Considering the endless stream of hi-fi and home cinema products we’re lucky enough to see, hear and test, it’s little wonder we’ve encountered no end of weird and wonderful designs over the years. Some are much weirder than others…
Previously, we had some fun listing the craziest-looking hi-fi products on the planet, which includes some especially creative design choices in the high-end audio space. And now we’re taking a detour into the even more obscure, quirky or just outright fun products across hi-fi and AV.
If you side with a little silliness, you may be pleased to know that some of the products featured are still available to purchase.
Sound Burger by Audio-Technica
Perhaps the most recognisable product on this list, the Sound Burger by Audio-Technica is a portable turntable that has been reissued in recent years.
Its unique, compact design caused a storm back in the ‘80s, and the new model features a similar design along with some modern touches. These include wireless Bluetooth connectivity and USB-C port for charging. If you want to hook up the Sound Burger traditionally, there’s also an RCA port for connecting to a home stereo or speaker system.
The Sound Burger came back as a 60th anniversary celebration by Audio-Technica in 2022, and doesn’t look like it’ll be going away any time soon.
StanbyME GO suitcase TV by LG Electronics
One of the newest entries on this list, LG’s StanbyME GO is a portable TV housed inside of a suitcase.
We see a lot of turntables hidden within suitcases these days, but a TV screen is a new one… It received mixed responses from the What Hi-Fi? team; however, one member got the chance to see the funny little product in person at IFA 2023 and became a fan, despite the lack of 4K support or a top-quality screen.
This story is from the February 2024 edition of What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision India.
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This story is from the February 2024 edition of What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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YG Acoustics Carmel 3
On paper, the Carmel 3 from Colorado-based speaker specialist YG Acoustics has a credibility problem. They cost a huge amount of money but are small, rather plain-looking two-way floorstanders.
SME Model 20 Mk 2/Series V
SME launched the Model 20 turntable back in 1992. The partnering tonearm on our review sample, the now legendary Series V, dates back even further to 1986.
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