5 New Portable Speakers with Serious Old-School Flair

The appeal of vintage-looking audio gear is obvious. They have tactile knobs and switches and are made of materials (like wood, cloth and leather) that make them stand out rather than blend in; something that many of today’s minimalist-designed speakers and components are missing.

Brands know this. Today, many of the biggest audio manufacturers produce new gear — such as loudspeakers, amplifiers, and turntables — that pack modern tech and sound, but look like they straight out of the 70s.

As far as portable Bluetooth speakers, a category dominated by small, colorful speakers by the likes of Ultimate Ears, Bose, JBL and Sony, a vintage-inspired aesthetic is a bit more rare. But if you look hard enough, they are out there.

Below, we’ve rounded up five of our favorites.

Tivoli Audio SongBook

Tivoli Audio

Tivoli Audio SongBook

Specs

Tivoli Audio is a Boston-based audio company that’s well-known for making modern speakers with retro aesthetics. Its SongBook — and larger sibling, the SongBook Max — is a prime example. It’s a portable Bluetooth speaker that takes the shape of a boombox. It has a bunch of fun tactile knobs, sliders and switches. It also, uniquely, has analog connections and can work as an amp for an instrument (like an electric guitar) or a speaker for your computer or turntable.

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