FiiO has announced the Snowsky Retro Nano. The unit is a combination of a music player, wireless headphone amp and high-quality digital-to-analog converter (DAC), despite costing only £60.
On the surface, it mimics classic cassette players from the ’80s and ’90s, but it’s packed full of modern features like high-quality AptX Bluetooth connectivity for lossless streaming from any compatible Bluetooth source.
Once you’re up and running with your HQ sound, you can also take advantage of the built-in headphone amp with a ‘high gain’ setting to boost any wired headphones that might need it, essentially turning any wired headphones into high-quality wireless ones. The device can also be connected via USB-C cable to any laptop, tablet or desktop to bypass the built-in DAC in favour of the Retro Nano’s own. It also supports both 3.5mm and quarter-inch headphone connections.
Along with the nostalgic cassette design, the Retro Nano features controls for track skipping, play, pause, volume, and more. It is powered by a single rechargeable AA battery that starts recharging once you connect via USB-C. It even has a built-in microphone so you can take calls on the cassette-like device.
While many affordable Bluetooth devices exist, very few use high-quality Bluetooth codecs like AptX HD, which make a significant difference to wireless audio.
FiiO’s Snowsky Retro Nano is available now, priced at £60. You can find out more on the FiiO website.