Sometimes Sony can make some questionable business decisions, but rarely am I able to fault them on design. Particularly back in the 1970s — just look at this cubic portable AM radio.
As far as radios go today, a single set of sliders for volume and tuning are pretty low-tech. But were the TR-1825 resurrected as a Bluetooth speaker, all you’d need was a control for volume. And I’d be happy if they left it as a slider. Otherwise, I wouldn’t change a thing. The radio’s design is timeless, with interlocking sliding faces that form a perfect cube when it’s closed, protecting both the speaker and controls when in transit.
Were I able to get my hands on one of these now the first thing I’d try to do is hack some wireless functionality in there. And I don’t know the first thing about hacking! That’s why I’d love to plead my case to Sony about why they need to revive and update the TR-1825 as a modern Bluetooth accessory. I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only one happy to pony up for it. [Sony via ISO50]
Wolfie Rankin
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 4:02 PMSure it looks nice while it’s new, but have you ever tried to clean greasy dust out of sliders? What needs to be designed are objects which can be sprayed with something like windex and wiped over. I have a 1950′s AWA Radiola here, it’s a lovely piece of art… but a complete cow to clean.
illogical
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 8:20 PMif they sold that as a $30-50 speaker, everybody would have one. literally everybody.
Charles
Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 12:15 AMHm yes but the only thing would be that it couldn’t suck. Perhaps instead of sliders they could just have knobs, I dunno. The sliders are quite nice though and can’t be all bad – MAYBE TOUCH SLIDERS YEAH ADD TOUCH CONTROLS TO EVERYTHING. But seriously if it was a vaguely portable DAB+ with a lil touch LCD at the top which could control tuning and volume you’d be LARFIN.
aj
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 11:33 PMi’d like it re-released a a DAB+ radio.
Sicarius123
Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 10:37 AMI refuse to take up DAB+ until it exceeds the audio quality of FM radio. It’s pathetic how low the quality of DAB+ in Australia is.
The potential for CD quality does not make it CD quality.
RB
Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 1:02 AMBut I love sliding sliders! Nothing makes you feel like you are turning up the volume more than sliding a slider. Fact
Kent
Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 3:16 PMFARK YEAH ID BUY SEVEN