T3 April 2019

TRANSPARENT SOUND STEEL SPEAKER If you’re the kind of person who stares at the speaker when you’re listening to your favourite music (to be honest, we never really understood that phenomenon), then you might as well have something special to look at. Conscious that the audio world is being overrun by black boxes that all look the same, Swedish design studio People People decided to reimagine the concept, commissioning Scandinavian blacksmith extraordinaire Jonas Majors to fashion a Bluetooth speaker out of solid, aged steel. Limited to a worldwide run of just 10 unique and individually numbered units, this beautiful block of metal sounds every bit as impressive as it looks, with an active Class D amplifier contributing to a hefty 80-100 watt output, and high-quality digital signal processing providing clarity even…

MATT BOLTON Editor CLAIRE DAVIES Senior Content Editor JO GULLIVER Senior Art Editor MICHELLE McLAREN Art Editor RUSSELL LEWIN Production Editor ANDREW WESTBROOK Operations Editor PAUL DOUGLAS Global Editor-in-Chief DUNCAN BELL Lifestyle Editor SPENCER HART Product & Style Editor ROB JONES Tech & Gaming Editor AARON BROWN Staff Writer CONTACT T3 General email: inbox@t3.com Subscriptions: contact@ myfavouritemagazines.co.uk SUBSCRIBE and get a pair of highly rated Soundmagic E11C headphones Our latest offer gets you a free pair of headphones worth £49.99 that are so good, they’re in our Best of the Best list on p102. Turn to p62 to see our offers! SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND SAVE! myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/ttt/e11c OR CALL: 0344 848 2852…

Sometimes, we have an idea well in advance of what should be top of our Hot 100 list. We see trends emerge in what companies are revealing over the year, and what you are most interested in, and it all becomes clear. But 2019 is shaping up to be unpredictable, and even though we had a shortlist of worthy potential number ones, what eventually found its way there is a type of product that basically didn’t exist until a few weeks ago, but that rocketed straight to the top, deservedly. Throughout the list you’ll find a huge mix of things that are popular right now, that will dominate the conversation over the coming 12 months, and that are happening behind the scenes, shaping the world of tech. We always love putting…

1 RUARK R5 • £999, ruarkaudio.com Ruark’s products are synonymous with elegant, retro aesthetics and superior sound quality – a reputation that’s been consolidated in recent years by the British firm’s flagship R7 ‘high-fidelity radiogram’. Looking like a soundbar on stilts, that ’70s-inspired system is the epitome of refined luxury – the only problem being that it takes up a lot of room and costs a small fortune (an eye-watering £2,300). To address this, Ruark has launched a new ‘R’ model, one that scales down on size and price but somehow manages to retain its bigger brother’s fully fledged audio prowess. Like the R7, the stilt-less R5 is an all-in-one home entertainment solution, offering built-in Spotify Connect, aptX HD Bluetooth, DAB, DAB+ and FM tuners, multi-room and home-cinema support, and even a CD…

THE READER Michael Evans Mike and his partner Chloe are adopting a shelter cat called Oreo. They’re looking for pet tech to help with litter, feeding, playtime, naps and, eventually, outside exploring. THE EXPERT Becca Caddy Smart home expert Becca Caddy knows the tech to make life more enjoyable and stress-free. And you’re not the only one who can benefit – your pet can too. 1 PETKIT COSY PET BED Pets can find new environments somewhat overwhelming at first, but you can help your new cat feel safe straight away with this smart pet bed for cats and dogs. It responds to the ambient temperature in your home to create the purrfect sleeping environment. It also connects to the PetKit app, so you can adjust the temperature remotely. This is great news if you want to ensure…

BAMFORD LONDON MAYFAIR DATE The Bamford Mayfair Date is dependable and has the added benefit of being waterproof to 10ATM, making it a great accessory for outdoor activities. £500, bamfordlondon.com NOMOS GLASHÜTTE TANGENTE UPDATE This dashing classic has been refreshed with ruthenium, a member of the platinum group. Depending on the light, it shifts between dark grey and golden brown. £3,200, nomosglashuette.com RADO TRADITION CAPTAIN COOK MKIII This eye-catching timepiece retains the vintage look of the 1962 Captain Cook, but adds modern touches, with a larger case and black textile strap. Perfect for the gentleman explorer. £2,140, rado.com…