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
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