Home Entertainment RETRO DESIGN
Image top left: Left: Q Acoustics’ new Concept 300 loudspeaker in silver.
Far top right: Cambridge Audio’s new Edge series 28
A design for life V
Retro hi-fi is uber-chic, but are consumers buying into heritage or fashion? Steve May discusses the value of design with the grooviest manufacturers in the land...
oice control and streaming may be high- tech staples for the audio industry in 2019, but if you want to stand out from the crowd in this particular market, then
retro design is an old friend. Perhaps this is because the more futuristic things seem to get in terms of hardware and functionality, the more products need to be routed in a familiar reality. Then again, maybe retro is just what the cool kids like?
One brand that has made a virtue of its retro aesthetic is McIntosh. It’s upcoming RS200 wireless music streamer combines cutting-edge tech with all the classic McIntosh design traits, like a black glass front panel, illuminated logo, control knobs and (most importantly) blue Watt meters. “The overall appearance of McIntosh products hasn’t changed much over the decades,” admits Mark Christensen, McIntosh Marketing Coordinator. “Sure there have been minor updates and refinements, but a new unit today could fit
right in with a model from 20, 30 or even 40 years ago.” This, he says, is a deliberate strategy. “We know many of our customers build their system over time and we (and they) want their system to look coherent whenever a new piece is added. Because we maintain a consistent look that doesn’t change with fads or style changes, our products never really go out of style.” Conversely, British loudspeaker brand, Q Acoustics, is known for its advanced construction techniques, but its new Concept 300 loudspeakers come with a distinctive Tensegrity tripod stand, using techniques popularised in the 1950s. Constructed from load-bearing low-profile aluminium rods, with stainless-steel cables used to maintain a spatial orientation, it’s a brilliant blend of old and new. “Design is more influential today than it has ever been across all categories of products, especially aspirational products such as hi-fi,” says Q Acoustics designer, Kieron Dunk. “Numerous lifestyle niches have opened up,
The R7, from Ruark Audio, features Sixties legs and furniture-grade build
including vintage retro, and finding a place amid this confusion has never been more important. Our approach is to stick with our core objectives. If the result is perceived as Lifestyle then so be it, but what we are really looking to achieve is great design, working hand-in-hand with technical innovation.”
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