We Are Rewind Brings Back the Boombox With the GB-001

We recently got our hands on the We Are Rewind Cassette Player (more on that coming soon), and now the retro-minded French audio company is launching something bigger, literally.

Earlier this year they announced the GB-001, a modern boombox that nails the old-school look while packing in today’s audio tech. Now it’s officially available for pre-order in the EU and UK.

Old-School Vibes, New-School Power

At first glance, the GB-001 looks like it could’ve rolled straight out of an ‘80s music video. Big rectangular frame, chunky buttons, twin VU meters, cassette deck, and a folding handle – it’s got all the right details. But don’t be fooled by the retro styling. Inside, this thing is a serious modern speaker system.

With four Hi-Fi drivers (two woofers and two tweeters) pushing a total of 104 watts, it’s built to fill a room. There’s also smart sound tech on board: dynamic power control to keep distortion low, a tuned EQ for what the company calls a natural “We Are Rewind” sound, and a spatial mode that widens the stereo image.

Built for Tape Heads

Like the company’s portable cassette players, the GB-001 isn’t just about looks, it actually delivers on the tape side too. The deck supports both Type I and Type II tapes, has an adjustable motor for stable playback, and uses an active AC erasing head to keep recordings clean. The dual backlit VU meters aren’t just eye candy either, they let you dial in playback and recording levels properly.

The mechanism itself is based on designs from leading Japanese brands, built to the same high standards as top-grade Hi-Fi decks of the 1990s. According to the company, the high-performance motor delivers incredibly stable playback speed, with a wow & flutter of around 0.1%, among the best you’ll find in a cassette deck today.

And yes, you can still record. There’s even a mic input with adjustable levels, perfect for live recording or putting together your own mixtapes.

Modern Touches Where It Counts

Of course, this is 2025, so the GB-001 goes beyond cassettes. It’s got Bluetooth 5.4, a line-in, headphone output and a rechargeable battery that runs up to 15 hours on speakers (or up to 28 on headphones). The battery is also user-replaceable – a small detail, but one that makes a big difference and is very welcome.

A Statement Piece

Finished in brushed aluminum and weighing just under 7 kg, the GB-001 feels substantial, like a proper boombox should. It’s the kind of gear that looks just as good in your living room as it does propped on a graffiti-covered barrel in a photo shoot.

We Are Rewind has made a name for itself by reviving cassettes in style, and the GB-001 feels like the natural next step: a boombox reimagined for today. It’s priced at 449 euros and currently available for pre-order in the EU and UK, with US and worldwide pre-orders opening around September 21.

You can learn more about the GB-001 and pre-order one on We Are Rewind’s website.

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