Do you love old radios? Collecting tabletop and portable transistor radios has been a quiet hobby of mine going back to 1984. Both the industrial design element and the ability to sit on the back porch listening to hockey games and old serial broadcasts were a huge attraction. France’s A.bsolument is known across Europe for its modernization of older radios which includes the following services:
For living room radios from the 1930s to the 1960s:
- A new Focal loudspeaker
- A new 50W amplifier
- A Bluetooth module
- The ON/OFF function and volume adjustment on the original button
- The backlight of the dial
- A jack input
- An RCA output
For nomadic radios from the 1970s:
- A Bluetooth module
- A rechargeable battery
For k7 radios from the 1980’s:
- A Bluetooth module
- A rechargeable battery
- Cassette and FM function
You do lose AM radio access when you modernize your existing radio (or purchase one of the models they already have available), but can add FM radio with an optional FM/DAB+ module.
The company has just announced the new A.bsolument PRODIGE radio that will be distributed by Focal Naim America.
Powerful, Responsible & Timeless
Inspired by the iconic jewelry radios of the sixties and marked by an aluminum case and clean lines, the design of Prodige is meant to appeal to all generations; those of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
This Bluetooth speaker, entirely assembled by hand in the heart of The Auvergne volcanoes, is made of responsible materials such as recycled aluminum, organic paint and wood from an eco-managed forest. It is also the result of a first order electronic design which gives it an extraordinary lifespan.
Labeled Focal Inside, it offers a powerful and high-fidelity sound developed in France by a team of passionate engineers. It also adapts to the listening room thanks to AcousticRoom technology and its three bass level settings.
“Prodige was born from a dream: to bring a modern version of a legendary object to life while preserving its original beauty and spirit,” said Arthur Verne, CEO of A.bsolument. “A slightly nostalgic variation that would trigger so many sensations and emotions. A variation that would stand the test of time without ever losing its prestige. A variation capable of reinventing itself to constantly become a perfected version of itself.”
A New Twist
After having breathed new life into more than 5,000 old radios for nearly 10 years, A.bsolument is now looking to the future by leading its passion for sound to a new playing field: the creation of Bluetooth speakers. Via these two distinct universes, PRODIGE inspires to offer all music-lovers the best of both worlds. A step marked by the evolution of the slogan from Radios Vintage Bluetooth to Sound for the future.
“It was the difficulty of finding old radios in good condition that first led us on the path of this new adventure,” explains Verne. “Faced with growing demand, we had to react. Driven by the desire to achieve excellence in terms of the listening quality offered and to become a key player in timeless sound, we set ourselves the challenge of giving life to a unique device ourselves.”
Features
- 90 Watts total: 1 x 60 Watts Class D for the woofer / 2 x 15 Wats Class D for the tweeters. 99 dB at 1m
- 2 x Focal TAM speakers, featuring an oversized woofer and ultra optimized audio processor for the unique PRODIGE architecture
- Adjustable bass settings
- Bluetooth 5.2 aptX HD multipoint to play high-resolution files (Hi-Res) and connect multiple devices.
- USB port for charing or connection an external network player
- 3.5mm jack input
Price & Availability
The PRODIGE is now available in the US for $881 and $1,299 in Canada.
For more information visit: a-bsolument.fr/en/products/prodige
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