Retro tech continues on with its revival, and it’s not nearly vinyl anymore. Cassette decks, MiniDisc gamers, and CD gamers are making a wave – not simply as useful gadgets, however as nostalgic design objects. One such system using the throwback wave is the ClearFrame CD Participant, which mixes the tactile satisfaction of bodily media with the trendy fascination for clear tech.
Clear electronics have all the time held a sure magic – consider the see-through Recreation Boy Coloration, Apple’s translucent iMac G3, or the clear cassette shells that allow you to watch reels flip because the music performed. The ClearFrame faucets into that very same curiosity. Its acrylic body allows you to watch the CD spin, gears transfer, and lights glow, turning playback into a visible expertise.
Nevertheless it’s not nearly peeking inside. The ClearFrame additionally elevates album artwork – an often-overlooked pleasure of the CD period – by letting you place the duvet contained in the system itself, reworking your music right into a consistently altering wall show. The idea is summed up in Yanko Design’s tagline: “Play the disc. Body the duvet.”
The ClearFrame seems to be a renamed model of the BEAMS KM5 Prompt Disc CP1, first launched final 12 months, with the unique KM5 branding nonetheless seen in sure product photographs. It may be mounted on the wall or set on a tabletop stand, giving it the presence of each a music participant and a gallery body.
Regardless of its retro inspiration, the ClearFrame embraces trendy comfort. It affords wired audio output for conventional setups and Bluetooth 5.1 for wi-fi headphones or audio system. The rechargeable battery lasts round 7–8 hours, and a USB-C port ensures fast fees. Playback choices embrace steady play, repeat-all, or looping a single monitor – excellent for immersive listening periods.
The ClearFrame CD participant is accessible for $199 on the YD Choose retailer at Yanko Design.
