Hot new kit
THE GEAR WE’RE LUSTING AFTER
Loewe radio.frequency
>£199 > From int.loewe.tv
> Marking the 100th anniversary of Radio Frequenz (the company started by the Loewe brothers in Berlin in 1923), Loewe has brought out this celebratory ‘smart radio’. With a few nods to the company’s original Loewe OE33, the radio is made beautifully made with Canadian oak inlays – so each one is unique – and basalt-coloured acoustic fabric. There’s also plenty of good tech on offer with DAB+, Bluetooth 5.0 and
USB-C charging. You also get an easy-to-read, monochrome 2.6in high-contrast LCD display, and up to 14 hours of playtime. Despite its size (21.1x13.2x6.8cm) and portablility, the radio packs two full-range speakers for an impressively wide stereo soundstage and a bass radiator for some gutsy audio, as well as 28W of power.
If you’re a fan of the company, this speaker is a nice, affordable investment.
Sony HT-AX7
> £499 > From sony.co.uk
> Sony’s Portable Theatre System eschews the standard single-speaker soundbar format in favour of a central main unit and two satellites that can be detached from or attached to the main unit using magnets.
Built-in Bluetooth makes it easy to connect the HT-AX7 to audio sources like your Mac or iPhone and easily switch between them. Bluetooth also supplies the connection between the main unit and the satellites – no cables required.
The really clever bit, though, is Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, which enables the HT-AX7 to deliver immersive 3D sound. Plus, the whole thing comes with a built-in battery offering up to 30 hours of power between recharges.
Netatmo Smart Door Lock
>€379 (about £330) > From netatmo.com
> Netatmo is a leader in smart home tech, and the company has now brought out a smart door lock. Available now in the EU and expected to launch in the UK soon, the Lock features a high-strength stainless steel cylinder, reinforced with an anti-drilling plate and three security pins. Its smart key is inserted like a normal key, but it can al
