Even though things weren’t great in the past, many people long for the games, sounds, and graphics of another era. Good news! You can scratch that retro itch while still enjoying the convenience of today. These modern devices offer many nostalgic flavors.
Typewriter on your computer
The Azio Compact Artisan is a mechanical keyboard that connects to your computer via Bluetooth. You get a decidedly retro look, bright keys, and wrist rests. Even better, you get the sound of the recorder as you type, which is guaranteed to drive everyone around you crazy. The keyboard works on both Windows and Mac.
Azio Compact Artisan
Price: $229.99 on Amazon
Desktop arcade machine
This is a great little gadget for people who love multiplayer and retro games in particular – or for those who just want to collect cool gaming stuff. The Sega Astro City Mini is exactly what it sounds like: a small gaming machine. It has a built-in screen, modern controls, and the ability to save a game so you don’t have to restart it every time you play.
Sega Astro City Arcade
Price: $109.99 for Limited Run Games
Tradition and innovation in unity
NAD has just celebrated its 50th anniversary with the latest version of the hi-fi amplifier 3030, now called the C 3050 LE and with only a limited number of 1972 units. You get 2 x 100 watts of power output (speakers not included), standard VU meters and walnut casing, and you can connect vinyl players, TVs via hdmi and digital music systems.
The amplifier has standard support for all streaming formats, 24-bit HD audio, and Bluesound multiroom system via Dali and PSB speakers.
Price of NAD C3050 LE
Price: $1,999 for ListenUp
DJ’s best friend turns 50
The most obvious sound source of the future is analogue vinyl records, which have made a comeback in the last decade. Of all the turntables, the 50th anniversary Technics SL-1200 is the most popular, often used by club DJs since then.
The commemorative model is available in seven colors and all have a gold tonearm. Direct drive means that the disc starts immediately and there are no broken belts, the speed can be adjusted, and you can scratch and play discs backwards.
Pictures of the SL-1200M7L
Price: $1099.99 at TurnTableLab
A flexible microphone for podcasters
You want to feel like Jack Killian in the TV series Voice of the Night or play it cool like Donald Fagen on the album cover The Nightfly? Inspired by the design of the AKG C414 diaphragm microphone, which is ten times more expensive, the AKG Lyra does not require an amplifier and connects via USB directly to your computer, tablet, or phone.
Easy-to-reach controls allow you to gain value and select a recording profile, depending on whether you’re recording yourself, guests, or an entire audio jam.
AKG Lyra
Price: $155 at B&H Photo & Video
Cold War headphones
Today, Koss is best known for its practical, lightweight Porta Pro headphones – which sound great – but that’s history. Found in 1970’s studios from Los Angeles to Berlin, the Koss Pro4AA can handle high volumes and close out with its ear-filling cushions.
They feature sturdy, durable metal and plastic construction and a traditional coiled cable with a 6.3 millimeter plug.
What is Pro4AA
Price: $69.99 at Amazon
Amiga emulator with 25 games
If the Commodore 64 defined the early 1980s, its successor, the Amiga 500, offered an experience unprecedented in its time. The A500 Mini has some games but it’s based on the original, as well as the Amiga 600 and 1200, with 25 built-in games such as Another World, Battle Chess, Cadaver, and Worms.
The images are based on the television image in 720p and are connected via HDMI, and USB is available to connect the keyboard to match the mouse and gamepad. Your (official) games can also be uploaded via USB.
A500 Mini
Price: $129.99 on Amazon
Turn over and go to sleep!
Late 80s retro is the Flip Premium watch from Lexon Design, which you simply flip to turn it off (or on).
Fold, open, or lower the screen using touch, so you won’t be disturbed at night. If you don’t trust your phone’s alarm, this one gives you three months of battery life between charges, in a compact, portable package that’s less than four inches tall. It is available in 10 colors from purple and orange to gold, silver and black.
Lexon Design Flip Premium
Price: $50 at Amazon
The look of an old school camera, the guts of a new school camera
Classic Olympus cameras are still available through the OM System company. The Olympus PEN E-P7 steps into the ranks of compact and compact cameras, with twenty interchangeable M.Zuiko lenses to choose from.
The design features a 20-megapixel sensor, a snappy image processor with image-guided autofocus and 4k video with five-axis image stabilization, a touch screen, wireless connectivity, and the OI.Share mobile app. Unfortunately, the Olympus PEN E-P7 has not been released widely, with only a limited run in Europe and Japan, so you’ll have to turn to used models on Ebay if you want to get your hands on one.
Olympus PEN E-P7
Price: $544 on Ebay (used)
This article was translated from Swedish to English, and first appeared on m3.se.