Similarly, the Marshall brand has always leaned heavily into its live music persona, with gnarled leather effect finishes and signature brass control knobs, be it on headphones or Bluetooth speakers. It’s no happy accident that the portable Marshall Kilburn II apes the design of the brand’s legendary amplifier stacks, albeit with domestic embellishments like a guitar-styled carry strap. The brand is also not averse to playing with colour. The Indigo colour variant for its Kilburn and Stockwell portable Bluetooth speakers, has been crafted to attract a wider buying demographic. It’s also worth pointing out that both the Stockwell II and Kilburn II are water resistant, making them eminently suitable for the UK’s festival season. Bowers & Wilkins has long been a formidable
presence when it comes to home audio, and has used design innovation to carve its own niche. Its Zeppelin wireless speaker is iconic, and has been since its launch, as an iPod speaker, back in 2006. Since then, the Zeppelin has been through many interactions, but the shape remains the same.
The latest Zeppelin iteration is the Pro edition, which not only boasts new audio components, for enhanced performance, but comes with fresh colour options. Borrowing Titanium Dome tweeters from Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series loudspeakers and partnering them with 90mm midrange drivers and a centrally mounted 150mm subwoofer, the Zeppelin Pro presents a far more expansive audio than its predecessors. That the Zeppelin Pro sounds good is almost a given, but what could clinch the deal for buyers are the two all-new finishes, Solar Gold and Space Grey, and the revelation that the speaker’s illuminating downlight now comes with a user- selectable choice over 15 separate hues. Incidentally, the fabric, which covers the Zeppelin Pro’s cabinet, almost glitters when the light catches it - so be sure to display it where there’s a strong light source.
British hi-fi darling Ruark Audio knows how to play the heritage card, without sounding stuck in the past. Its R410 music system, and sibling, R810 next-gen radiogram, brilliantly meld retro design tropes with leading-edge electronics, and have won multiple plaudits from the specialist audio press in the process. Its R Series of
Bluetooth and DAB radios, can also claim a legion of fans, thanks to the design emphasis they’ve brough to the compact audio category. Now the company is hoping to do the same in the world of Hi-Fi separates. With the R610 Music Console and Sabre-R bookshelf speakers, the brand is once again channelling the spirit of 1970s stereo systems, in a package built for streaming.
The R610 music console may be styled like a classic component, but it’s loaded with essential tech: Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay, and Google Cast, plus a high- quality phono pre-amp for vinyl lovers, will tick most boxes. A Burr-Brown DAC, 75W per channel amplification, and HDMI ARC/eARC support also mean it can handle everything from TV audio to hi-res music files. The console is matched with Sabre-R speakers, named after one of Ruark’s original 1985 loudspeakers. These hand-finished cabinets feature custom drivers and would look equally at home in a modern apartment or a vintage lounge.
In the world of traditional Hi-Fi, design is
rarely avant-garde. However UK-based Stratton Acoustics never got the memo. Its Element 12 loudspeakers don’t just swing, they swagger. Built by hand in the UK, this 2-way, reflex- loaded speaker features a 12-inch dual voice-coil paper bass/mid driver and a mechanically isolated 29mm soft dome tweeter.
But most eyes will be on the cabinet, not the drivers, which blend bamboo ply and cork, and come with mirror-gloss finishing options like Piano Black & Gold and Ziricote with Black & Gold. The stand is apparently inspired by Voronoi geometry, a high-design nod to natural patterns often found in art and jewellery. Priced at £32,000 per pair, the Element 12 isn’t for the mainstream, but for a speaker that literally glitters like a crown jewel, it’ll certainly spark conversation. For vinyl lovers, the turntable is as much a cultural artefact as a hi-fi component. It’s retro by nature. But Pro-Ject Audio Systems have come up with a novel design appropriation that’s definitely contemporary. Its Artist Collection of themed decks are styled to appeal directly to the fan base. It has introduced turntables styled after Pink Floyd and Metallica, and most recently offered a tribute to AC/DC. This special edition features a 28mm MDF plinth for vibration control, a bold red glass platter, with under lighting, and an 8.6-inch acrylic tonearm shaped like a lightning bolt! This is classic turntable design turned up to
eleven!
Home cinema traditionally demands for trade-offs when it comes to interior design, but that’s changing, thanks to a new generation of Ultra Short Throw (UST) projectors that are not only unobtrusive, but look positively stylish when not in use.
The Leica Cine Play 1 projector is not your everyday beamer. This Short Throw model is ideal for those who want to enjoy big-screen entertainment without dedicating a fixed media space to it. Imagine movie nights in the living room, or a transportable cinema experience staged ad-hoc in the kids room. The Cine Play 1 adopts a sleek, modern profile with a cube- shaped body and sits on a circular pedestal with an angled hinge, allowing convenient beam adjustment. Auto keystone correction makes installation easy for everyone. >>
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