NEWS: Gear4 is back in black

Gear4 has announced a host of new Bluetooth products for release this month, including the Knightrider-inspired BlackBox boombox.

Looking striking in a deep black gloss finish, the BlackBox invites you to touch it in more ways than one by combining smart styling with touch screen controls on top of the unit.

A large LED display gives it the Knightrider feel, with bright red lights either indicating the volume level or acting as a graphic equalizer. A neat touch is the way the screen completely fades away when not in action.

Bluetooth connectivity is the key to this product, with support for any Bluetooth-enabled mobile available thanks to a Firmware upgrade function – simply connect your BlackBox to your computer to do so. There's also a line-in connection if you want to keep it simple.

Power is provided by either AC mains or AA batteries, delivering 24 watts of power via the stereo speakers. Out in the next few weeks, the BlackBox will retail at £100 and comes with a fully functioning remote control.

Also available from Gear4 will be the BlackBox Mini. A smaller model, the Mini offers the same level of functionality and similar, sleek design, but with a smaller screen and a few less touch controls – there's still a remote with full control.

Again, there's Bluetooth connectivity, a line-in input, it can be mains or battery powered, and boasts stereo speakers, though these offer just 4 watts of power. It should retail at £50.

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff and The Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).