Swiss military speaker? Yes, they make these with outdoor accessories like rugged bags. It is a brand that is well recognized, even if not for its gadgets. This made me especially excited to review the Swiss Military Retro Classic 1.0. This excitement increased further when I took it out of the box and its looks immediately brought me back to my childhood, when I used to sit near my grandfather for hours while he used to tune in to the radio and listen to Ramayan, Geet. For this he was associated with All India Radio. Garland, and other programs. The wooden design, the vintage aesthetics, and most notably the antenna – yes, this vintage speaker comes with an antenna – were enough to start a trip down memory lane. So, as far as first impressions are concerned, full marks to the Retro Classic 1.0.

But then again as they say. Don’t go for show before impressing someone, let them say a few words too. Apparently, the same is true for speakers. At the end of the day what matters is how well they sing. And on that count, Retro Classic 1.0 doesn’t score so well.

While I’ve reviewed a number of vintage themed speakers, like the Marshall Middleton and more recently another speaker from Bolt, the Military Retro Classic 1.0 clearly gets the vibes right. But you can’t spend Rs 1,799 just on Vibes? The speaker has to remain a speaker. So, I spent a week figuring it out and played hundreds of songs on Retro Classic 1.0.

But before we delve deeper into what it has to offer, here’s a look at the specifications. The Retro Classic Wireless Bluetooth Speaker features a 10-watt Class D amplifier with versatile connectivity options including Bluetooth, 3.5mm jack, USB 2.0, and FM stereo. It promises up to 6 hours of continuous playback on battery, which goes in its favor.

this one is worth seeing

As I said before, the Swiss Military Retro Classic stands out because of its design. It has a wooden box finish with a plastic mesh in front of the speaker and an antenna, reminiscent of the old-time radios that we used to have at home. The speaker comes with a wide artificial leather strap that makes it easy to carry and of course, adds an extra vintage touch to the design. However, for me, it’s the antenna that really stands out. With new technology and gadgets that don’t require a physical antenna to connect to a network, I honestly can’t remember the last time I bought a gadget with an antenna. So, the rear antenna definitely gives the Swiss Military Retro Classic that distinctive look and more vintage look.

On the back, this Bluetooth speaker also includes multiple connectivity options: a USB-C port that can be used for both connecting and charging, a USB port, an SD card slot, and an AUX port.

Although I really like the design and the availability of so many connectivity ports, the speaker doesn’t look premium. It lacks proper finishing. I understand that with the wooden box finish, the speaker is aiming for a vintage aesthetic, but the quality of the plastic and wooden frame feels cheap. Additionally, the faux leather strap is not of good quality and I can see that the edges of the strap are already wearing.

To put it another way, it looks vintage and feels vintage – like something you just pulled out of the attic. But once you look at the materials, construction and finish it will probably wear out a lot.

Seems ok. but that’s okay

Swiss military retro classic sounds just right. The audio is clear but lacks depth, and if you like bass-heavy music, or treble, this speaker will disappoint you. The volume is decent though, making it a good portable speaker to turn on for casual listening. In other words, if you’re looking for a rich music experience, this speaker won’t provide that.

I tried other connectivity options, and the most impressive – and worth mentioning – is FM. Considering that even smartphones are slowly phasing out the FM feature, tuning to FM channels like the good old days makes this retro speaker really serve its purpose.

Although the sound didn’t impress me here, the battery life was really great. With normal use – say 1 to 2 hours a day – the device lasts about a week. Additionally, it has an auto power-off feature, which means if you disconnect your phone but forget to turn off the speaker, it powers itself off to save battery.

Swiss Military Retro Classic 1.0: Should you buy it?

If you’re looking for a budget speaker with a vintage design, the Swiss Military Retro Classic 1.0 is worth a look. Mainly because of how affordable it is. I mean it costs just Rs 1,799. For the price it offers a good design, great build quality and great sound. Not only does it have a retro look but it also includes functional features like FM and design elements like an antenna that make it feel like a classic FM radio of yesteryear.

Additionally, the speaker offers impressive battery life and a range of connectivity options, making it convenient to use with a variety of devices. But keep in mind its sound quality. It’s unlikely to make anyone happy, which makes it difficult for me to fully recommend Retro Classic 1.0. There are other speakers in the market in the same price range which may be boring in appearance but they provide somewhat sweet sound.