Sonos is celebrating 75 years of Blue Note Records, the legendary jazz label, by releasing a special edition of the excellent Play:1.

Where as the regular Play:1 is available in white and black versions only, this special edition has a “vertical fade from dark navy to cerulean blue”. Sonos has used hand-painting techniques to get the effect, with robots to do the actual spraying. According to the company, the paint lines for the grilles require seven gravity-fed atomising spray nozzles.

We have to say, going by the pictures, that the paint job looks amazing. We were rather taken with the looks of the Play:1 when we reviewed it, but this version looks even better.

Anyone that buys the Sonos Play:1 Blue Note will get one year of Blue Note programming delivered by TuneIn radio. This includes the exclusive Artist Select channel, which will give hand-picked selections from artists including Robert Glasper, Jose James, Terence Blanchard, Ambrose Akinmusire, Lieonel Loueke and Don Was.

Two other channels are available on both the special edition player and to all other Sonos users: Born in Blue brings music from Blue Note artists and those that have sampled them; Blue Note 101 takes you through the history of Blue Note records and the evolution of its music over 75 years.

Available from the Sonos store soon, only around 4,100 units have been made. They cost £220 each, although if we’re being honest, you’ll want to buy two so that you can create a stereo pair for better stereo separation. The original Play:1 is still available  for £169 a unit.