GoKawiilis a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.
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Not even electronics were able to escape the dominant ’80s aesthetic of garishly bright colors. Both Sony and Philips offered devices wrapped in yellow plastic during that era, but Philips has decided to bring its hardware back as part of a new Moving Sound collection celebrating 100 years of the company making audio gear, as spotted by What Hi-Fi?.
The collection includes two wireless speakers that both feature Bluetooth 5.5 with Auracast support, an IP67 rating so they can survive the occasional short dunking, 24 hours of battery life, neon-colored buttons, and multicolored LED lighting. Cassette tape functionality hasn’t been carried forward from Philips’ original ’80s Moving Sound devices, but both speakers have color LCD screens displaying a stylized animation of spinning cassette reels and other playback details.
The Tube (right) is the larger and more powerful of Philips’ new ’80s-inspired wireless speakers, while the Roller (left) is lighter and more portable. Image: Philips
The larger of the two speakers, the €349.99 (around $403) Tube, has 140W of power coming from two 5-inch woofers, two 1.5-inch tweeters, and a pair of passive radiators to further boost bass performance. The smaller €179.99 Roller speaker (around $207) offers less than half the power at 60W coming from two woofers, two tweeters, and two passive radiators, but is also smaller and more portable.
The Ringo Duo (left) are reminiscent of the headphones bundled with Sony’s Walkmans, while the Buds are a retro-inspired pair of wireless earbuds. Image: Philips
There are also two pairs of wireless headphones included in the Moving Sound collection. The €34.99 (around $40) Ringo Duo are a pair of lightweight on-ear headphones reminiscent of what used to be bundled with portable cassette players. They’ve got a retro bare metal headband but ear cups featuring 40mm drivers, Bluetooth or USB-C connectivity, swappable ear cushions, and up to 26 hours of battery life.
For those desiring retro styling with modern convenience, Philips’ €79.99 (around $92) Buds are wireless earbuds featuring six microphones used for both ANC and accurately capturing your voice during a phone call. Battery life is rated at up to 42 hours with ANC turned off when the earbuds are occasionally docked in a chunky charging case featuring an animated display on top.