Let it spree
You can update the
OB-4 via TE’s app,
with new features
promised and the disk
function designated
a ‘public research
space’.55TESTED TEENAGE ENGINEERING OB-4After its appearance in Stuff’s coveted Icon
slot, we’ve finally got our hands on the ‘magic
radio’ with its mind-bending motorised dial
QThe TE OB-4 is a hyper-stylised
hybrid audio box combining the
warm buzz of an old wireless
with modern tech and Kraftwerk
styling. In its simplest form it’s a
high-fidelity loudspeaker with twin
4in bass drivers and neodymium
tweeters; in its most complex, it’s
a little black box of weirdness.QTreat it as a speaker and the
OB-4 reaches around 100dB, but
blaring out crisp sounds isn’t the
only party trick here. Behind the
amorphous exterior is a core
of gadgetry that turns this radio
into an ambient-noise-emitting
drone wizard.QAside from its awesome
motorised user interface, the
OB-4 can record live FM radio,
Bluetooth audio or a line input
for two hours on a continuous loop,
meaning you can rewind a big tune,
catch up on the news headlines
or repeat one of Jeremy Vine’s
ridiculous phone-ins.QThe Bluetooth inputs are great
for producing clear, natural tones
just about anywhere – and TE
says the OB-4 is designed ‘to be
played outdoors, in public spaces
and at high volume’.QHipster picnics aside, you’ll soon
find yourself idly jabbing buttons to
see what happens. Cycle through
inputs and scan the radio waves...
but things get really creepy when
you start messing with the ‘disk’
function – more on that to the left.The OB-4 is a slightly unhinged purchase, to be made when you want something weird
and cool. Sound quality is utterly fantastic, battery life excellent, and there’s nothing else
like it to look at. Yes, it’s pricey, but there’s a lot going on under that avant-garde shell...
and while the extra features might seem a bit pointless, they can be highly addictive and
loveable, leaving you feeling like you’ve joined some kind of synthesizer cult.The magical
mystery player
is waiting to
take you away
Leon PoultneyDoctor knob-it
STUFF SAYS An immense loudspeaker with whimsical sound-warping powers ++++,
Audio 2x 4in bass drivers,
2x tweeters, 76W stereo
Connectivity Bluetooth AAC,
Bluetooth 5 LE, FM radio,
3.5mm Battery life 72hrs FM,
8hrs Bluetooth Dimensions
284x233x58mm, 1.7kgQ This bird has drone
Disk also includes a metronome
and some mantras for joss-stick
sessions, but our favourite is the
ambient mode that takes radio
snippets and creates a wave-like
drone that can be altered using
the motorised dial. It’s truly eerie.Q I’m looping through you
The disk function is an addictive
sampling device and general
mayhem-maker. You can create
a short loop of whatever you’re
listening to then manipulate the
frequency to produce all sorts of
alien soundscapes.from £599 / stuff.tv/OB4Tech specs