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One quick glance at Hannspree’s website leaves you with the distinct impression that its products may well exist only to boggle the mind.
It would seem that Hannspree sees monitors, like clothes, as a form of personal expression, and with many of the products in its current range we’re definitely talking about fancy dress.
The Hannsvaas is probably the most normal-looking of the entire range, which consists essentially of two basic products housed in radically different cases. The 9in products are strictly LCD TVs, but the 15in models are fitted with VGA connectors, qualifying them for use as PC monitors.
The polished black, walnut woodgrain finish has curves crafted in the shape of a cello flanked by powerful stereo fabric-coated speakers; these also curve inwards leaving the only straight edges to the panel itself.
This styling continues round to the rear, where there's a chrome-coated aluminium stand, resembling the cello’s supporting pin.
It’s a very living-room friendly item that looks much better than the promotional pictures would lead you to believe. Far from being cheap or tacky, the monitor is made from quality materials giving it a very posh feel.
If the design of the Hannsvaas isn’t for you, there are many other radically different versions available. For example, the Hannsball Champions; a ball-shaped display finished in genuine basketball leather.
Split into three main categories (Sports, Fantasy and Style), there is a wide range of displays, including examples built into cuddly animals or hidden inside large red apples. All these designs are engineered to evoke some emotional response from the user, and they succeed.
In operation, the display is very bright and clear. The auto-tuning feature makes TV setup particularly easy. The sound quality is excellent; you can turn up the speakers extremely loud without a hint of distortion and the built-in SRS-WOW feature gives a very convincing 3D audio effect.
A full-sized remote control provides the usual TV functions as well as access to the display's on-screen menu, which we found unexpectedly slow. You can actually see the pages redrawing; if you’re used to whizzing around menus it’ll certainly slow you down.
All control buttons are placed in a recessed area on the top of the monitor, keeping the front entirely free of controls and maintaining its elegant appearance. The buttons themselves are large, fingertip-sized and have a tactile positive response.
Part monitor, part TV and part furniture. If you’re only looking for something a little bit different, buy something else, because the Hannsvaas is completely different.
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